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Old April 9, 2012, 01:04 PM   #52
zincwarrior
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Quote:
if there are no Democrats, how come the NRA is not cultivating those relationships?

They have cultivated those relationships, and they get screeched at by rank-and-file members for it.
Why? With the growth of ownership, the organization should be even more neutral now. Probably the topic for another thread though.
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Old April 9, 2012, 01:07 PM   #53
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With the growth of ownership, the organization should be even more neutral now.
The organization is, but the partisan zealots (who'd love the CNN article to be true) are the most vocal and shrill.
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Old April 9, 2012, 01:14 PM   #54
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Originally Posted by Mike Irwin
"He said the NRA's work is cut out for it, because gun ownership is on the decline in America."
Total firearms ownership in the US is estimated at 270 million firearms. From 11/30/98 to 3/31/12, there were over 138 million NICS background checks. If that reflects a decline in ownership, I would hate to see the type of buying frenzy that would represent an increase.
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Old April 9, 2012, 01:18 PM   #55
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I don't interpret that as NRA endorsement of Beck and North.~Silver Bullet
Is Glenn Beck as the keynote speaker this Saturday "an endorsement", and if not, has anyone told Mr. Beck? Cause he spent the better part of two hours on it, today only.
Mainly to demagogue the words of the ex-Green Jobs Czar Van Jones and his new catch phrase the Kill at Will Law which was in Mr. Jones opinion...."Because of ALEC". Along with quite a few other things, but
"Because of ALEC" was the basic repeatable mantra following each wacky statement, sermon style. I have some pretty good quotes that are obviously gun activism related, but they are also purely the worst type of political in nature, thereby upsetting the apple cart.
I suppose the NRA may know what it's getting itself into. Still....it's moonbat territory, hearing those types rant in the general direction of each other over NRA legislation, membersm, and direction.

Probobly all timed to coincide with the OP article.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/0...-To-Spread-It-
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Old April 9, 2012, 01:19 PM   #56
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I recall one year at the annual convention, NRA had Ted Kennedy as a guest speaker. If that's no reaching out, I don't know what is!

This artical looks like a CNN hatchet job.
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Old April 9, 2012, 01:24 PM   #57
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Yep it certainly does.
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Old April 9, 2012, 01:33 PM   #58
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My post from another site:

Its true that most of our national gun control legislation was accomplished by "liberals". We all know the history of those onerous acts. My problem with the NRA putting all their eggs in the "conservative" basket is this:

1. "Conservatives" did a net nothing for US gunowners when they ruled the white house and both houses of congress. They could have rolled back the Hughes Amendment, the bans on importation of fireams by previous presidents, the ban on concealed carry in national parks and parts of the GCA 1968. Instead they did nothing.

2. In 1984 and again in 1986, a "conservative" US president was first to ban long guns under the provisions of the sporting purposes clause of the GCA 1968. Other presidents would cite this precedent when they banned long guns from import.

This same president banned carry of handguns in national parks. After leaving office he joined other ex-presidents in shilling for the AWB. That president had banned the carry of loaded handguns when he was governor of his home state. Today, the NRA-ILA calls him the "gunowners champion".

3. In 1989 a "conservative" president banned about 40 semi-auto milsurp firearms from import based on the sporting purposes clause of the GCA 1968.

4. The AWB passed the US house by one vote: 38 "conservatives", including the house minority leader, voted in favor of the AWB. 76 "liberals" voted against the AWB.

5. A "conservative" presidential candidate, trolling for liberal votes, promised to sign an extension of the AWB if it reached his desk: Thankfully it did not.

http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1998/importban-kf.htm

For a long time "conservative" politicians have played the lesser of two evils game on gunowners and we have sucked up the Kool Aide. We don't need an NRA thats in cahoots with either party.

Last edited by thallub; April 9, 2012 at 01:40 PM.
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Old April 9, 2012, 02:28 PM   #59
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Having said that, when you pop open the (new wow high techie looking) NRA website there's Glenn Beck and Oliver North.
Glenn Beck????

Not seeing a lot of Democrats at the Leadership Forum
"Leadership Forum with featured speakers
Did it ever occur to you that perhaps prominent pro-2A Democrats are simply rare? While there are certainly exceptions, including members of this very forum, it is undeniable that anti's, more often than not, have the letter "D" next to their name when they run for public office. Unfortunately, a list of most of the prominent Democrats in national politics reads much like a "who's who" of gun control supporters including former President Clinton, Sen. Feinstein, Sen Schumer, Sen. Kerry, the late Sen. Kennedy, Rep. McCarthy, Rep. Boxer, and Rep. Pelosi. Also, all three of the most historically significant federal gun control laws were passed under Democrat Administrations: '34 NFA (Roosevelt), '68 GCA (Johnson), and '94 AWB (Clinton).

