Posted on 10/23/2010 8:25:59 AM PDT by marktwain
I have a happy outcome to yesterday's column about a pro-gun candidate for the Georgia State Senate who was given a failing grade by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund. They have changed her grade to "AQ" (based on her questionnaire response, as she has not held office to be rated on), and gone one step further and endorsed her!
From Diana Williams:
Hi David,
First off, I want to thank you for your wonderful article. I have gotten great feedback from people. Unfortunately, my district is severely gerrymandered and in order to win, I need votes in the DeKalb County portion of the district which is demographically to my disadvantage.
I just got off the phone with the NRA. My misunderstanding of question 8 about preemption was discussed as well as my understanding of question 10 relating to personal property rights.
In regards to question 10, I understand the bill would allow a gun owner (i.e. employee) the ability to store their gun in their vehicle (personal property) in a parking lot (i.e. employer owned) open to the public. While I still have reservations about forcing a property owner (employer) to allow that, said property owner is allowing that vehicle (employee's personal property) on their property to begin with. Trying to dictate what a person can carry or not carry in their personal property locked up is a violation of their (employee's) property rights.
While I am not always good at trying to articulate my point, the NRA and I have come to an understanding and they are changing my rating to AQ. They even went so far as to say they would endorse me.
The NRA should be making the changes to their website rating of me today. Thanks again for all your help - and keep up the good fight!
Actually, several people should be thanked. Georgia Carry.org under the leadership of Jerry Henry and Ed Stone was instrumental in providing both documentation and a forum to amplify the voices of those concerned with seeing Ms. Williams reconsidered, and of course, those readers of Gun Rights Examiner and WarOnGuns who joined GCO members and took on the role of foot soldier to help spread the word. That's one reason why I continually badger readers to share links and join in actions--because when we do, we can actually influence outcomes.
In New Mexico the NRA endorsed leftist democrat Martin Heinrich, even though he was nearly 100% loyal to Pelosi. He is a very vulnerable first termer. The NRA is on the wrong path this election.
They busily support “sporting purpose” democrats who might cast an occasional vote in our favor, never realizing they are an intergral part of the organization that is hell bent upon severe gun control and confiscation through legislation and UN treaty.
re: “The NRA is on the wrong path this election.”
I totally agree. Here in Nevada, the NRA was endorsing Reid until real gun owners made a huge stink about it. They withdrew their endorsement of Reid, but wouldn’t openly endorse Sharron Angle (who received and “A” rating from NRA earlier in the year) - in fact, they still haven’t endorsed her. What is wrong with the NRA? I thought they were on our side?
To be accurate, she corrected her mistakes.
The NRA can only go by the responses a candidate gives on the questionnaire. If she says in her answers, for example, that she doesn't believe that an employee has self-defense rights while at work, then there's no reason for the NRA to not take her at her word. It's hardly a mistake on the NRA's part to report the answers that a candidate gives.
The NRA needs to do what the VFW just did, clean house. The members need to demand a purge of the ILA and if it doesn't happen vote out all the directors that don't vote for a change in staff. Chris Cox and Wayne LaPierre need to be shown the door.
The NRA is simply NOT a conservative organization. To get them to make the right decision, conservative gun owners must pull teeth constantly. This is exactly the way the conservatives deal with rinos.
The NRA cannot effectively support gun-rights unless they fully embrace the entire constitution. Supporting pro-gun Dems supports the Dem leadership and their agenda is decidedly anti-gun and unconstitutional.
What is the best way to support gun-rights? Support conservative pro-constitutional candidates and conservative gun rights organizations. Just think what would happen if all conservatives moved into conservative gun rights organizations. The NRA would be forced to chose between their conservative base or continue to support the Dem leadership. In the final analysis, there is nothing magic about the NRA. In fact, the NRA is destroying its brand during this election cycle by supporting Dems and the Dem’s grip on the House. The NRA is only is as good as its membership and right now, they are losing good conservative gun owners in droves.
On the contrary, the NRA supporting pro-gun Democrats is the only reason after 4 years of holding Congress (and 2 years with the White House) the RATS have not even brought a single anti-gun bill to a vote in either the House or Senate. Who would have predicted that 4 years ago? Of course the NRA will never get credit for bills not passed, just as Bush never got credit for terrorist attacks that never happened in the 7 years following 911. It's the price of success.
BTW, I personally would prefer the NRA stopped endorsing candidates altogether, just give them a rating and let the voters consider that as one factor in their vote. It would do a lot to end these fights that just divide gunowners.
