Update: Wallstreet Journal confirms NRA sellout
Washington is ablaze with news about the NRA’s abandonment of free speech.
Some of you still may not believe the NRA could strike such a gruesome deal with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi on the DISCLOSE Act, which is sponsored by the Senate’s most shrill gun-hater, Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Those of you still not convinced need to view this morning’s Wall Street Journal editorial, which jumped into the fray, decrying the NRA’s sell-out and pointing out that their exemption is not only dangerous but abandons their natural allies.
“Cutting a special deal at the expense of the First Amendment with lawmakers who have decided for now to stop gutting the Second Amendment reveals an NRA that is unprincipled and will be weaker for it in the long run” – Wall Street Journal, 6/16/2010
Or you can check out this story from Roll Call:
“The National Rifle Association is publicly pledging to uphold its end of the bargain with House Democratic leadership over a measure to roll back a controversial Supreme Court decision on political spending.” – Roll Call, 6/15/2010
The NRA response (which can be read here) is somewhat different than you might get on the phone if you call NRA HQ.
Some members are reporting the NRA is responding with “Who, us??” while others report the response as “We oppose DISCLOSE”. But both of these responses are the type you’d expect from politicians, not allies in the fight for freedom (which they aren’t).
But to better arm you in this battle, here is a supply of fact-tipped ammo:
- Every news source in Washington, and the NRA itself (in the NRA’s own words, linked above) agree that an exemption for the NRA itself (which would not apply to any other gun rights group) will remove their opposition to the DISCLOSE Act.
- The existence of the exemption, in the form of an amendment to the DISCLOSE Act, is not being debated by anyone, only whether or not this deal with the Democrats serves their members (again, read the alert).
- Only a few organizations will be exempted, as is the intention.
- If gun owners do not have the right to free speech, our firearms freedoms are going away… quickly.
How, after all, can we defend the Second Amendment if we’re not allowed to talk to voters, the general public, or even our own members?
How can politicians be held accountable if organizations cannot discuss their votes? That’s the ultimate politician protection device.
Though the NRA can say it’s a one-issue group (just as we are), mark my words: if we get rid of either the First or Second Amendment, the other is sure to follow.
What can you do?
Call the NRA again, as soon as possible, and urge them to kill the DISCLOSE Act, not cut a deal to pass it. Call them at 1-800-672-3888 today.
Are you really considering a deal that will eventually take our right to bear arms away ?
Kill this deal !
Kill the Disclose act!
I called the NRA and the person I spoke to claimed this is a trick by Democrats. They DO NOT support the Bill and I asked specifically if they would oppose it and the man said YES.
However, I also got a form email back from NRA V.P. David Keene which was not quite that clear on the subject. It seemed to indicate they didn’t make a deal, but would not do anything to oppose it.
WE NEED SOLID CLARIFICATION. We need a promise from the NRA that even if they are exempt they will put money and their powerful influence at work to defeat this Bill for all of the other Conservative organization who WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
This doesn’t surprise me at all. The NRA has become a big fat bureaucracy preying on the easy money of 2nd amendment paranoia. They have and still do some good, but for the millions in membership and sponsor’s, I should hope so. I have been involved in the Friends of NRA banquets. Of the two committees that helped, over 95 percent thought of the NRA rep’s efforts, as having much in common with used car or snake oil sales. The rep’s sole mandate was to acquire the most money in the least amount of time. Suggestions to use the event as a local, cultural event and include other community activity’s was met with total opposition. Granted. This is the new way of making money. the Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and many more share the same methods. Put a bunch of stuff out and get people to go for it in the way of raffles, auctions, and other gimmicks designed to maximize the dollars for every item donated. And dollars it is. I must get ten offers from the NRA a week to renew, join, or contribute. With the hundreds of people it takes to run all these ways, and means of collecting money, they need all they can get. I’m rambling. What I’m trying to really say is that there’s a hell of a big bureaucracy in the NRA and they have become as self serving to themselves as any. I won’t deny the good they do…but this DISCLOSE act fiasco has caught them trading the sanctity of the US Constitution for their own executive survival. Something that doesn’t come as a surprise after participating in the Friends of the NRA program and learning their true mission of executive expansion is “no holds barred”.
