I received yesterday a letter from Mr. Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President of the N.R.A. The envelope is as interesting as the letter it contained. In lieu of affixed postage in the upper right corner it bore the legend: NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. 

On the middle right side of the envelope it says, in large black letters: NOTICE OF GUN CONFISCATION. Beneath this, in smaller letters enclosed in a black-line box, we have: “Official notice to named addressee. Delivery authorized under Section 703.1.2.2, United States Postal Regulations.”

Good grief, this piece of mail looks like the real thing, GUN CONFISCATION and “Official notice to named addressee,” that’s me, and they’re coming after my gun!!!

Shaken by this official-looking envelope, we are ready to read Mr. LaPierre’s enclosed exhortation to join the N.R.A. (they are currently offering memberships at a discount at the N.R.A. membership site!). By way of motivation, his letter warns: “For the first time in American history, a powerful gang of federal and state gun-ban politicians, unelected bureaucrats, elitist billionaires, and media propagandists are openly calling for your guns to be rounded up by force.” This sentence is a Trump rally enemy list: gang, gun-ban politicians, bureaucrats, elitists, media! Later comes reassurance: “That’s why gun owners like you need to join NRA right now. NRA is the only national organization that can STOP GUN CONFISCATION.”

Comically shameless demagoguery, but this emetic letter will surely have its intended effect.