NRA Nevada endorsements betray Angle and gun owners

Gun Rights Examiner ^ | September 11, 2010 | David Codrea

[Neil E. Wright]

The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has released its grades and endorsements for the 2010 election in Nevada. Absent from their assessment: one of the most important campaigns in the country, the United States Senate race between incumbent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) and challenger Sharron Angle (R). (Click here to review NRA-PVF grades and endorsements.)

We know NRA announced it will not endorse Reid based on his support confirming anti-gun Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. We also know at the time one of their PR flacks said they would not be endorsing anyone in the race, and I pegged that as "weaselly equivocation."

Why?

As a state-level candidate, NRA gave Angle an "A."

At the same time, NRA gave Reid a "B."

In every grading system I've ever seen, "A" wins.

So how does NRA reward that? By giving the Reid campaign thousands of dollars.

[Joe Brower]

One can only imagine what creatures like Micheal Bloomberg, Chuck Schumer, Diane Fienstein, the Brady Campaign, etc. would think, reading a thread like this.

Nicely done, good people.

[WaterBoard]

NRA executive director NRA-ILA, Chris Cox, and NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre are liberals and are buddies with Sen. Reid. (see photo below)



Read this awesome puff piece the NRA wrote about Sen Ried in the American Rifleman if you doubt it.

[WaterBoard]

Why? Surely your forgot the NRA partnered with Sen. Schumer and the Brady Campaign to create the Veterans Disbarment Act (H.R. 2640).

For those not familar with these liberals and their gun grabbing ways:

"The American Legion and the Military Order of the Purple Heart have joined National Association for Gun Rights, Gun Owners of America and dozens and dozens of state and local gun rights groups in opposition to Rep. Carolyn McCarthy and Sen. Patrick Leahy’s massive expansion of the Brady Registration Act, H.R. 2640.

Opposition to H.R. 2640 continues to grow, thanks exclusively to the grassroots activism of gun owners -- like you and me-- across the country. All of the establishment, and notably the institutional gun lobby – that’s the NRA and their Gucci-loafered lobbyists – are supporting H.R. 2640, the McCarthy/Leahy Gun Control Bill. "

[WaterBoard]

Why are you covering for the NRA when has a history of working with Sen. Schumer and the Brady Campaign?

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. a proponent of gun control legislation, said the chances of Senate passage were “very strong.” He said, “When the NRA and I agree on legislation, you know that it’s going to get through, become law and do some good.”

The bill was the outcome of weeks of negotiations between Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the most senior member of the House and a strong supporter of gun rights, and the NRA, and in turn, with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., a leading gun-control advocate."

[AvOrdVet]

Good points that none of the NRA Groupies will acknowledge or answer... instead any time they are challenged, its always the “single issue”, “their the ONLY game in town” or the myriad of other weak defenses that are constantly thrown up (no pun intended).

[AvOrdVet]

BTW nice “handle”, you should give it a little modification with a tag line such as...

WaterBoard (Terrorists, and all sitting Politicians)

Ah. the list is limitless... ;-)

[Dead Corpse]

If the NRA is screwing up, we shouldn't castigate them for it? Yeah, a few of the posts on this thread are over the top... But find a thread on FR where there aren't a few.

Let's look at your statement another way:

"One can only imagine what creatures like Micheal Bloomberg, Chuck Schumer, Diane Fienstein, the Brady Campaign, etc. would think, reading about the NRA's support for their fellow Socialists."

Now can you understand the ire?

[Joe Brower]

DC, you're one guy I like and respect on this forum, so I'll do my best to give you a complete reply.

"Now can you understand the ire?"

I sure can -- I've shared it, although too many folks here won't want to hear that. And I've taken action as a result; the NRA didn't shift it's stance until many, many members called to express their disgust, and I was one of those callers. Not the first time, and not the last.

Over my lifetime, I have come to realize that there is no organization, not the church, not in business, and especially in government that can be completely trusted. The best we can do is get the best folks we can running those enterprises we endorse, and then stand on their shoulders watching their every action like a hawk for the first sign of malfeasance. For me, that list includes the NRA, GOA, and SAF-CCRKBA, all of which I belong to.

The trend here is, unfortunately, to take only the bad (or at least questionable) things the NRA has done, magnify them a hundredfold, and then shout to the heavens, deliberately and completely ignoring all the good they have done. That's the lie of omission, and like any lie, it has no honor. I guess that's what's bugging me about all this ranting against an organization who, without which, our RKBA would have already been lost. Anyone who denies that fact is living in fantasyland.