When there is a pro-gun Democrat, the NRA does not hesitate to support them as was the case with both of the politicians that I cited in my previous post. Likewise, when a Republican supports gun control, the NRA doesn't hesitate to fiercely oppose him. For example, the NRA is quite critical of Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R-NYC) and witheld their endorsement for former President George W. Bush's re-election campaign until after the '94 AWB had failed to be renewed (to be fair, Bush was luke-warm at best on 2A but he was still much better on the issue than his opponent, Sen. Kerry, was). However, the fact remains that pro-gun Democrats are, and have been for decades, the minority within their chosen party.
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Old April 9, 2012, 03:01 PM   #60
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All the more reason they should be supported.
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Old April 9, 2012, 06:17 PM   #61
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I, for one, question this decision. The left/Democrats are already characterizing the NRA as a branch of the Republican party.
Ah Gary, the left already despises the NRA and can't demonize them enough. I just read that the Zimmerman-Martin incident was the NRA's fault for supporting the "Stand Your Ground Law" even though it it grants no right to chase after a suspect and try to detain him.

Don't know if it's a good idea or not, but how the left feels about it shouldn't be of the slightest concern.
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Old April 9, 2012, 06:25 PM   #62
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Anyone who has done any lobbying realizes lobbyists, for the most part, are mercenaries. They go wherever the paycheck is and if they have ten minutes of free time they fill in with another client. MOST work for dozens of organizations. They peddle connections, not ideology. A paid career working for the NRA and another conservative group is not at all surprising. It also isn't anything at all new.

I think the NRA has generally been lopsided in supporting Republicans, but they have also supported a few Democrats who supported gun rights and infuriated paying members. Everyone forget the last election cycle?

I'm no fan of the NRA as a defender as the 2A, as my sig indicates, but I saw this article and laughed.
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Old April 9, 2012, 11:51 PM   #63
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This is for those who can't read past the topic header. There is no proof that the NRA is promoting anything other than gun related positions. A lobbyist they use also lobbies for another organization which sometimes cooperates with the NRA on gun related issues like the "stand your ground" laws. CNN is using half-truths and innuendo to damage the NRA and those of us who love firearms.
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Old April 10, 2012, 09:53 AM   #64
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As KyJim pointed out, there is nothing to this story. It is little more than an attempt to divide gun owners. The NRA has a 76-member Board of Directors, and not suprisingly given the conservative support for the Second Amendment, some of them are conservative.

However, by no means all of those members are... you may remember past NRA Board of Directors such as Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) (who would later throw us under the bus for the AWB and thus become unpopular with the NRA). Rep. Harold Volkmer (D-MO) was a member of the NRA Board of Directors until his death in 2011. Roy Innis is no longer a Democrat, having switched to the Libertarian Party after unsuccessful primary runs against Mario Cuomo and David Dinkins; but he is not exactly a conservative.

You can bet that current sitting Board of Directors members, like Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) (who I might note addressed the NRA Annual Meeting in 2008 AND 2010 for those who were complaining about the current lineup), would be screaming bloody murder if the NRA was using member funds to promote the Republican party.

It is the height of irony that as recently as 2010, this board was alight with irate conservatives complaining about the NRA taking an exemption on the DISCLOSE Act and giving favorable press to Sen. Harry Reid and now here we are in 2012 and people are complaining that the NRA is too conservative and linked to other conservative causes. That right there is fairly solid proof that the NRA is about the Second Amendment - both sides are mad at it because it won't identify more closely with their causes.
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Old April 10, 2012, 11:18 AM   #65
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This is for those who can't read past the topic header. There is no proof that the NRA is promoting anything other than gun related positions. A lobbyist they use also lobbies for another organization which sometimes cooperates with the NRA on gun related issues like the "stand your ground" laws. CNN is using half-truths and innuendo to damage the NRA and those of us who love firearms.
Just to repeat for the reading impaired and knee-jerk reactionaries. If you rely on CNN, or scanning headlines in general, for your 2A information then you might want to rethink that.
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Old April 10, 2012, 10:43 PM   #66
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4. The AWB passed the US house by one vote: 38 "conservatives", including the house minority leader, voted in favor of the AWB. 76 "liberals" voted against the AWB.
Senate votes:

Assault Weapons Ban
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...n=2&vote=00295
H.R. 3355. Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. August 25, 1994

Passed by a vote of 61-38

Republicans vote for/against: 7/36; 16% FOR
Democrats vote for/against: 54/2; 96% FOR

89% of the FOR votes were cast by the Democrats.


Brady Bill
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...n=1&vote=00394
H.R. 1025. Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act Federal Firearms License Reform Act of 1993. November 20, 1993

Passed by a vote of 63-36

Republicans vote for/against: 16/28; 36% FOR
Democrats vote for/against: 47/8; 85% FOR

75% of the FOR votes were cast by the Democrats.


