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Posted on 09/22/2003 5:24:26 PM PDT by 45Auto
A discussion of my article “NRA Grassroots Leads ‘Pro-Gun’ Charge for McClintock! (Unbelievable!)” appearing on The High Road message board has resulted in an astounding disclosure by Jim March, California Field Representative for the Citizen’s Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Responding to a dialogue on the article, which documents how NRA and its state affiliate, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, have provided no grassroots leadership in support of proven Second Amendment champion Tom McClintock, March posted the following lament and revelation:
“GOD I wish I could explain certain things...There's some sneaky stuff going on. Not all of it bad.”
He sounded in again with a stunning revelation:
“As to the NRA...well yes, they do have a PAC (NRA/PVC). But...there's a complication: there's two pro-gunners in the race. And one is deliberately staying stealthy as hell about it, to the point where I can't tell you which. Wish to hell I could, but it ain't my play. And who it is might surprise the heck outta y'all.”
Responding to speculation that he must be referring to Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose anti-gun proclamations have been well-documented in numerous credible media reports, March replied:
“I didn't say it was Ahnuld. And I didn't say I agreed with what's going on…Somebody thinks they can't win in California without being labeled a grabber. Personally, I think they're wrong…Should the NRA be directing their grassroots muscle in McClintock's direction? Probably. They see things differently...In this case? Hmmmm. It's a tough call.”
“[W]e're talkin' about somebody in the race now, who can possibly win it,” he continued, “And no, I can't say who. Somebody tells me something in confidence, I don't talk. Remember, I'm the guy people write to to help fine-tune their CCW statements, you REALLY want ME to be able to keep my mouth shut when appropriate.”
Posting what he called “My last comment on the subject,” March concluded:
“Speaking personally, based on information that's been slipped to me, of the top four contenders (Gray, Cruz, Tom and Arnold), two of those four are pro-gun, one in stealth mode. Well, y'all know it isn't Davis so that's no biggie. I can't tell you who, or how I know, because if I told you what the datapoint is, you'd know who.”
Based on March’s statements, the only possible inference is that NRA has cut a deal either with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who among other things has stated he supports the Brady Bill and believes in banning “assault weapons” and .50 caliber rifles, or Cruz Bustamante, who, as reported in The Los Angeles Times “voted to outlaw the manufacture of cheap handguns.”
In a Sacramento Bee candidate questionnaire, Bustamante indicated he supported existing and future legislation requiring prior restraint testing for handgun purchases, removing gun manufacturer lawsuit immunity, requiring handgun load indicators/magazine disconnects, banning .50-caliber rifles, and mandating “ballistic fingerprinting”.
Bustamante also publicly honored Million Mom March heads Charles and Mary Leigh Blek for “helping make our streets safer for our children and for our communities as a whole." MMM is an integral component of the Brady Campaign. And the anti-gun group Join Together Online claimed he “has strongly supported gun-control measures.”
But according to March’s “insider” information, the NRA has abandoned tested and proven friend Tom McClintock for either Arnold or Cruz.
“That's the truth,” March informed board readers, “It's not speculation, the evidence is pretty freakin' solid. I wish to hell I could share. Dang. The only reason I'm saying ANYthing is because a lot of dirt has been slung around improperly.”
Conclusion:
Reporting documented anti-gun statements and actions by candidates to voters in a critical election is hardly improper dirt slinging. And the best way to keep a professionally-entrusted “trade secret” confidence is to not say anything, and certainly not to give a detailed elaboration in a public forum.
But this information has now been disclosed, and California’s electorate has the right to be fully informed of all the candidates’ positions—whether some want to keep it clandestine or not. If NRA management is deliberately sandbagging the McClintock campaign because they are covertly negotiating with Schwarzenegger or Bustamante, gun owners should know about it—face it, NRA’s schizophrenic track record of dubious political endorsements should make such backroom deals immediately suspect.
If their “stealth” candidate is Arnold, they are placing their trust in a man who is lying to the voters about his position. Is he?
If it’s Cruz, they are placing it in a man who has supported gun control in the past and indicated he would do so in the future—despite his parroting NRA management’s mantra to “enforce existing gun laws.”
Turning your back on a proven friend in order to curry favor with such men as these defies all reason—even if some secret deal has been reached with promises to derail future legislation, why should NRA believe them? And if the new governor reneges, just what are they prepared to do about it? How would you prove a deal was ever even made? And why should that reassure those of us who will fall victim to such edicts?
In fairness to NRA, it has not been proven that this information is accurate. If it is not, they should make their official position on the California governor’s race known—and set the record straight about what Jim March has told the gun activist community. But they have brought this upon themselves by their silence and their conspicuous lack of support for the only deserving candidate in the race, Tom McClintock.
“I have no reason to lie. None whatsoever,” March claims.
For what it’s worth, Mr. March, I believe you.
Breaking News:
After the above article was written, Jim March posted another announcement on THR:
“I'll be doing a phone interview with Tom Gresham's Gun Talk Radio - http://www.guntalk.com/ at 1:00pm Pacific, today (Sunday). Y'all should find it...interesting. I guarantee it'll be a different perspective on California gun rights issues.”
A participant responded:
“I heard bits and pieces, but not all of it... I did catch the "Arnold is the stealth pro-gun candidate", but I missed the explanation.”
March’s reply:
“Unfortunately, I can't *give* a full explanation as to where Arnold's head is at. I've been told something I can't divulge.”
By making repeated statements in an internet forum and on a popular radio program frequented by gun owners, March is either wittingly or unwittingly drawing gun owner votes away from Tom McClintock. There’s a possibility that his disclosures are unauthorized, and will displease those who shared information with him in confidence. But there’s also a likelihood that people behind the scenes, who know that gun owners are overwhelmingly for McClintock, are throwing this out to neutralize their votes. Remember, March himself characterized their actions as “sneaky.”
Bustamante and Schwarzenegger are what they are—gun control advocates. If they’re not, then they’re willing to lie to the world about their positions to gain power. How can you trust that? And remember, Gray Davis also said he supported putting a hold on new laws and enforcing existing ones in order to get elected. These people are politicians, and will lie and say anything.
Don’t get fooled into letting your support be diffused—there is only one pro-gun candidate, Tom McClintock. Believe your eyes and ears and the record—not what someone wants you to believe, for reasons known only to themselves.
David Codrea is not affiliated with the Tom McClintock for Governor campaign in any official capacity—he is simply a citizen exercising his First Amendment right to free political speech. He is also an advisory member of the Silveira v Lockyer Support Fund, financing research to achieve a definitive Second Amendment ruling by the Supreme Court. For information on this groundbreaking effort and how you can help, visit www.KeepAndBearArms.com.
All I know is, I keep getting the feeling that WASS (we are so s******).
I suspect he's both.
Either way, he isn't fit to govern the state of California.
Molon Labe!
Schwarzenegger may well have taken my advice.
Considering that he can't succeed in his revolutionary goals without an armed militia he may well be.
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