it was 1998 (deep in the President Clinton years). The FreeRepublic had a software problem and everyone needed to come up with new names. I decided to go with my favorite character played by the current President of the NRA (Charlton Heston).
Who knew that a few years later it would have a more noticeable meaning...
*I decided to go with my favorite character***
Beat me to it, you rat! ;-)