"Thanks for Your Email to NRA-PVF"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bradey, Jennifer
Date: Nov 6, 2006 11:17 AM
Subject: RE: New website submission
To: [edited for privacy-DC]@gmail.com

Dear Mr. Hofnann [sic*],

Thanks for your email to NRA-PVF.

We have been receiving a bit of communication from NRA members after the latest publicity campaign from GOA regarding Ron Paul's NRA-rating. [1] GOA does this to encourage folks to join their organization rather than NRA. Think about it: if they said NRA was doing everything right, they wouldn't have any members. Only in trying to stir up disagreement among our members, do they reap the benefits.

NRA has accordingly graded Congressman Ron Paul a "B". We have NOT endorsed against him - as widely MISreported.[2]

Congressman Paul is a staunch libertarian, and as such, would not vote for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act on countless occasions over the past decade. Although he opposed it on libertarian grounds, he still voted against us on one of our top legislative priorities for over a decade. We cannot make exceptions for the reasons WHY Members of Congress don't vote for a bill because they will all come up with some reason not to be supportive. This bill was critical in protecting our firearms heritage in this country, and NRA very successful shephered its passage through the Congress in 2005.

Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you.

___________________________________________
Jennifer Bradey
Manager, Political & Legislative Activities
National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
(800) 392-VOTE / (703) 267-1195

There's only one problem, Ms. Bradey. GOA says it is "unaware of any publicity campaign" on this. If this is true, someone owes someone else a sincere and public apology. I have forwarded the NRA email, including the header information that validates it is "authentic", to GOA.

[1] All I can even guess that Ms. Bradey is referring to is an article by Kevin Smith that appeared on Alex Jones' website where Larry Pratt defends Ron Paul upon learning of the NRA rating. But Pratt does not mention NRA. This is hardly a GOA "campaign," and certainly not one conducted with a hidden motive to skim off NRA members to swell GOA's ranks, as Ms. Bradey accuses.]

[2] Ms. Bradey is correct and the Smith article is in factual error on one point. NRA never "endorsed" Shane Sklar, and WarOnGuns took care to point this out--along with how the Sklar campaign's presentation of their rating blurred the distinction so that it would be likely to infer an endorsement. Besides which, give one candidate an "A" and his opponent a "B" and the average person will understandably assume a preference has been expressed. But technically, she's right.

----------------------------

* "Mr. Hofnann" is Kurt Hofmann. He's the activist who initially wrote to NRA and reported their response on the 1911 Forum, so this story is really his. Kurt is new to blogging, having recently created Armed and Safe, which I am adding to the blogroll as soon as I get done posting this. Go on over and check it out.

We're the Only Ones Still Employed Enough

The Michigan Department of State Police needs to explain exactly how many illegal acts a trooper would have to commit before he or she is deemed unfit to arrest anybody else. In what appears to be a lampoon of the department's code of honor, a trooper who lied about a traffic crash, fled the accident scene and then falsely reported his vehicle stolen, is still on duty.

They don't need to do anything, fool. They're "The Only Ones."

Case in point--any of you with a company car--get caught doing the same thing and see if you're not summarily fired. You can let us know after you make bail.

[Via Cousin G]

We're the Only Ones in Suspense Enough

The second former Abita Springs police officer to be sentenced this week in a 2003 corruption case got a suspended three-year prison term on Thursday...Garcia was acting police chief when he and Kondylis were arrested on charges accusing them of selling high-powered police weapons on the street for personal profit.

Let's see, 2 lieutenants and the chief...kinda takes away the "few bad apples" theory, at least for Albita Springs.

Suspended sentences seem kinda harsh for a Louisiana "Only One", but we can at least be thankful Judge Burris didn't treat him like a mere citizen...

[Via Cousin G]

This Day in History: November 10

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress passes a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces for the recently formed Continental Navy. The resolution, drafted by future U.S. president John Adams and adopted in Philadelphia, created the Continental Marines and is now observed as the birth date of the United States Marine Corps.

