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NRA Now Leans Toward Endorsing Harry Reid
Redstate.com ^ | July 1, 2010 | Erick Erickson

Posted on 07/01/2010 7:08:29 AM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: 111th; banglist; gunvote; nra; nv2010; reid; rinos
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To: Joe Brower

Good job, Joe!!

Be Ever Vigilant!


301 posted on 07/02/2010 1:03:29 PM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: catnipman

>>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.)

And their answer was?? Keep in mind that “Thanks for your call. Your opinion is valuable to us” is corporate-speak for “F Off!”


302 posted on 07/02/2010 1:04:09 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Obama is like a rocket scientist....who's trying to do brain surgery with a hammer.)
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To: Ogie Oglethorpe

I thought they already DID endorse him a month or two ago?


303 posted on 07/02/2010 1:08:49 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: Still Thinking
I thought they already DID endorse him a month or two ago?

No, they haven't "officially endorsed" him - they just gave him a financial (read $$$ from members' dues) contribution for his primary.

304 posted on 07/02/2010 1:22:16 PM PDT by 2nd amendment mama ( www.2asisters.org | Self defense is a basic human right!)
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To: catnipman

calling them now too.


305 posted on 07/02/2010 2:35:42 PM PDT by JessieHelmsJr (Tree hugging liberals call it global warming. We call it summertime.)
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To: Ogie Oglethorpe

NRA’s Wayne LaPierre, sounds french to me. NO suprise that he has SUKD UP to Mr. SELL AMERICA OUT, Harry Reid


306 posted on 07/02/2010 2:41:25 PM PDT by TheDailyChange (Politics,Conservatism,Liberalism)
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To: Ogie Oglethorpe

why do we need the NRA if they endorse Reid?

do they even want our membership?


307 posted on 07/02/2010 3:01:21 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Joe Brower
From Hot Air:

Thank you for contacting NRA-ILA regarding the recent rumor that NRA-PVF has indicated they will endorse Harry Reid.

Regarding any potential endorsement of Sen. Reid in the upcoming elections, NRA-PVF has not yet announced any ratings or endorsements in this race. Ratings and endorsements will be determined closer to the election. It is important to note, however, that the NRA is a single issue organization and that when our ratings and endorsements are announced, they are based solely on a candidate’s support for, or opposition to, our Second Amendment rights. Other issues, as important as they may be to many people, do not and cannot play any role in those decisions. NRA represents a broad coalition of American gun owners, who are bound together by their support for the right to keep and bear arms.

In 2004, Senator Reid was rated “B” in his reelection by the NRA Political Victory Fund. Since then, as U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Senator Reid has proven himself to be a supporter of our Second Amendment rights. It would be accurate to say that few, if any, of NRA’s legislative victories in Congress during the last six years would have occurred without his active support.

As an example, he 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 renew the federal ban on so-called “assault weapons”, and the Kennedy Amendment that would have banned most hunting ammunition.

Following Hurricane Katrina, he voted for legislation, that is now federal law, 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 Washington D.C.’s 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.

Early last year, Sen. Reid emphatically stated that he would oppose any effort to reinstate an “assault weapons” ban if the Senate were to vote on it in the future. In addition, he voted last year for the Thune-Vitter Amendment to provide national reciprocity for state Right-to-Carry permits. He also voted twice for the Wicker Amendment allowing Amtrak passengers to include firearms in their checked luggage. These votes were possible only because of Senator Reid’s actions in his capacity as Senate Majority Leader. Finally, he was among the 58 Senators who signed the pro-gun congressional amicus brief in the McDonald v. Chicago case, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 2nd, which will decide whether the Second Amendment applies to all states and localities.

Most recently, the NRA worked with Sen. Reid to include in his manager’s amendment to the health care reform bill a provision that prohibits the disclosure or collection of information relating to the lawful ownership, use or storage of firearms or ammunition and also prohibits lawful gun ownership, possession and use from being used as a factor to determine eligibility or premium rates for health insurance. This provision was adopted on December 22, 2009 and was included in this legislation when it was signed into law on March 23.

Finally, Senator Reid is opposed to any anti-gun treaties that might come before the U.S. Senate for ratification.

These are a few examples of Senator Reid’s support and leadership on Second Amendment issues. Given the Senate could vote on gun-related issues in the coming months, rest assured any votes will be considered in future candidate evaluations. Regarding NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox recently attending the grand opening of the Clark County Shooting Park (CCSP) with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and other Nevada elected officials.

The CCSP is the largest shooting park in the world. This 2,900-acre state-of-the-art facility is devoted entirely to the shooting sports and is the nation’s premier shooting park. As the nation’s largest shooting sports organization, the NRA’s presence at the ribbon-cutting ceremony should come as no surprise. NRA actively worked with several Members of the Nevada congressional delegation, including Senator Reid, to ensure that this range was built. The development and construction of the CCSP has the full bipartisan support of the Nevada congressional delegation, and Nevada’s Republican Governor.

