UPDATE to NRA Opposing Surgeon General Nominee Story

I just added this update to yesterday's GRE:

UPDATE -- per Emily Miller at The Washington Times:

A spokesman for the NRA told me that the five-million member organization will score the Senate vote, meaning that it counts toward a member’s rating in campaigns.

Why the letter and announcement did not say so, and why NRA's media office did not answer that question when asked and did not call back with an answer is unknown. When and if a reply is received or a clarifying statement is issued, it will be noted here.

Second Update:

UPDATE: NRA sent out a "Grassroots Alert" email this morning about their Murthy opposition, and again say nothing about scoring the vote, including in the complete alert posted on the ILA website.

"A Pro-Gun Democrat from Arkansas"

Here's Mike Ross addressing the NRA annual meeting's at the Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum in 2009, going after that coveted "A" rating... [Watch]

Here's Mike Ross showing us the quality and depth of his values and leadership:

No one is more pro-gun than I am.  No one enjoys hunting as much as I do. These weapons that have been used in these horrendous slayings aren’t the type of guns I hunt with or anyone else hunts with.

Any questions?  Aside from wondering if that video will stay up?

Meet Your Missouri Gun Rights Leaders!

Let's see, there's this guy:

Tom Dempsey is a passionate supporter of the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution. Tom has sponsored legislation allowing law-abiding citizens to obtain a license in order to carry a concealed weapon and ensuring Missourians have the freedom to protect themselves in their own home, resulting in an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). 

And then there's this guy:

Ron Richard has been endorsed by … National Rifle Association of America 

So how come they did this?

Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey and Majority Leader Ron Richard split from the rest of the GOP caucus that they lead to instead sustain Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's veto.

And will there be any repercussions?

Not unless Missouri gun owners want there to be badly enough to make them happen.

Yeah, I know, some will point to Montana and argue the measure never would have withstood legal challenge and that it was just symbolic.  Even were that true, what does this betrayal symbolize?  That we have just rolled over and accepted such corruption from the courts and perversion of founding intent, and that the Second and Tenth Amendments aren't worth fighting the feds on every step of the way...?

The Right Answers

E.W. Jackson, Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in Virginia has received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association (NRA) after receiving a rating of AQ for his “pro gun response on our candidate questionnaire.” [More]

Do we get to see it?

‘Pro-gun’ attorney general's actions match past words, not current ones

He’s so pro-gun he makes the NRA seem leftist by comparison? So why is he fighting to keep law-abiding legal aliens defenseless? [More]

Today’s Gun Rights Examiner report looks at yet another politician whose discretionary actions belie his words—not to mention his NRA rating.

Connecticut gun group opposes anti-gun GOP candidate for governor

For someone whose legislative actions dropped him from an NRA “A+” rating in 200 to an “F” in 2010, with an eight percent key vote record in 2012, there is no appreciable difference between Republican McKinney and Democrat Malloy anyway. CCDL is taking the lead to show gun owners -- in Connecticut and everywhere else -- that coordinated activists can force change, and that their demands can define a standard office holders must adhere to -- if not out of principle then out of a basic political survival instinct. [More] 

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report shows how an action in Connecticut can establish a template gun owners can use in contestable elections nationwide.

One Question

In re Mark Pryor: Why would NRA give money to someone with a "C" rating? [Read]

The Worldly Among Us

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced an amendment that would prevent the United States from entering into the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty in order to uphold the Second Amendment. His amendment passed on a 53-46 vote. These are your United States Senators who voted to sign away your Second Amendment Rights via the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty gun grab... [More]

I see "pro-gun Democrat" Max Baucus on the list -- I wonder if this will affect his NRA rating...

