Posted on 06/28/2010 5:03:01 AM PDT by libstripper
On the eve of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan -- and for the second time in two weeks -- the National Rifle Association (NRA) is under fire from conservatives. According to RedState's Erick Erickson, a prominent conservative blogger, "internal Senate emails confirmed by NRA Board Members show that the National Rifle Association's management team has explicitly and directly told the NRA's board they are prohibited from testifying about second amendment issues" during the Kagan hearings.
(Excerpt) Read more at politicsdaily.com ...
There were 3 NRA guys standing out in front of the court too--and one of them told me we were making fools of ourselves. I didn't ask, but got the impression that they were some of the higher ups in the NRA, waiting for their turn to go in and listen for a few minutes to the proceedings.
Whatever--they were entitled to their opinion, but I thought they were a bit rude.
That's when I let my membership in the NRA lapse.
The NRA is going to start falling apart.
#####
It has started falling apart.
For the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights group to not take a strong stand against this radical anti-civil-rights activist is almost unbelievable.
This woman is not just hostile toward the Second Amendment. She is hostile toward the First Amendment, Ninth Amendment and Tenth Amendment as well.
Their position should e that this will be the only vote scored this year and a vote for this radical will be scored an F-.
The Second Amendment Sisters started right here on FR and grew from a core group of about 6 wonderful ladies into a national organization.
Every FReeper should be a member of SAS as well as being a member at least one other listed group.
You need to include LaPierre in that comment as well. Maybe Wayne can hold the door open for Chris to leave and then follow right out behind him.
It is amazing how some NRA members will defend anything the organization does.
They are prohibited from testifying about Second Amendment issues? Then what are they there for?
They are prohibited from testifying about Second Amendment issues? Then what are they there for?
Like you, I too have been a Life Member for quite some time; several years ago I upgraded to Endowment class as well. Over the years, NRA’s political pandering has grown steadily worse with the explanations becoming thinner and thinner. Today, on issues like DISCLOSE and Kagan, the NRA sounds more like Big Tent RINO Central (RNC) than a principal defender of the Second Amendment. Sadly, it is no longer possible to defend or explain away NRA’s very serious and obvious political misadventures.
infiltrated by muslim terrorist enablers also. check out debbie schlussel’s 8/7/2008 col. ‘NRA had a spy in gun control group.....muslims had a spy in the nra’. this is the story that got the entire thing exposed on grover norquist’s involvement as an agenda setter, lobbyist, fund raiser and overall heavy hitter for CAIR......(you read correct...CAIR, the muslim terrorist front group here in America). AND long time NRA BOARD MEMBER!!!!!!!!!! the NRA KNEW of his anti American activities for years and looked the other way. my funds go to the second amendment foundation, GOA local clubs now.
GOA, and local clubs...oops.
That's right. The NRA has done a great deal of good things. It's too valuable to let it go to the libs without a HUGE fight. IIRC the same problem occurred about 20 or 25 years ago when a bunch of libs penetrated it, there was a massive battle, and they were purged. We need to fight that battle again. The best first step is to refuse to make additional contributions, explaining exactly why in each case. If the DC Freepers and Tea Party people have some extra time, it would be well spent on a trip to NRA HQ to stage an angry Tea Party, possibly in conjunction with the August 28 Glen Beck demonstration or the 9/12 demonstration. Then, let's stage a real fight during the 2011 board elections and at the 2011 convention, which isn't that far off.
It’s a great group. You’ll be glad you joined. They’ve done a lot to educate women about guns, the Second Amendment, and self defense.
I’ve been a Life member for years...my wife dropped her yearly membership.
Be Ever Vigilant!
The NRA-PVF has not endorsed Senator Harry Reid. The NRA-PVF has not released ratings or endorsements for the Nevada Senate race at this point. Ratings and endorsements will be decided closer to the election. You can find our most recent ratings and endorsements at www.nrapvf.org.
In 2004, Senator Reid’s last election, the NRA-PVF did not endorse him and he received a “B” rating: www.nrapvf.org/ELECTIONS/State.aspx?y=2004&State=NV. NRA-PVF has not contributed to Sen. Reid for reelection in this election cycle. However, as Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Reid has proven himself to be a supporter of our Second Amendment rights.
Early last year, Sen. Reid flatly stated that he would oppose any effort to reinstate an “assault weapons” ban if the Senate were to vote on it in the future. And Sen. Reid was instrumental in Senate passage (and eventual enactment into law) of the “Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act” (PLCAA), which shut down reckless lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers, that attempted to hold them liable for the misuse of firearms by criminals. Sen. Reid also cosponsored S. 659 (PLCCA) in the 108th Congress and voted against “poison pill” amendments to it, including the Feinstein Amendment to ban so-called “assault weapons”, and the Kennedy Amendment that would have banned most hunting ammunition.
