Springfield Armory, like Rock River Arms, was not aware of the actions taken by our trade association, IFMA, until after the fact. [More]I agree with Herschel:
If there is more to this story than we see, RRA and Springfield need to come clean and address the issues forthrightly – immediately.Otherwise, it will always follow them around.
What's more to the story is that there are two Reeses, two Larsons, and IMFA's sole employee sitting on the board of directors of IFMA. And Chuck Larson is IFMA's treasurer, so don't try to tell anybody that Chuck didn't know IFMA was donating tens of thousands to Cullerton and Madigan over the years.
ReplyDeleteYes, IFMA is SA and RRA. Yes, they use money to buy influence with very powerful and very horrible people. Yes, they used that influence to get manufacturers exempted from a horrible bill, and yes, the agreement included dropping their opposition to the bill so it could pass more easily. I refuse to believe for one minute that Dennis Reese was unaware and aghast at the maneuver to save manufacturers from state licensing. And I find it highly unlikely (remotely possible, but highly unlikely) that Chuck Larson was blind sided either.
Last week, Dennis stood behind IFMA's actions, while Chuck claimed ignorance and shock. Then they got together over the weekend, and released identical statements expressing ignorance and surprise. Then they got together once more, and released matching statements blaming IFMA and claiming that they were separating their firms from the very PAC that they personally created and oversaw.
And yep, my screen name is more appropriate than ever.
This whole fiasco brings up a question that needs answering:
ReplyDeleteAre other firearms manufacturers and retailers involved in giving aid and comfort to the Cullertons, Madigans, Feinsteins, and Schumers of the world, directly or through PACs?
And if they are, what are we going to do about it?
It would be most unfair to break out the much deserved torches and pitchforks for SA and RRA, while failing to do the same for others who have acted in a similar fashion.
It's really sad to see this sh!t happen, in a gun-hating state like Illinois. Bad enough the state is looking at taxing anything not bolted down, just to make their monthly debt service payment and State Pension Fund debt payment.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance can be an excuse, if claimed the instant you're called out. Reese is a fool, caught before in bribery, caught again in lying.
For all the idiots that say "this is how politics goes" or "that's how the sausage is made" dont strike me as very principled individuals worthy of any attention. The willingness to accept corruption and defend its ugliness serves as a warning to me that there are wolves in sheeps clothing in the pro-gun side of 'merica...or worse, cowards.
Fed Up has it right. There is a lot of rotten below the surface. TTAG had a lot links to financial documents (PDFs) that show a history of donations to some of the most rabidly anti-gun politicos in Illinois. It doesn't make sense for these companies to be in bed with these people unless individuals within the companies stood to benefit in some form or fashion. I would almost hate to see what lies at the center of this putrid mess.
ReplyDeleteWhen you expect principle from commercial entities just because they are in your industry niche, you are fooling yourself. Ruger continually endorsed a large magazine ban because he didn’t have a single one in his product line. The stocking dealers endorsed Bush’s federal ban on gun imports in the ‘90s because it meant more sales for them.
ReplyDeleteDon’t expect commercial entities to “look out for your rights” any more than you expect police to “look out for your rights.” Expect any entity to take a stance that looks out for number one, and any surprise you experience will a be a pleasant one.