[Via SamAdams1776]

Reid pressuring colleagues to approve anti-gun judicial nominee

Reid’s support for Halligan is hardly surprising to those who have watched his maneuverings ever since NRA did not outright endorse him (and conveniently did not support his opponent who had a superior rating) the last time he ran for reelection. In spite of the fact that Wayne LaPierre called Reid “a true champion of the Second Amendment” at a sports center (while he actually disparaged its ultimate meaning in campaign ads), Reid has found new friends he can turn to, like New York’s anti-gun Mayor Michael Bloomberg. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner report  asks if anyone really believes Reid's First Loyalty won't trump the Second Amendment.

No Hope

“It looks like I went straight from an A to an F,” Hope says. [More]

Yeah, well, Benedict Arnold went straight from a hero to a traitor.

What did you expect? 

Nice to see NRA doing this, assuming it's not hyperbole -- I haven't seen the card and have no idea if his rating has actually been downgraded that much, if at all. Anybody have a copy?

If not, I'd like to know why. If so, I hope all proto-Quislings will take note.

Hello, Mr.Chips

Tommy Thompson

U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson touts NRA endorsement in Bellevue [More]

You remember Tommy: He's the guy who profited off a venture that wants to stick chips in us and volunteered to implant one himself to prove they're safe--until he backed out without fanfare because he "was too busy."

Why look: When entrusted with political power, he also signed predator empowerment zone legislation.

And he's got an extended record of opposing concealed carry.

So naturally, he deserves an "A" rating.  Because he says he went deer hunting with his grandfather.  And besides, his opponent is really really REALLY anti-gun.

It truly is down to this.

An Interesting Dilemma for NRA

I'm assuming everybody here is familiar with the Todd Akin brouhaha by now.

And they also know that winning the Senate is a key objective of "conservative" political activists.

If he does not drop out, will NRA dare back--and by that I mean endorse and financially contribute to and send out mailers on behalf of--this candidate with "an 'A' lifetime rating"? Especially considering they gave Claire McCaskill an "F"?

Or will they, as so many are doing, either keep a low profile, scale back, or abandon him altogether, out of political considerations that have nothing to do with his stance on guns?

If so, what happens to that "single issue organization" mantra their apologists employed to defuse criticism over Harry Reid?

Nicely Done

The National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund says state Senate candidate Frank Niceley has been "deliberately misleading voters" by saying in campaign literature that his NRA rating is "A+" instead of the "C" that has was assigned for the 2012 primary. [Read]

In a way it's kind of funny to see a politician try to convince voters he's the darling of the NRA even when he's not. It's also kind of funny to see how realpolitik plays out against the contentions of the delusional.

Go ahead, turncoat wannabes: Listen to Oliver Willis.  Believe him when he says "The NRA is a gang of very strange, conspiracy-theory spewing, racist, bigoted know-nothings who don’t give a damn about the safety of their fellow citizens. They would rather the streets be flooded with all manner of weapons rather than ever allow a single law or regulation that would govern the world of guns."

If we're going to have enemies, it's in our interests to keep them ignorant and have them underestimate us, and Ollie here is doing a splendid job of that.

Thanks, Ollie! Nicely done.

A Lost Cause?

No, I'm not talking about GRendell's rantings. [Read]

I'm talking about allowing RINO political whores like Kate Harper to remain in power.

Better to let an anti-gun democrat have the seat as an object lesson that the GOP had better get someone acceptable to run if they want back in.

But that's stupid politics! If we do that we could lose all our gun rights!

Only if you believe the ultimate test will be political. Only if you surrender them.  Only if you think it's a lost cause.

If you allow betrayals without non-negotiable consequences, what incentive is there to stay faithful?

And what's the deal with Dominc Pileggi?  He comes out speaking for NRA, which has given him an "A" rating, but this says he "broke with Republicans - and some Democrats - to support closing the so-called Florida loophole..."

Haslam Pledges to Sign Constitutional Carry Bill

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam says he would sign legislation to eliminate Tennessee's permit requirements for carrying handguns in public, meaning most Tennesseans could go armed if they choose to do so. [More]

Would he really?

