"freedom of speech allows them the right to promote gun ownership"
.
It's more like they are fulfilling their contract with gun manufacturers
to create the market of fear and suspicion that is ripe for panicked gun 
buyers.
.
When huge margins of gun owners support universal background checks
and the NRA opposes them because it might throttle the market,
who is the NRA representing?
.
When mental illness becomes a common theme behind the epidemic of 
gun violence in this country, identified by the majority of the country as an 
impactful issue can yield large rewards in terms of gun safety, the NRA steps 
in on for the cause of gun ownership without restriction. 
Who is the NRA really representing? 
.
The NRA that once encouraged better markmanship and reasonable gun control 
laws has given way to an organization that sees more guns, arming commercial
 airline pilots and teachers as the answer to society’s worst violence, while opposing 
any new restrictions on guns whatsoever.