Alleged NRA Spy Infiltrated Gun-Control Groups

Once again, you just can't make this stuff up. According to Time.com, Mary Lou McFate (aka Mary McFate, aka Mary Lou Sapone), who has had previous incarnations as a flight attendant and a sex counselor (odd resume, Ms. McFate...) may have been working for the National Rifle Association even as she served on the board at organizations like CeasefirePA and States United to Prevent Gun Violence. Mother Jones Magazine broke the story.

CeasefirePA will vote this Friday to decide whether or not seven years on their board is quite enough for McFate. Hopefully, the outcome of that pending vote is obvious. In a city whose murder rate is dominated by gun violence, we can't be too careful about spies from the dark side. This woman shied away from addressing the media when asked to, insisted on sharing hotel rooms with other members of the gun control advocacy groups in which she was involved (groups that sometimes competed with one another), and often disappeared from contact altogether.

Maybe the groups she infiltrated should have noticed that something was up—and maybe some did. It's possible that she was given the benefit of the doubt at times. It's has become apparent in the wake of this story that perhaps gun control advocates have been giving the NRA too much credit. Hopefully, those advocates will take a close look at this case and develop new policies and procedures that will include an outline of red-flag behaviors like those exhibited by McFate during her alleged spy-fest. The awkward process of searching for electronic surveillance devices and rooting out other potential moles is likely to yield even more useful information about the clandestine intelligence-gathering techniques of the NRA.

Oh, and if you're furious about the tactics the NRA uses, you can always call them at (703) 267-1000.

Image via Flickr user teknorat, remixed with Fotoflexer.