You cannot divorce the 2A from the Constitution and the BOR. The “price of success” does not include an utter destruction of the Constitution & BOR via the Marxist Dems. A vote for a pro-gun Dem is a vote for the anti-gun, anti-constitutional Dem leadership. Despite its serious flaws, the Republican leadership is still better than the Marxist Dem leadership. True, a “blue dog” and “pro-gun” Dem may vote the right way from time to time, but when crunch time comes and a vote is needed, the Dems will do what the leadership tells them to. Party affiliation trumps NRA endorsement in the final analysis IMHO.
Influence is a 2 way street. The NRA may think its influence is one way. But au contraire. Although the Dems may not dare to propose anti-gun legislation outright now, the Dems betray gun owners through alternate means. What about 0bamacare and provisions that threaten gun rights? What about the EPA’s attempt to regulate ammo? Would a senator Manchin oppose zero’s SCOTUS anti-gun Marxist nominee?
Conservative gun owners have options; they can join conservative gun rights organizations.
The NRA is simply NOT a conservative organization. You simply cannot support Democrats and continue to claim that you are conservative. I do not support Dems, rinos or the NRA. The NRA is not the only game in town these days.
Don’t look for CPAC to invite the NRA for their next meeting. If they do, there will be protests against the NRA at the meeting.
You're analysis is not supported by facts. In fact those pro-gun Democrats have fought in committee and killed many attempts to bring anti-gun bills to the floor. And several dozen Dem representatives sent a letter to Eric Holder warning that they would oppose any attempt to reinstate the AWB. As far as SCOTUS nominees, the House has no role in their confirmation.
The NRA is simply NOT a conservative organization.
True. The NRA is a pro gun rights organization. They specifically states that they are not a conservative or Republican organization. They represent the interests of all gun owners, many of whom do not consider themselves conservative and/or Republicans. If the NRA became just another "conservative/Republican organization they would lose those members and with them the clout that has actually prevented any gun control bills from passing for the last four years. Any organiztion that only represents conservatives will never have that influence, and will be as ineffective as the GOA.
I’ve tried on countless threads to argue the fact that there are plenty of pro-gun Democrats. After all, how did we get so close to defeating a filibuster on the Thune Amendment last year? But around here, suggesting anything positive about any Democrat anywhere is like talking to a wall. Nevermind the fact that you are 100% right, no anti-gun bill has been proposed, and in fact, with conceal carry in parks, the opposite.
Oh well. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Next election, after the Republicans sweep the House, a larger majority of the NRA’s endorsements will be Republican again. It’s a trailing indicator since they are pro-incumbent. Then, the Dems will be pissed off at them.
Thank you for the clarification on the NRA. True, it is not a conservative and I would add the that the NRA is also NOT a pro-constitutional organisation (except for its 2A support). You simply cannot support Dem politicians directly or indirectly through a POLITICAL organization and say you are conservative or pro-constitutional (that is the entire constitution & BOR). Please note that I specifically stated POLITICAL organization.
I believe that the NRA vastly underestimates its pernicious effect of promoting the Dem leadership especially this year. It was this Dem leadership that passed the unconstitutional 0bamacare down our throats. There have been many other examples. So you simply cannot be pro-Constitutional and support Democrats (or rinos), period! Look, the NRA was even willing to sell out the 1A by getting a carve-out from the DISCLOSE act until some semblance of reason finally prevailed. I don’t know about you, but I kind of like those other rights in the BOR & Constitution
Now, as far as losing non-conservative and Democrat gun-owners is concerned, the NRA should have nothing to worry about this year. All those gun toting liberals in the upper east side Manhattan, San Francisco, and Cambridge MA will be happy with the NRA, all 10 of them. However, as evidenced by all the posts critical of the NRA, it appears that the NRA will lose many good conservative gun-owners. Those “conservatives” that remain active in the NRA, with their support of the Pelosi-Reid leadership, should no longer be considered conservative. Sorry, that my opinion and it is shared by many other conservative gun-owners. The NRA’s policies antagonizes pro-Constitutional conservatives and these policies are NOT good for the NRA brand which will ultimately reduce its effectiveness (The NRA can look to the AARP and AMA for examples)
Conservatives need to get off the NRA plantation and support a conservative gun rights organization. I’m tired of the Quislings and rinos. We can support the Constitution, conservativism and gun rights without making compromises with the Left. And yes, pro-gun Dems are part of the Left (as are the rinos that support the Left).
I don’t think NRA will be going to CPAC this year. If they do, they will not be welcomed by many conservatives.
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