The photo is from my uncle's graveside services earlier this year at Arlington. My older brother is second from the right.

Impact of Election on Second Amendment

[N]otwithstanding widespread calls for moderation within their ranks, the Democrat leadership in the House and Senate will unquestionably put gun owners on the defensive by seeking to renew the so-called assault weapons ban, close down gun shows, and drastically expand the Brady gun control law.

So the NRA strategy of backing a critical mass of Democrats,which helped give them control of both houses of Congress, was a smart political move:

A. Because the "Blue Dogs" will resist the the promised rewards and/or threats of retribution from their party leadership and help lead the fight to kill this legislation, or

B. Because fundraising and membership drives always work best in a climate of imminent threats?

Just asking...

We're the Only Ones Getting in on the Action Enough

Residents of this suburb claim they have resorted to lynching because police do not take appropriate action against alleged criminals. Citizens are said to have caught criminals and handed them in to the police, only to have the alleged wrongdoers put back on the streets -- where some have apparently harassed and even murdered those who took them to police stations in the first place.

There are also indications that certain members of the police have aided and abetted criminals, renting out their guns and even participating in crimes. Officers have been caught perpetrating assaults in money exchanges and shops. Recently, police apparently gunned down two colleagues who were escorting a civilian carrying a large sum of money to the border with Swaziland. The unidentified police officers then made away with the money, and have yet to be found.

Where do these "Only Ones" think they are--New Orleans?

[Via Cousin G]

"Because I Say So..."

Since Oct. 17, township police have cited Seruga at least 10 more times for using a gun at his property's firing range within 150 yards of an occupied building. The township ordinance states an exception that someone may discharge a firearm "when done by a landowner upon his land"...

"It isn't an exception," Cahalan said.

When pressed to explain why, Cahalan would not elaborate. "It just isn't," he said.

He forgot to add "So there."

[Via Cousin G]

Blogger Problems Today

Been trying to post for the past hour and keep getting server problem messages. On a hunch left Firefox and went over to IE--I'm in, but this is a late start. I'll post what I can in the next few minutes, but today will be light.

This Day in History: November 9

On this day in 1780, British Major James Wemyss, commanding a force of 140 horsemen, attempts to surprise 300 South Carolina militiamen under General Thomas Sumter at Fishdam Ford, South Carolina. Instead of capturing Sumter as planned, Wemyss, "the second most hated man in the British army," was wounded in the arm and knee, and captured by Sumter.

Stalwarts versus NRA

Nevertheless, the NRA does some very good things and for this it does need to be honored, but the NRA's attitude in standing firm for what it so long touted itself to be, is another, and why I do not actively support them any longer.

Whose Paranoid articulates a conclusion many are reaching.

Too bad. It's like the Republicans. Power was entrusted but defective leadership squandered opportunity.

Paul Wins!

Sorry, Texas gun owners. You'll have to settle for a "B" instead of an "A."

Brown Wins!

Santa Barbara gun owners can breathe a sigh of relief and rest assured that this NRA "A-rated" sheriff will do his utmost to restore their uninfringed Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Can't they?

GOA "Unaware of Any 'Publicity Campaign'"

I informed Gun Owners of America about the 1911 Forums thread where an email reply ostensibly from an NRA representative about the Ron Paul race was posted.

Here's what I sent:

Please note the following (scroll 2/3 way down the page to comment by ‘kjhof]):

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=157138

“We have been receiving a bit of communication from NRA members after the latest publicity campaign from GOA regarding Ron Paul's NRA-rating. GOA does this to encourage folks to join their organization rather than NRA. Think about it: if they said NRA was doing everything right, they wouldn't have any members. Only in trying to stir up disagreement among our members, do they reap the benefits.”

I haven’t seen this publicity campaign the NRA rep refers to. Have you sent out alerts on this, or is there a web page you can refer me to?

Also, will you give me a “for the record” comment on the NRA allegation?

Thank you,

David Codrea

Here's what I got back:

David,

We are also unaware of any "publicity campaign" on this issue. Other than publicizing his GOA rating as we do with all candidates we can identify, we have not been active in Paul's district this election. (No alerts, no postcards, etc.) And of course, we gave Paul his usual A+ rating.