YOU MUST READ THE BILL! Yes I’m shouting. First, the NRA, among other groups was pandered to, but not because they asked for it! Second, the real goal of this bill is to defeat the supreme court decision on allowing people and corporations to donate to whomever they please at election time. The dems are in mortal fear that without constraints, republicans will receive lots of the evil corporate donations. Third, part of the goal of this bill is to exempt UNIONS. The exclusions added were not for the NRA, they were for UNIONS. Fourth, you’re being sucked in by the left. If you don’t read the bill, and understand it’s ramifications, please refrain from uninformed comment.
Read the bill, then read the response by NRA VP David Keene.
“…NRA has one major mission … to defend the right of its members and all Americans to keep & bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment…” That is their ONLY goal and mission.
There’s more from Mr. Keene:
“Last week Democratic leadership in the House capitulated by agreeing to exempt the NRA from the act – not in return for NRA support, but to avoid a political war that might cost them even more seats this fall.
I have to tell you that I never thought the Democrats would agree to this – not because they have much regard for constitutional rights – because I didn’t believe their left wing would allow it.”
Guess what. Diane Feinstein pulled her support BECAUSE of the NRA exemption they didn’t ask for. This will change; the bill isn’t gone, it will be back. So even the bit of pandering the dems put in (Probably to make the NRA look bad…) backfired on them.
These politicians are SLIMY. They All Must Go!
The link provided as the NRA response above leads to this statement:
“If you experience any difficulties using this form, please contact us by sending an email to the following address: ila-contact@nrahq.org.
Thank you.”
Here is the response link that is readable from today: http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?id=13941
Compare that to last weeks “sell out” response: http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?id=13920
“We told Congress we opposed the bill. Consequently, congressional leaders announced they would exempt us from its draconian restrictions on political speech. If that happens, we will not be involved in final consideration of this bill in the House. If it doesn’t, we will strongly oppose the bill.
Our position is based on principle and experience. During consideration of the previous campaign finance legislation passed in 2002, congressional leadership repeatedly refused to exempt the NRA from its provisions, promising that our concerns would be fixed somewhere down the line. That didn’t happen; instead, the NRA had to live under those restrictions for seven years and spend millions of dollars on compliance costs and on legal fees to challenge the law. We will not go down that road again when we have an opportunity to protect our ability to speak.
There are those who say the NRA should put the Second Amendment at risk over a First Amendment principle. That’s easy to say—unless you have a sworn duty to protect the Second Amendment above all else, as we do.”
———————-
The second amendment will be useless if the “above all else” silences us under the First Amendment.
Shame on the NRA
The NRA is the best thing going for gun owners at this time. I hope they don’t get wrapped up in this in a bad way. The NRA is looking out for our rights, but in our society today they have to go about things in a round about way sometimes. It is just the way it is, but we can CHANGE THE CHANGE in 2012!!!!!!!
I have read the bill and read the response. It is nothing but double talk. The NRA has consummated a deal to not oppose the legislation and in return they are exempt. They are basically turning their backs on our First Amendment rights. Without those, there is no way to guarantee the 2nd Amendment or any other freedom.
On top of this, today is reported on Foxnews and other sources that the NRA is supporting Harry Reid over Angle in his bid for reelection. This is enough evidence for me to determine that the NRA has sold out. IT is time to start a new organization, resign from the NRA and starve them out of existence. We can create a new more powerful, and not as lustful organization!!!!!
Shame on you NRA for making any kind of deal with the three devils, Pelosi, Reid and Schumer. You are traitors to the rest of us who love freedom. Please don’t call me for any more donations, the answer will be not just no, but hell no!!!!!!