Posted on 03/10/2002 5:02:34 AM PST by Copernicus
Posted by Faith Hartzell on March 06, 19102 at 19:46:44:
Dear friends and fellow gun owners...
I do not often do this, but I am inclined to take up a very worthy cause on behalf of a gentleman who in my opinion, was treated very unfairly by the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action during a recent election.
Rather than explain the entire situation, I am forwarding a letter sent by this individual to James J. Baker of the NRA's ILA. I believe that you will be able to understand Mr. Crichton's situation better from his own words.
Unfortunately, this very worthy candidate lost the election to the opponent; a non-member of the NRA who was none-the-less granted an NRA endorsement over a 28-year member who is better educated and has more experience for the position of Sheriff in Riverside County.
I would like to urge you to please take a moment and write a letter to Mr. Baker, as I will, encouraging him to investigate this incident and weed out a corrupt link in the NRA’s political branch.
I personally believe that if enough voices are raised in protest against this breach in ethics and blatantly unfair treatment of a pro-second amendment candidate, we can make a difference in future elections.
If nothing else, we have an opportunity before us to make ourselves heard as a united force of law-abiding citizens who will not stand for injustice against a fellow man in support of our most fundamental, God-given freedom, the right to keep and bear arms.
Please take a moment to pass this on to anyone who cares enough to make a stand for liberty, then take another moment of your time and write a letter to Mr. Baker so that he knows we gun owners will not stand by and allow liberty to be threatened by any enemy, even one within our own ranks.
Thank you.
Yours in the fight
Faith A. Hartzell
March 2, 2002
Mr. James Jay Baker
Executive Director
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Dear Mr. Baker,
I would like to make you aware of some facts that on the surface point to collusion by NRA employees in a local government election in California. I am a candidate for Riverside County Sheriff in the March 5th election.
I was originally told in August 2001 that I could receive campaign monies from the California office of the ILA. This was from Carolyn Herbertson in Sacramento.
I completed a NRA candidate questionnaire and received and an "A" grade. In a phone call, Ms. Herbertson informed me that my opponent also received an "A" grade. I was told the same grade for candidates cancels each other and no contributions can be made. Ms. Herbertson told me that the NRA would remain neutral on the race.
On Wednesday, February 27th, I received six phone calls from NRA members who had received voting recommendation cards from the NRA. One of the endorsements was for my opponent, Bob Doyle. I called Ms. Herbertson and she told me that Ed Worley is the liaison with the California State Sheriff's Association and he had "gone over her head and made the endorsement for Bob Doyle". She further told me that this was not the first time that he done that in making endorsements. I asked her how an endorsement could have been made without interviewing me and she said she did not know.
I spoke with Director Randy Kozuch on Friday, March 1st. I asked if there was a procedure for making law enforcement endorsements and he said there was and I should have been interviewed by Ed Worley and received a letter from the Sacramento office. I told him that I had never even heard Worley's name until Ms. Herbertson mentioned it and I have never received anything in writing from the Sacramento office regarding my endorsement. I told Mr. Kozuch that the current Riverside County Sheriff, Larry Smith, is president of the California State Sheriff's Association and I believed that there was some political pressuring. He said that he would have Ed Worley call me and he will also call me back. I told Mr. Kozuch that I have a ten dollar bet with Ms. Herbertson that Worley will not call me as he as knows he violated the rules.
I have received numerous telephone calls from Southern California NRA members. They told me that they knew that Bob Doyle was being assisted in obtaining the NRA's endorsement by state Senator Ray Haynes and Paul Peter Payne, who is described as executive assistant to Mr. LaPierre. I have been told by these members that they knew that Doyle had met with Ed Worley.
These same members told me that "…Worley's palm was probably greased in exchange for the endorsement and that you never had a fair chance in the election". They have also said that of the two NRA staffers in the Sacramento office, only Ms. Herbertson is honest.
Mr. Baker, it would appear that there is a question of improprieties in the election. How does a non-member of the NRA obtain an endorsement over a 28 year member who is better educated and has more experience? How does the NRA decide endorsement issues if they do not speak with or interview ALL the candidates?
I would like to hear from you regarding this matter. It appears that the NRA can be bought; and that is something that I would never have believed. It would also appear that this is common knowledge among some Southern California NRA members. I do believe that I have been severely handicapped in the election by the conduct of the parties in Sacramento and will probably be forced from my job should my opponent win. If that occurs, I will use the free time to focus attention on the political activities of Ed Worley and Paul Peter Payne.
I know that I will not hear from Ed Worley, but I do hope to hear from you, sir.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Crichton
They brought us the mess known as the Brady Bill and this tale is consistent with the shenanighans they pull in my neck of the woods.
Best regards,
The NRA virtually ignored Lucas' anti-gun past and gave him the endorsement, while Bell had a solid pro-gun record.
The article doesn't say who won the election. It also describes another candidate that was endorsed by a state senator while still having an "A" rating. The last bit of information that has to be mentioned that I personally know a Constable that has been office for years and he is not a member of the NRA. He states that he doesn't want to give his political enemies the impression that he's an extremist by being a member. However, he is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and if someone needs to be signed off for a Class III machine gun license he's the person to see. This article reads like the NRA supported an "A" rated candidate who has a chance of winning. I wonder why he didn't just get his money from the GOA if they're so powerful.
And you sound like you're using divide and conquor tactics to destroy the NRA. Why didn't he get an endorsment or money from the GOA if he was such a good candidate? A better question is, who won the election?
The NRA was formed by GAR members during the days when the GAR was a potent political force. The GAR was a bastion of political corruption and radical republican politics during the Grant administration. Not much good can be said about the GAR while keeping a straight face.
Apparently, who won the election was the candidate who got the NRA endorsement though he isn't a member. What do you think the issue is besides that?
The Union officers that started the NRA did so to improve the markmenship of the military. Basically, they were sick and tired of seeing their brethern being gunned down by superior riflemen, as happened in the Civil War. NRA is thus, the first civil rights org.
As a conservative, I don't always like it, but I understand it, and that is generally MCRGO's policy as well, although we aren't as nice on endorsements as the NRA.
Anyone can be a member. George HW Bush, an Anti-gunner, was a life member...he joined in 1988. Bill Klinton claimed to be a member. Carl Lenin was a member.
Saying you are a member of NRA or MCRGO doesn't do much to get my vote. Going to gunshows and campaigning, speaking at our meetings, and going public with support does a better job for it. A record on the issue is most important.
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