Regarding a "for the record comment," we consider all of our responses to e-mailed questions to be on record unless specifically stated otherwise. We don't have any idea what the quoted passage is referencing, if anything.

I also feel obligated to point out that it is by no means uncommon for forum threads to include inaccurate information, misattributed quotes, and even outright false or manipulated posts. Do not interpret that to mean I'm at all suggesting such has been the case in this instance. I'm pointing it out because, since GOA has been unfairly tarnished in those ways more than a few times over the years, we are obligated to give NRA-PVF every last bit of the benefit of the doubt. So I suppose the sound bite would be: "I would be interested in seeing the original e-mail -- with all header information included."

In liberty,

--Craig.

Craig Fields
Director of Internet Operations, GOA

I have not been able to access the 1911 Forum site since yesterday afternoon. I'll keep trying with the intent of contacting poster "kjhof" about this.

We're the Only Ones Déjà Visité Enough

The first mistaken break-in was more than enough for Sheila Jones, who bought the house a year ago. But what makes her even angrier is that the police barged back into the house 20 minutes later.

Because you just can't get enough of "The Only Ones"...

[Via Cousin G]

RKBA Campus...er...Bone Toss? #4.5

The Mad Hatter presents another recap on scholastic thought as it relates to 2A.

Helping Others Understand Firearms

Once a person has a chance to use a firearm he or she will come to understand that a gun is an inaminate object under the total control of its operator. That person might then become more open to supporting gun rights.

Jennifer Freeman presents a necessary component of activism needed to restore and protect our rkba. People don't fear the familiar.

Meanwhile, Over in Iowa

As a practical matter, there is very little difference between Nussle and Culver on the 2nd amendment issue...while NRA rates Nussle with an "A"[A+ actually, with an endorsement--DC] (and Culver as well), GOA has more appropriately rated Nussle with a "C" ("leans our way occasionally") because of his unwillingness to take a strong stand against many anti-gun issues important to gun owners. For example, he is a strong supporter of sending money to the anti-gun "United Nations" and has twice on record refused to vote to rescind funding to this essentially communist based organization, despite the fact that they continue to attack the 2nd Amendment on our own soil, as they did just this last summer. Nussle also fully supported the movement of the ATFE from the Treasury department to the "Justice" department... because of Nussle and others like him, the ATFE is now a full blown police agency rather than a taxing authority as they were previously, which is a gross violation of the 2nd amendment and other provisions of the Constitution.

I myself and many gun owners that I know made a concerted effort to contact Nussle directly and asked him to cosponsor legislation to establish national concealed carry reciprocity...he refused to do so when the bill originally came up. When pushed into a corner, Nussle will usually (though not always) vote pro-gun; he has never, to my knowledge, been the original sponsor of anything that could be called "pro-gun" legislation. In general, Nussle is a "big, intrusive government, big spender" (as I am certain Culver is as well). Of course you can vote as you please tomorrow (and deceive yourself while you're doing it), but don't realistically expect Nussle to actively work to get, for instance, "shall issue" concealed carry in Iowa...it just ain't gonna happen.

The moral is...don't look at NRA ratings...look at how they vote...this is vastly superior to being "well connected."

Phil Roe

Email reprinted with permission of author. Gun owners all over the country are on to the phony ratings game.

The Most Important Election?

I found this release by my friend Russ Howard to be an interesting analysis on why losing the House will not derail one of George Bush's main priorities, but will actually help him move it forward.

It’s increasingly clear the main threat facing American Citizens, our Constitution (including the 2nd Amendment), and our freedoms, culture, environment, and quality of life, is the “perfect storm” of venal, criminal, treasonous interests conspiring to subvert America’s borders, immigration limits, and sovereignty.