Sen. Reid voted for legislation that became law in 2006, to prohibit gun confiscation during states of emergency. He also voted for legislation to allow commercial airline pilots to be armed in the cockpit to protect their passengers and crew. In this congressional session, Sen. Reid voted for the Ensign Amendment to repeal the Washington D.C. gun ban and restore self-defense rights in our nation’s capital. He cosponsored similar legislation—S. 1414—in the 108th Congress. He also voted for an amendment to allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms for self-defense in national parks and wildlife refuges. This federal policy change just took effect on February 22. In addition, Sen. Reid voted last year for the Thune-Vitter Amendment to provide national reciprocity for state Right-to-Carry permits. Sen. Reid also voted twice for the Wicker Amendment allowing Amtrak passengers to include firearms in their checked luggage. A vote on all of these amendments was made possible procedurally by Harry Reid in his capacity as Senate Majority Leader. Finally, Sen. Reid was among the 58 Senators who signed the pro-gun congressional amicus brief in the McDonald v. Chicago case, just argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 2, to decide whether the Second Amendment applies to states and localities.
Thank you for contacting us and please keep an eye out for our grades and endorsements as the election nears.
Sincerely,
Kyle C
NRA-ILA Grassroots Division
There are a myriad of rumors regarding the NRA cluttering the internet but one in particular is causing me personal anguish. That rumor reports that the NRA staff has issued a gag order to the NRA Board of Directors regarding comments on the nomination of Elena Kagen to the Supreme Court. Let me explain something about the structure of the NRA; authority to do anything within the NRA comes from you the members of the NRA. That authority is delegated to your elected Board of Directors who in turn elects officers and formulate policy that is then issued to the Executive Vice President/CEO who then turns that policy into action through the professional staff. Gag orders for the Board of Directors do not exist.
Friends; those of you close to me should know by now that telling me I can’t speak up on an issue of vital importance to the 2nd Amendment is going to get you into a war. I spoke vociferously regarding the nomination of Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court; in fact I joined a number of national 2nd Amendment leaders protesting the appointment and urging through a nationally published letter she not be confirmed. I did that because of her ties to New York State and the position she took, on then recent, anti 2nd Amendment decisions. I have not taken a position on Elena Kagen’s nomination to the Supreme Court because I find it absurd that anyone with no judicial experience would be nominated to the Supreme Court and fervently hope the Republican Senators will block this nomination.
The 2nd Amendment protects all the rest. Why would the NRA, the protector of the 2nd Amendment, attempt to limit the 1st Amendment rights of its’ own Board of Directors? It does not but if you think the Board members you voted for could be gagged then you voted for the wrong guys.
Tom King
NRA Board of Directors
President
NYS Rifle & Pistol Association
Here is the response to my email to the NRA.
Thank you for contacting NRA-ILA. Please read the following statement issued by NRA-ILA on June 25th. http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=5936
In addition, please view responses from two of our board members.
There are a myriad of rumors regarding the NRA cluttering the internet, but one in particular is causing me personal anguish. That rumor reports that the NRA staff has issued a gag order to the NRA Board of Directors regarding comments on the nomination of Elena Kagen to the Supreme Court. Let me explain something about the structure of the NRA; authority to do anything within the NRA comes from you the members of the NRA. That authority is delegated to your elected Board of Directors, who in turn elects officers and formulate policy, that is then issued to the Executive Vice President/CEO, who then turns that policy into action through the professional staff. Gag orders for the Board of Directors do not exist.
Friends; those of you close to me should know by now that telling me I can’t speak up on an issue of vital importance to the 2nd Amendment is going to get you into a war. I spoke vociferously regarding the nomination of Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court; in fact I joined a number of national 2nd Amendment leaders protesting the appointment and urging through a nationally published letter she not be confirmed. I did that because of her ties to New York State and the position she took, making anti-2nd Amendment decisions.
We fervently hope the Republican Senators will block this nomination.
The 2nd Amendment protects all the rest. Why would the NRA, the protector of the 2nd Amendment, attempt to limit the 1st Amendment rights of its’ own Board of Directors? It does not, but if you think the Board members you voted for could be gagged then you voted for the wrong guys.
Tom King
NRA Board of Directors
President
NYS Rifle & Pistol Association
“None of us have been given instructions to not testify. There is a standing policy decided a long time ago by the Legislative Policy Committee and approved by the entire Board of Directors that matters such as this will be handled by the ILA division of NRA, but I don’t view that as a “Gag Order”. Having ILA handle matters this important just lends itself to good operations.”
NRA Board Member
John Burtt
the anti NRA but Pro 2nd crowd is strong here at FR.
there job here it seems to lie, as often as possible and denigrate any pro NRA members by calling them Koolaid drinkers....
instead of working togehter , their job seems to be to destroy other pro 2nd organizations that are not the ones they belong to.
despicable.
the NRA is the first and still the best.
lies are for cowards.
“I must reiterate what I have mentioned here before....the NRA is NOT a conservative or libertarian organization. It is a Pro 2nd amendment organization “
New stories indicating the NRA is going to endorse Harry Reid. NRA is all about keeping things the same with our gun rights at risk. That way they can continue to be relevant and raking in the donations.
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