Winner Take All

   You may be the grand prize winner of 41 different firearms and 7,200 rounds of ammunition!

   (Then again, you may not. And even if you are, federal, state and local laws will prevent you from collecting the grand prize.)

   The first claim by the National Rifle Association leads its "exciting sweepstakes" mailing, complete with pictures of all the weapons -- military style as well as hunting, target and sidearm guns available to the single person who wins the grand prize.
   The second, buried in smaller type somewhere in the full color mailing, notes that "All firearm transfers will be conducted in strict compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws."
   So what are the odds of some resident of Manhattan, Center City Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco or Los Angeles a/ being named the grand prize winner and b/ collecting all 41 firearms and 7,200 rounds of ammunition?
   Somewhere between slim and none.

   Meanwhile, the NRA has collected a new mailing list of potential supporters, dues money from new members, and financial savings from not having to hand out that arsenal of combat weapons.
   There are, of course, alternative prizes for the winners. First prize is a collection of "12  world class firearms," or a choice of a hunting trip or an all terrain vehicle.
   Second prize, instead of nine guns, is another choice of a hunting trip or an ATV.
   Third prize is a set of seven long guns and pistols, or yet another choice of a trip or a camper.
   And so on, listing fourth through seventh prize winners of long rifles and pistols.

   The full-color brochure and its glowing sales pitch is stupendous, concluding with a guilt trip for those who decide to enter the sweepstakes but not sign up for NRA membership.
   "No -- I'm not joining NRA to help defend the Second Amendment," the sentence reads.
   
   Nowhere in the sales pitch for new members does the literature actually cite the first phrase of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which specifies that "A well regulated militia, being essential to the security of a free state ..."
   The Constitution says nothing about individuals having their own arsenals of fully automatic weapons, unregulated by anyone.