Voter unhappiness with Bush - combined with the Republican base's disgust with phony Rs - is likely to cost the R Party control of Congress, but not the Senate. Many see voting against Rs in congress as voting against Bush. Unfortunately, it helps him. As phony, self-serving, worthless, and disappointing as many "Republicans" in congress are, they did something right this year: R control of Congress was the only thing standing against Bush's comprehensive immigration “reform”. Virtually all D politicians voted for it, and the R Senate passed it. So giving Democrats the House probably gives GW “Guest Worker” Bush what he most eagerly wants: Amnesty & Open Borders. The destruction of America’s sovereignty, via the end of meaningful limits on immigration, would be the ultimate legislative coup of any President. This may be the most important election in American history, because it could lead to the end of American history.

Despite the overwhelming majority Americans opposing open borders, if Rs lose the House, legislators will be tempted to quickly cram down Amnesty and “Guest” Workers, leaving maximum time to cover tracks before the next election. Voters will be upset, but the law will be vastly harder to repeal than it was to stop or to pass. Even if voters were hot enough in two years to toss Congress and elect a loyal President, the Chamber of Commerce and other treasonous groups would need to keep just 40 whores in the Senate to block repeal. They have twice that many. The damage may be practically irreversible. Meanwhile, with Ds running congress, R fundraising will skyrocket and the RINO elite will use diversionary meat puppet issues, exploiting values and patriotism it doesn't share, to trick the base back into serfdom.

In May, the conservative, normally pro-Bush Heritage Foundation estimated the original Senate “Guest” Worker / Amnesty bill would increase immigration by up to 200 million in 20 years, not including Anchor Babies. Given 3rd-World birth rates, it could've doubled our population in 20 years. With the R House out of the way and less need to compromise, any post-election cramdown bill may be even worse.

Action Item? Maybe too late, but if your R congressman helped block the Senate's open border / amnesty scheme and is in a close race, it won't hurt to volunteer at the HQ for last minute Get Out The Vote. There’s also a website for GOTV from home. www.GOP.com/Call

Some Democrats in congress oppose amnesty & “G”W, but when push comes to shove, with Ds running the House, they will work with their leaders to pass it.

This Day in History: November 8

On this day in 1775, General George Washington seeks to resolve several problems facing the army: how to encourage experienced troops to enlist, how to assemble a capable officer corps and how to overcome provincial differences and rivalries. Describing the problems, he wrote, "Connecticut wants no Massachusetts man in her corps. Massachusetts thinks there is no necessity for a Rhode Islander..."

"Ron Paul- Asked and Answered"

Thanks for your email to NRA-PVF.

We have been receiving a bit of communication from NRA members after the latest publicity campaign from GOA regarding Ron Paul's NRA-rating. GOA does this to encourage folks to join their organization rather than NRA. Think about it: if they said NRA was doing everything right, they wouldn't have any members. Only in trying to stir up disagreement among our members, do they reap the benefits.

NRA has accordingly graded Congressman Ron Paul a "B". We have NOT endorsed against him - as widely MISreported.

Congressman Paul is a staunch libertarian, and as such, would not vote for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act on countless occasions over the past decade. Although he opposed it on libertarian grounds, he still voted against us on one of our top legislative priorities for over a decade. We cannot make exceptions for the reasons WHY Members of Congress don't vote for a bill because they will all come up with some reason not to be supportive. This bill was critical in protecting our firearms heritage in this country, and NRA very successful shephered its passage through the Congress in 2005.

Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you.

Uh, yeah, I have a few other questions.

I understand why you gave Ron Paul a "B"--it's your rating system, and if voting for lawsuit protection was a priority, that's your call.

The real question is, why did Shane Sklar get an "A"? Aside from trumpeting his "sporting purposes" affiliation and advocating that we "enforce existing gun laws", his position on specific details has been carefully left obscure. Why should we give Sklar's rating any more credibility than we would give, say, Bill Brown's?

Oh, and one other question--why the slam on GOA, with the accusation that their motive is to compete with NRA for members, rather than having a principled difference of opinion? As the email came from an NRA staffer, I'm assuming that tactic has been authorized by Mr. LaPierre and Mr. Cox?