NRA Now Leans Toward Endorsing Harry Reid

Redstate.com ^ | July 1, 2010 | Erick Erickson

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Multiple sources tell me the National Rifle Association is planning to endorse liberal Harry Reid against pro-gun champion Sharron Angle.

Two weeks ago, I told you about the carveout the NRA received in exchange for their support for the DISCLOSE ACT deal.

Then this week, RedState broke the story of the “gag order” the NRA issued to members of its Board on the Kagan nomination.

Now, I’m getting credible reports that the NRA is leaning toward endorsing Harry Reid, even though the NRA is finally saying it will score a vote on Kagan — something that was not a sure thing.

Why would they do this? Why would they go out of their way to protect a Senator who has demonstrated a repeated hostility to the Second Amendment in his votes and his leadership?

Well, I thought perhaps the NRA carveout in the DISCLOSE Act might be the answer. But, there is more. It turns out, Reid secured a $61 million earmark for a gun range in Clark County, Nevada.

NRA members were recently treated to a three-page spread in the American Rifleman about a visit to Nevada by Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox to “thank” Reid for the earmark. The article even includes a cliché picture of Reid cutting a ribbon with a gigantic pair of scissors. (Every good porker has his own giant pair of gold earmark scissors.) More here.

Here is a video of the event from Reid’s youtube site.

At 3:25, you can hear LaPierre touting Reid’s record on guns saying, “I also want to thank you, Senator, for your support every day for the Second Amendment and for the rights of American gun owners. “

The American Rifleman article also commends Reid’s Second Amendment record noting, “His dedication to this project is just one of the ways Sen. Reid has demonstrated his support for gun owners and the Second Amendment.”

Well, that’s all very nice. What politician representing a pro-gun red state wouldn’t want Wayne LaPierre to come out for a personal photo op at their earmark ribbon cutting.

But, here is the problem. Reid has not supported the Second Amendment “every day.” Or ever.

Reid has a lifetime rating of “F” from Gun Owners of America (who Ron Paul once called “the only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington”). GOA is actively supporting the 100% pro-gun Republican nominee, Sharron Angle, in her campaign to unseat Harry Reid.

But if you don’t believe GOA, see for yourself below the fold. Then call (800) 392-VOTE (8683) before it is too late and make the NRA knows they’d be betraying second amendment voters by endorsing Harry Reid.

Below are just a few of the votes that demonstrate Reid’s longstanding hostility to guns and the Second Amendment. Not included in this list is the long list of consistent and active support for anti-gun nominees to the Federal Judiciary and to high level cabinet posts. The reason I did not include anti-gun nominees is because he supported every last one of them.

June 28, 1991. Vote No. 115. Voted for a 5 day waiting period for handgun purchases.

October 21, 1993. Vote 325. Voted to eliminate the Army Civilian Marksmanship Program. Only the most fringe anti-gun Senators voted for the amendment.

November 19, 1993. Vote 385. Allow states to impose waiting periods over and above the 5 days waiting period required under the Brady Bill.

November 19, 1993. Vote 386. Voted to eliminate he 5-year sunset in the Brady Bill.

November 19, 1993. Vote 387. Voted to close off debate on the Brady Bill.

November 19, 1993. Vote 390. Voted to close off debate on the Brady Bill.

November 20, 1993. Vote 394. Voted for the Brady Bill, which imposed a 5-business-day waiting period before purchasing a handgun.

August 25, 1994. Vote 294. Voted to close off debate on the Clinton Crime Bill, which contained the ban on so-called “assault weapons.”

August 25, 1994. Vote 295. Voted for the Clinton Crime Bill, which contained the ban on so-called “assault weapons.”

April 17, 1996. Vote 64. Voted to expand the statute of limitations for paperwork violations in National Firearms Act from 3 years to 5 years.

June 27, 1996. Vote 178. Voting to destroy 176,000 M-1 Garand rifles from World War II, and 150 million rounds of 30 caliber ammunition, rather than giving them to the Federal Civilian Marksmanship program.

September 12, 1996. Vote 287. Voted to spend $21.5 million for a study on putting “taggants” in black and smokeless gunpowder.

September 12, 1996. Vote 290. Voted to make it a Federal crime to possess a gun within 1,000 yards of a school.

May 12, 1999. Vote 111. Voted to give the Treasury Department expansive new authority to regulate and keep records on gun shows and their participants, and criminalize many intrastate firearms transactions.

