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Posted on 09/05/2001 6:59:34 AM PDT by brityank

Letter to the NRA from Life Member
James R. Mills

09.05.01 Gentlemen:

As a Life Member of the NRA, who supports the NRA/ILA when my retirement income permits, I am greatly concerned by the NRA stated position in support of CARA, and the likely result of future NRA and ILA funding pleas.

I lived in Cincinnati at the time of the NRA Convention held in that city, and well remember the rebellion which ensued as the result of many members feeling that the NRA operation was out of touch with the rank and file; that the organization had become too closely identified with the Washington Establishment! I am troubled that history may be repeating itself in that regard.

A guiding principle of politics is that "all politics is local," and that if an idea won't fly on Main Street it won't fly. Main Street USA is not Pennsylvania Avenue! On the contrary, it is away from Washington, where rank and file members of the of NRA own both guns and property. Thus, it is not surprising that many of them decry the provision for condemnation of real property in the CARA proposal. Nor is it surprising that they may hold the perception that the NRA they have long supported is abandoning their overall interests in this instance.

Right or wrong, I have long believed that the NRA was the ONE organization which I could count on to support my Constitutional rights. Not just the 2nd Amendment, but the entirety, which spells out the rights retained by individuals to resist governmental excesses aimed at its citizens.

"Vote Freedom First" was, I believe, a very potent and successful rallying cry during the recent elections. Although its aim was to bring gun owners to the polls, I submit that large numbers of individuals were motivated beyond that, to actually, and in fact, cast a vote for Freedom from further governmental influence in their daily lives. This is, without doubt, an emotional issue, and therein lies the danger for the NRA and its many, many worthwhile endeavors, in my opinion, if the rank and file feel that their interests are not being adequately served.

With the vast sum of money involved I can see why some Congressmen and conservation groups would be supportive of CARA. It's a $45 Billion carrot. Only in Washington is that not considered bribery! Significantly, anti-hunters, environmental extremists, animal activists, and many other NRA antagonists, including liberal members of Congress, seem to be lined up solidly behind CARA. That alone is cause for a prudent person to question the NRA alignment, as a growing number of our members are doing.

Assuming that the NRA will receive none of the "pork" to be dispensed, is one to believe that someone dedicated to more restrictive gun controls would somehow come to accept the NRA position because of its support of CARA? That is not likely. Factually, once our antagonists can legitimately claim to have helped acquire funding, via CARA, for the environment and wildlife, history shows that they will use their enhanced position at the table to further their causes, including restrictive regulations on consumptive uses such as hunting. One of our staff said the bill would "be good for wildlife." The same has been said, and will be repeated, for curtailing or eliminating hunting!

It is my considered opinion that all hunters and outdoorsmen will end up paying a tremendous price and receive very little in return.

I urge the Board to revisit their vote in support of the CARA Bill as introduced for several reasons, not the least of which is the loosely defined provision for taking private land holdings through the condemnation procedure. Tying support to one Title out of ten seems to be stretching the point when constitutional matters are involved. The membership would likely be less fractured if the NRA position reflected a (constitutional) concern, which would be consistent with the stated position regarding gun control matters.

Finally, NRA support is beyond my comprehension when CARA provides for the handling of funds by the same FWS that previously squandered Pittman Robertson Funds. To my knowledge, the only guy who lost his job was the fellow who was fired for refusing to go along with the scheme to divert funds from their intended purpose.

A slap in the wrist is not enough. Heads should roll! Some influential organization representing sportsmen and hunters from all walks of life should step forward and call loudly for a full blown investigation of this farcical raid on sportsmen generated funds for wildlife, and insist on a complete top to bottom reorganization, fiscal responsibility and accountability. If not the NRA, then who?

                 Sincerely, 

                 James R. Mills 
                 Life Member 
                 Herndon, Va.

                 Semper Fi! 

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I also have just copied and modified this letter, and am mailing it to the following address:

National Rifle Association of America
Membership Processing Center
PO Box 421057
Palm Coast, FL 32142-1057

Does anyone have a better addy to mail this to?

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