I've had my differences with the NRA over the years, and thus it's only too ironic that I find myself speaking in their defense. I am no member of their fan club, despite the prejudiced here who would immediately and unthinkingly label me as such. But this endless litany of attacks is over the top, and despite how busy I've been of late, I finally had to take the time to respond. The ad hominem reactions of some here come as no surprise, but such matters little to me, having faced much, much worse in the real world.

My hope and intention is that, from all this internecine fighting is that we end up with a stronger and less "Washingtonized" NRA. Maybe the GOA will start accomplishing more as well, besides attacking their competitor for donations. The last thing I want to see on our headstone, should we ultimately be defeated, is "We met the enemy and he was us".

[Joe Brower]

The NRA will work with anyone who might benefit gun owners, and in the world of politics, that sometimes means working with ill creatures. Sucks, doesn't it? The NRA worked with the ACLU to fight McCain/Feingold "campaign finance reform", and that eventually worked out pretty well.

As for H.R. 2640, I would be interested in where you got your information. Besides the GOA, that is.

[AvOrdVet]

I have also followed your posts as pretty fair, but when you make statements such as this I have to wonder...

"Maybe the GOA will start accomplishing more as well, besides attacking their competitor for donations" -JB

I suppose you have something that backs this up other than something put out by the ILA or rabid NRA members? Could they not be hammering the NRA like the rest of us... because they are also tired of the duplicity.

[mad_as_he$$]

The SRM is already and has been playing the kook card on Angle.

[rellimpank]

--thanks for putting forth the sensible , adult point of view on this thread---

--

[Joe Brower]

My mistake, AOV, I mixed up David Codrea's affiliations. Good -- I am proud in my GOA membership, and this was bugging me.

Yes, maybe Mr. Codrea is just 'tired of the duplicity'. Or maybe he's just looking to make a bigger name for himself by attacking the biggest player in the game.

Or maybe both.

[Joe Brower]

Thanks. I dislike arguing with people who are, ultimately, allies.

[mad_as_he$$]

It is not if you fumble, it's where you fumble.

The very fact that the NRA considered endorsing Reid shows how out of touch they are. Reid ONLY plays with guns because he tihinks it makes him a winner here in Nevada. Along with many other things the NRA has done lately make them non grata around here. DISLCOSE, Heller and all the others show the the NRA has jumped the shark.

[WaterBoard]

1) Ah, you trot out the 'you must be an evil GOA sycophant' line. Sorry, won't work on me, I am not a member of the GOA.

2) I guess the American Legion and Military Order of the Purple Heart are liars, right? Because they issued press releases condemning this bill the NRA joined forces with Brady Campaign to create. Think about that. The NRA tried to sell out US veterans in collaboration with the gun control crowd.

Here is a challenge for you. Name any federal gun control law that the NRA did not have a hand in supporting.

[AvOrdVet]

Yes, maybe Mr. Codrea is just 'tired of the duplicity'. Or maybe he's just looking to make a bigger name for himself by attacking the biggest player in the game.

We all have our biases, and I understand that. ALL of us... NRA, Codera, the GOA have our agendas, likes and dislikes.

But even though we are all working towards the same ends, actions that are wrong and damage our 2A rights must be discussed, although I think we can do it without the personal attacks on each other.

But even your newest response begs the answer, what proof do you have that Codrea is hammering the NRA for personal gain. I have met Codrea and he does not seem to be that kinda person.

Again, could he be doing nothing more than expressing his dislike of the NRA actions over the past few years? If there is some sort of evidence then you would be able to sway my opinion, if not... then his opinion is his own, and he should not be denigrated for expressing it.

[Joe Brower]

I generally agree with everything you said, except for the "jump the shark" line.

Think for a minute: if the NRA would like to disappear tomorrow (something a few here appear to desire), where would we be then?

[mad_as_he$$]

One of the real issues is that many still think the NRA is their daddy's NRA. Nothing could be further from reality. if they went away I can see many probabilities. One is the shooting would have started and most like;y be over. We will have won.

[Joe Brower]

"Ah, you trot out the 'you must be an evil GOA sycophant' line. Sorry, won't work on me, I am not a member of the GOA."

I did no such thing; the fact that you make this statement is deliberate hyperbole. As for not being a member of the GOA -- well maybe you should join them; they do a lot of good work. And if you keep reading, you'll notice that I admitting being wrong on that one anyway.

"Here is a challenge for you. Name any federal gun control law that the NRA did not have a hand in supporting."

You first. I have paying work to attend to and you introduced the question, so let's see what you can offer. I say this in all sincerity -- I am genuinely interested in hearing about these things, because (as I have said before), if any of this turns out true, they will be hearing about it.