May 13, 1999. Vote 116. Voted to ban the importation of ammunition clips that can hold more than 10 rounds.

May 14, 1999. Vote 119. Voted to criminalize internet advertisements to sell legal firearms in a legal manner.

May 18, 1999. Vote 122. Voted to for Mandatory triggerlocks.

May 20, 1999. Vote 133. Voted to create new Federal regulation of pawn shops handling of guns.

May 20, 1999. Vote 134. Voted to give the Treasury Department expansive new authority to regulate and keep records on gun shows and their participants, and criminalize many intrastate firearms transactions. The vote was 50-50, with Vice President Gore casting the tie-breaking vote.

May 20, 1999. Vote 140. Voted for the Clinton Juvenile Justice bill, which contained a package of gun control measures.

July 29, 1999. Vote 224. Voted to close debate on the Clinton Juvenile Justice bill, which contained a package of gun control measures.

February 2, 2000. Vote 4. Voted to make firearms manufacturers and distributors’ debts nondischargeable in bankruptcy if they were sued because they unknowingly sold guns to individuals who used the gun in a crime. 68 Senators voted against Reid’s position, including 17 Democrats including Bryan of Nevada.

March 2, 2000. Vote 27. Voted to say that school violence was due to the fact that Congress “failed to pass reasonable, common-sense gun control measures” and call for new gun ownership restrictions on the anniversary of the Columbine shootings.

March 2, 2000. Vote 28. Voted to say that school violence was due to the fact that Congress “failed to pass reasonable, common-sense gun control measures” and call for new gun ownership restrictions on the anniversary of the Columbine shootings (reconsideration of vote 27).

March 2, 2000. Vote 32. Voted to use Federal taxpayer funds to hand out anti-gun literature in schools and to run anti-gun public service announcements.

April 6, 2000. Vote 64. Voted for a gun control package including new onerous restrictions on gun shows.

April 7, 2000. Vote 74. Voted against an amendment to provide for the enforcement of existing gun laws in lieu of new burdensome gun control mandates.

May 16, 2000. Vote 100. Voted to commend the participants of the so-called “Million Mom March” for their demand for more Federal restrictions on firearms ownership, and to urge the passage of strict gun control measures.

May 17, 2000. Vote 102. Vote to overturn the ruling of the chair that the Daschle amendment (commending the participants of the so-called “Million Mom March” for their demand for more Federal restrictions on firearms ownership, and to urge the passage of strict gun control measures) was out of order.

May 17, 2000. Vote 103. Voted against an amendment stating “the right of each law-abiding United States citizen to own a firearm for any legitimate purpose, including self-defense or recreation, should not be infringed.”

May 17, 2000. Vote 104. Voted for an amendment commending the participants of the so-called “Million Mom March” for their demand for more Federal restrictions on firearms ownership, and to urge the passage of strict gun control measures.

February 26, 2004. Vote 17. Voted for mandatory triggerlocks.

March 2, 2004. Vote 25. Voted for Federal regulation of gun shows.

July 28, 2005. Vote 207. Voted for mandatory triggerlocks.

March 5, 2009. Vote 83. Voted against a ban on the United Nations imposing taxes on American citizens after France and other world leaders proposed a global tax on firearms.

[I cannot think of a name]

Judases maybe - a passive, let Wayne have his way board of directors is more likely.

There were strange “arrangements” about the building the NRA bought and a printing/marketing contract that seemed to have a fishy smell about it. When Neal Knox began demanding answers (he was NOT one of the passive directors) he suddenly drew the wrath of King Wayne. It probably could have all been explained, but it seemed like King Wayne really got put out that anyone would dare ask such questions.

The fight to keep the second amendment alive needs warriors and leaders - no Kings are required.

Just my opinion.

[nevergore]

Hey...NRA Executive management!

This is one member who will cancell their long standing membership and so will both my kids who have membership....

[2nd amendment mama]

Bingo - see my post #101 for the NRA’s financial donations to Harry Reid including one on March 25th of this year for the primary. The NRA hasn’t donated a single penny to Sharron Angle but GOA has......

[RC2]

Let me see if I got this right. Reid gets $61 Million from the Feds to give to the State of Nevada. The State takes the money and buys the land from the Feds. What this means is that the tax payer is paying for the $61 Million, but the Feds get the money back.

It would have been better for the Feds to just donate the land to the State. In that case, it wouldn’t cost the tax payer anything. As it stands now, the Feds are counting the money twice.

