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Elaborating on other points raised in the above FR article -

2004 presidential elections, a pro-gun grassroots activist's dilemma?

A brief NRA-related history of gun-control politics played out here in our Nation's Capital:

1980, 1984 – NRA endorses Reagan for President. He wins landslide victories.

1988 – NRA endorses George H.W. Bush, Sr., after he becomes a member and makes certain pro-gun promises. Bush wins.

1989 – Bush bans importation of semi-auto (civilian model) AK-47s via Executive Order, enforced by the BATF, FBI, etc.

1992 – NRA does not endorse Bush. He loses.

1993 – Waco debacle. Brady Bill, endorsed by all living U.S. Presidents, passes Congress. Clinton signs into law.

1994 – So-called “Assault Weapons” Ban (semi-auto ban) passes Congress, gets signed into law. NRA launches all out effort to defeat politicians who supported ban. NRA plays decisive role in the historical election of a pro-gun, Republican Congress.

1996 – Clinton stages duck-huntin' photo-op; lies about support of “2nd Amendment”. NRA does not endorse Dole, due to his history of compromise with the moderates. Clinton wins 60% of gunowner vote; is re-elected.

2000 – Sen. Al Gore favors more “sensible” gun safety/control laws. Gov. Dubya Bush favors “enforcing current laws”. NRA mobilizes unprecedented, anti-Gore, grassroots efforts targeting key swing voter states with gun-owning union members (PA, OH, KY, AR, WV, TN, FL, etc.) and in support of pro-gun candidates. After secret meetings in Washington, Bush receives NRA endorsement about two weeks before election day. Bush wins 60% of gunowner vote, carrying critical swing states with lots of gun-owning union members.

2002 – Congressman Bob Ehrlich, a co-sponsor of the 1995 House Bill to repeal the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, receives the NRA's endorsement for Governor and goes on to win a decisive victory in the historically liberal, anti-gun, Democrat-dominated state of Maryland.

2004 – Presumptive Democrat presidential candidate, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, proud of all his NRA “A” ratings and endorsements, has the SAME issue positions on gun-control as President Bush. Both have said they will sign the renewal of the 1994 so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban. Both favor bans on affordable guns - the so-called "Saturday Night Specials".

Soooo, just who will all those gun-owning Reagan Democrats, independents, union members, etc., who decisively supported Clinton over Dole in 1996, and Bush over Gore in 2000, be voting for next November?

-- A former NRA EVC (Election Volunteer Coordinator)

BTTT!

Both have said they will sign the renewal of the 1994 so-called “Assault Weapons” Ban. Both favor bans on affordable guns - the so-called "Saturday Night Specials".

These positions will not sway me from my present stance of voting for a third-party conservative candidate. It would take the late entry and Republican primary victory of somebody like Alan Keyes to get me to change my mind about that!