Senator Reid was instrumental in arranging not only the transfer of the then-federal lands to Clark County where the Park is located, but also in securing $61 million in funding to develop and build the Park. The Clark County Shooting Park would not have been built without his active efforts and support.

Once again, thank you for your inquiry.

308 posted on 07/02/2010 3:45:00 PM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: Joe Brower
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.

That alone if bad enough. This is not just some ordinary Congressional Seat. The second amendment folks, along with a few others groups defeated sitting Speaker of the House Foley. They can do 'er again.

309 posted on 07/02/2010 4:01:31 PM PDT by El Gato ("The second amendment is the reset button of the US constitution"-Doug McKay)
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To: Bryanw92
And their answer was?? Keep in mind that “Thanks for your call. Your opinion is valuable to us” is corporate-speak for “F Off!”

Actually, they didn't say a whole lot. Pretty much, they said, "OK". It was just some low level minion anyway, but I'd rather talk to a person and get some minimal feedback than just leave a message on their "hotline" or whatever it is they call it. I know for sure I'm wasting my time doing that. I also filled out a comment form on their ILA web page, so they also have a written record of my comment.

310 posted on 07/02/2010 4:21:31 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Made from the Right Stuff!)
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To: dervish

:’) Looks familiar for some reason...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2542526/posts?page=36#36


311 posted on 07/02/2010 4:36:28 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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To: rmlew; dervish

That sounds like you’ve hit on it, makes sense.


312 posted on 07/02/2010 5:42:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
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To: OldPossum

Membership requirement of gun club I belong to.


313 posted on 07/02/2010 7:10:06 PM PDT by Renegade ("Bring it on while I still don't need glasses to shoot your eye out ")
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To: Joe Brower
" 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. "

Sending Wayne out to do a photo-op with Reid, plus a puff piece in the NRA magazines is what I would call definitely "Pro". I'd also call it clueless. Dingy Harry is part of the troika that's trying to destroy America.

314 posted on 07/02/2010 7:26:46 PM PDT by OKSooner
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To: Ogie Oglethorpe
I wrote the NRA and received the same generic response that has been posted several times in this thread. I wrote them back and assured them they would lose members if they endrosed Reid so they're well aware of the consequences if they do. In my case, they'll be choosing a leftist asswipe over a 15+ year Life Member who HAD planned to bequeath them my entire estate (I am childless).

A sell out is a sell out. And any group that calls itself "pro-gun" cannot endorse a dirtbag like Reid w/o it being just that. Bastards.

315 posted on 07/02/2010 8:01:59 PM PDT by South40 ("Islam has a long tradition of tolerance." ~Hussein Obama, June 4, 2009, Cairo, Egypt)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
well, they wrote the brady bill, so nothing surprises me anymore... I think Gun Owners of America and Keep and Bear Arms are more traditional but not too many people ever heard of them.
316 posted on 07/02/2010 8:21:41 PM PDT by Coleus (Abortion, Euthanasia & FOCA - - don't Obama and the Democrats just kill ya!)
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To: Ogie Oglethorpe

They do the very same thing at the state-level...

They sell-out principled gun rights supporters. For example, in Kentucky, the Kentucky Firearms Freedom Act, is a very good pro-gun bill. Even though certain state officials wouldn’t sponsor it, such as Leslie Combs, they still endorse these sell-out politicians against pro-gun challengers.


317 posted on 07/02/2010 8:51:47 PM PDT by BlackjackPershing (The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree - Thomas Campbell (Scottish poet))
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To: Ogie Oglethorpe

They do the very same thing at the state-level...

They sell-out principled gun rights supporters. For example, in Kentucky, the Kentucky Firearms Freedom Act, is a very good pro-gun bill. Even though certain state officials wouldn’t sponsor it, such as Leslie Combs, they still endorse these sell-out politicians against pro-gun challengers.


318 posted on 07/02/2010 8:52:14 PM PDT by BlackjackPershing (The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree - Thomas Campbell (Scottish poet))
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To: Lazamataz
The same thing that has happened to the GOP: it's members allowed the leadership to do pretty much whatever they wanted to do. No matter how much they betrayed us, we kept sending them money and voting the way they wanted us to instead of thoroughly cleaning house.

Even nearly two years after the debacle of 2008, how much has really changed for the better? It all comes back to the failure of conservatives to get out and get involved in these organizations to change them from within. Will conservatives finally lose their apathy and find the courage to bring about this real change? I honestly don't know anymore.
319 posted on 07/02/2010 10:44:57 PM PDT by Grandma Conservative (Quit settling for the lesser of two evils and support conservatives in the primaries.)
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To: aloishammer

Angle is leading Reid 48% o 41% according to Rasmussen. Some lost cause.


320 posted on 07/02/2010 11:18:15 PM PDT by Grandma Conservative (Quit settling for the lesser of two evils and support conservatives in the primaries.)
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