[Notary Sojac]

There is a lot of tinfoil hattery about some of the posts on this thread.

IMO it's pretty simple.

The bigger the threat to gun rights, the bigger the opportunities for NRA to troll for contributions and increase its budget.

Not much different from NASA and global warming.

Great screen name Ogie - buy you a soda after the game??

[OldPossum]

If they do , I don’t RENEW!!!

Why would you renew now? Haven't you seen enough of the New NRA?

[A Strict Constructionist]

“The NRA HAS BEEN INFILTRATED!”

Any time you hire a lobbyist in DC you’ve been infiltrated. They only work for themselves.

[dervish]

The NRA’s Political Sellout

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2542526/posts

[EODGUY]

“If the NRA does endorse Reid, They Will NEVER get another cent from me and my lifetime membership will be canceled immediately.”

If the content of this article is accurate, the NRA’s support of one of the most unethical senators in existence will cause me to regretfully cancel the lifetime membership I received as a gift from my wife on our 40th wedding anniversary. The thought of the NRA being co-opted sickens me.

EODGUY

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Great screen name Ogie - buy you a soda after the game??

I'm not playing, I'm suspended... :-)

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Thanks for the good work on this thread Ogie, and thanks for thinking of me with the ping.

Good to hear from you, my FRiend. Sad to see that not only have things not changed with the NRA since our shared Senate debacle in 2004, they have actually gotten worse.

Best wishes - stay safe.

OO

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Wow, the NRA sellouts just keep coming.

[RolandTignor]

I think they’ve been infiltrated.

[editor-surveyor]

Anonymous shills propping up their hypocrisy are an even better bargain!
.

[editor-surveyor]

“I’m usre you’ve heard by now the NRA came out in opposition to her...”

.
And it was obvious that it was in response to Redstate’s article.

I’ll believe when I see the specific action.
.

[Joe Brower]

Does anyone out there have any real information on this, or is this just another example of the anti-NRA crowd freaking out from the latest scuttlebutt from the rumor mill?

I just got off the phone with a fellow at the NRA-ILA, and he stated flatly that the NRA has not taken any official position whatsoever yet, either pro or con. I did advise them that they better do something quick, the operative principle being here that people react ten times more quickly and strongly to the negative than the positive, true or not.

The NRA has responded in a similar fashion about the rumors they were facing about SCOTUS nominee Kagan; I strongly suggested they do the same about Reid, and fast.

[basil]

Ya know—the NRA could have just flatly stated that they ARE NOT endorsing this POS, and been done with it. That they would even consider endorsing him is beyond me......

[catnipman]

I just called the NRA at 1-800-392-8683 and punched 4 so I could speak to a person.

I told them that if they endorsed Harry Reid, I would cancel my membership, ask for a refund, and promote joining alternative organizations at my gun club (since membership in the NRA is one of the few requirements for joining.)

[AvOrdVet]

AND FOR ALL YOU IGNORANT ANTIGUN NRA HATING IDIOTS

Unlike some on this forum, we don't have to lie to get our point across... The NRA (including you) is doing a bang up job of sinking itself.

So anyone that is not a die hard NRA groupie is now a ANTIGUN IDIOT? what an idiotic statement, but considering the source...

So again, for all you FReepers new and old, Meet ‘ole 2.5, the GOA hating NRA member…

Here is a thread where he spewed his typical, and not very enlightened rant, without listening to a word someone else says… Typical 2.5 whining rant about the GOA.

and here he is in another thread and using his typical whining rant with me… 2.5 gets the real facts and then gets caught in a couple of, well let’s say... factual distortions.

And yet again, after being confronted with facts defeating his position he continues to defend the indefensible.

So after getting his butt severely kicked to the curb many times, he continues to resort to distortions, twisting everyone’s words and in some cases; out right lying about his actions in an attempt to defend his pitifully weak bias.

Even so, I tried to reach out over a year after he told his usual fibs and help him see the error of his non-question, but again he went back to his old ways of unfairly attacking fellow 2A groups.

Many people have answered his stupid questions and countered his stands in-numerous times… he just refuses to see it.

AOV sends with warmest regards.

[VictoryGal]

> What do the DEMS HAVE ON LAPIERRE????// MUST BE BIG!!!!

Either a live boy or a dead girl, as they say...

The NRA is cutting its own throat with this. Never thought I’d see the day.