Commerce in Arms
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...n=1&vote=00206
S.397. Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. July 26, 2005

Passed by a vote of 66-32

Republicans vote for/against: 53/1; 98% FOR
Democrats vote for/against: 13/30; 30% FOR

97% of the AGAINST votes were cast by the Democrats.

This last vote data and calculations do not include the one senator who voted as Independent.

Some of the Democrats voting No on this issue are the headlining members of the Gun Control Hall of Shame: Joe Biden, Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, Diane Feinstein, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer.
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Old April 10, 2012, 10:47 PM   #67
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1. "Conservatives" did a net nothing for US gunowners when they ruled the white house and both houses of congress. They could have rolled back the Hughes Amendment, the bans on importation of fireams by previous presidents, the ban on concealed carry in national parks and parts of the GCA 1968. Instead they did nothing.
Which, if true, would still be a reason to vote for them as opposed to the liberals who have done a net negative for us.

Not quite true, though: the conservatives in the previous administration passed the Commerce in Arms act (see previous post) to prevent gun manufacturers and gun shops from being sued into oblivion with frivolous lawsuits.
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Old April 10, 2012, 10:55 PM   #68
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Bush also signed a law saying it was illegal to confiscate firearms during times of emergency.

Has any other president signed anything pro gun in his presidency ?
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Old April 11, 2012, 09:08 AM   #69
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OK, fans - here we go. We discuss anti and progun issues. If you want to confound liberal and conservative with that - we get nowhere.

Bush said he would sign the AWB, IIRC.

So, this is very near a shut down.

Stay on the NRA or bye bye.
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Old April 11, 2012, 10:00 AM   #70
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The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act is one of the most under-rated pro-gun peices of legislation ever.

I think gun owners under estimate it's importance because it doesn't seem to have an immediate and direct impact on them like mag cap laws, a state-approved list of weapons, flat out bans like in Chicago & DC - things like that.

But the anti-gunners rightly understood that litigation was an extremely powerful tool for accomplishing their goals.
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Old April 11, 2012, 10:00 AM   #71
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Okay, over-arching confusing here.

If none of my money, well my father's money, that is paid in NRA dues is used for legal issues, then where is the money necessary for the NRA to branch out thier lobbyinh coming from?

The SAF is looking better all the time. All I got from the NRA was a hat.
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Old April 11, 2012, 10:25 AM   #72
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If none of my money, well my father's money, that is paid in NRA dues is used for legal issues, then where is the money necessary for the NRA to branch out thier lobbyinh coming from?
The ILA gets their money through donations, collected through those mailers almost everybody throws out and those phone calls almost everyone hangs up on.
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Old April 11, 2012, 10:35 AM   #73
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On the one hand - I want to say that the SAF has done more for me in Illinois than the NRA has, looking at the McDonald case.

Looking at Sheperd v Madigan and Moore v Madigan, while the results were the same in the lower courts, I think the NRA lawyers could have done a better job with Sheperd - especially forgetting to site Woolard as authority.

But on the other hand - the NRA has done a ton of stuff on the legislative front for me in Illinois.

We have an NRA lobbyist who is right there in the halls with the Illinois State representatives and Senators.

My NRA lobbyist posts of a forum to give us the inside info on the legislative process, the back door deals, the political manuvering, the strategy and tactics. It can get very confusing and this NRA guy works tirelessly to break it down for us.

I do think that the NRA should stick to gun issues (I don't think the posted story makes a case that they are branching out).

One of the problems I do have with the NRA though, at least in Illinois, is that new candidates don't get a grade. But in Illinois we have "The Machine", the "Democratic Machine" The power epicenter for the machine is Chicago. Even if there is a pro-gun democrat in Illinois, they are going to have to play by rules, tow the party line and vote anti-gun.

So the NRA's position of only grading politicians based on their voting record or how they answer a question - has not helped in Illinois.

I would think at some point the ISRA & NRA would just start giving these new candidates a failing grade based on their membership in an organization that has proven to be anti-gun.
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Old April 11, 2012, 11:23 AM   #74
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Originally Posted by Tom Servo
The ILA gets their money through donations, collected through those mailers almost everybody throws out and those phone calls almost everyone hangs up on.
So in addition to Pop's shelling out whatever our yearly fees are, I would have to donate to the ILA to ensure legal action?
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Old April 11, 2012, 11:37 AM   #75
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I would have to donate to the ILA to ensure legal action?
I don't think you can ensure legal action by simply donating to the NRA-ILA. Your donation goes into the ILA pot as it were to help fund all the NRA-ILA activities. That may or may not include every issue you are personally interested in. Remember, the NRA is a national organization.
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