From Leonard Embody, via email:

He showed up at a Tennessee Firearms meeting last night. Me and a couple of other guys including Richard Hamblen got him to say he would sign legislation. This helps pressure the legislature.


This has been spreading all over Tennessee. It is a big deal because Haslam has a B rating with the NRA. He was a member of Bloomberg's Mayors against guns. As Mayor he oversaw the banning of guns in Knoxville City Parks.

Click here for the YouTube Q&A from Embody.

Gun Owners of America releases 2010 candidate grades

"[T]he GOA Rating Guide is your tool for cutting through the bull that candidates are throwing at you during this election season," they state.

How do they do that? [More]

Today's first Gun Rights Examiner column looks at another tool in the kit.

"First"?

Yeah, NRA is supposed to activate their grades & endorsements page today, and I plan on doing another post when they do.

Share the link?

Because I'm a Lying Sack?

"How is it that you can have an F rating from the NRA, and you can sit up here and tell us that you're going to defend sportsmen's rights?" Emmer asked. [More]

See my title for the answer.

What the hell are "cop killer bullets"?

And more importantly, what the hell are "sportsmen's rights"?

I wonder how the contenders would do on these? My experience is most sportsmen have surprisingly big "buts."

Another NRA "A" Rating

NRA Endorses Gov. Phil Bredesen

Pay it forward, Phil. Pay it forward.

Maybe you and Brad can get together for a laugh.

Nevada District 1 Congressional Candidates Answer Gun Rights Questionnaire

The incumbent, Shelley Berkley, has earned an "F" rating from Gun Owners of America, and that alone should motivate gun-owning constituents to pink slip her. "On the Issues" tells us NRA gave her an "F" in 2003, that she backs nonsense like "smart guns" and waiting periods--although it does look like she changed positions on suing gun manufacturers.

Here are two challengers to consider for unseating Berkley, Michele Fiore and Craig Lake... [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column gives Nevada gun owners a more sure way to place their bets.

Also catch up on the latest from Trigger Sports LIVE!, including their YouTube channel.

Share the link? Especially with friends in Nevada?

On Endorsing Enablers

From correspondent Mack H:

This is something worth following, I think. Let me take this step-by-step...

A Virginian, all by himself (pro se), is suing George Mason University to secure the right to armed self-defense on college campus.

His legal briefs are posted here:
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/31880.html

He lost in Circuit court, so now he is now appealing to the Supreme Court of Virgina:
http://www.virginia1774.org/GMUSCPetitionweb.pdf

The AG's office has responded with this brief:
http://www.virginia1774.org/GMUBRIEFOPPET.pdf

This brief alleges that a taxpayer supported university has a "compelling government interest" in banning armed self-defense because allowing students and visitors to bring weapons onto campus would imperil safety.

"Without the regulation, the University's safety is seriously compromised." From page 13. Read on to see examples listed as to why safety is threatened by guns on campus. You decide how ridiculous those examples are. No mention of armed campus cops. That wouldn't fit the template.

The Virginia Attorney General is William C. Mims.

Billy Mims is a well-known gun control RINO. He has always supported gun control over freedom.

Bill Mims is a close, personal friend of Bob McDonnell. For a time, they both served in the House of Delegates.

McDonnell hand-picked Mims to be his deputy AG - his second in command.

McDonnell planned all along, when he won the race for AG, to resign early so he could run full-time for governor.

McDonnell hand-picked Mims to be the new Attorney General -- his successor.

Bob McDonnell has received the endorsement of the NRA. He has not (so far) received the endorsement of the VCDL-PAC.

No one writes about this publicly. I wonder why?

Yep:

McDonnell...urged lawmakers to pick Mims, his chief deputy, to succeed him.

and:

Virginia: NRA endorses McDonnell for Governor

Any political rating system that doesn't take into account anti-gun political alliances is incomplete and deceptive.