Thank You, Captain Obvious!

We can only surmise that this exposes his true goal, which is not going after the criminal misuse of firearms, but suppressing law-abiding citizens from purchasing firearms. [More]

I joined the Wine Club for this?

[Via bondmen]

So Much for Renewing My Wine Club Membership...

 NRA Bank Account Information, Staff Social Security Numbers Leaked by Russian Hackers [More]

This leads to the natural question of how secure member information is... 

This could be the death blow, because with this going on, who would enact any transaction with them that requires a credit card?

You, Our Valued Members

The NRA Thinks Of You As Hillbillies, Idiots, Fruitcakes And Nuts [More]

So they should have pushed 'shine Club instead of Wine Club? But keep sending money because we know how to be sophisticated with it!

Talk about a Lonesome Rhodes moment:

Somebody once on the inside must really want to bring them down. You'd better believe Wayne and Marion know who recorded them -- and for the time being, are stymied on outing him without upping their own risks by validating his claims through acknowledgment.

I wonder if it's the same one I heard a rumor about and if he's the one who turned state's evidence for Letitia in exchange for immunity. 

What Kind of McCloskey Swag is She Offering?

It’s improper to prosecute someone for political reasons and she clearly outed herself as doing that by immediately using the case to fundraise off of. [More]

Hey, has she considered a "Wine Club"?

[Via Michael G]

Get Ready 'cause Here It Comes, Boy

As the old saying goes, you can vote your country into socialism/communism but there is only one way out.  Lead Implants. [More]

Everybody all signed up for the Wine Club?

[H/T WRSA]

This Won't Affect My Wine Club Shipments, Will It?

NRA to cut salaries, brace for layoffs as coronavirus disrupts fundraising, internal memo states [More]

In times like these we need to focus on priorities.

[H/T SPW-DUF Digest]

Nonessential Personnel

The NRA Exodus: Who Left the Organization During a Year of Upheaval [More]

Thank God I don't see the guy who runs Wine Club on the list.

[Via Mack H]

Confidence Man

And join the Wine Club while you're at it!

Wayne LaPierre expensed $39,000 in clothes in one day, $18,300 for car and driver, ad agency says; NRA says board has ‘full confidence’ in him [More]

This is behind a paywall, and you can get the gist of the story from other sources (TTAG has the docs and relevant analysis), but there are a couple specifics in the WSJ article I think need to be highlighted and addressed:

The NRA released a statement from Carolyn Meadows, its new president, who said the “entire board is fully aware of these issues.

As a 25+ year life member, I've already asked who the hell this person is and noted she was appointed based on wagon-circler/swamp connections rather than any remarkable proven fidelity or achievements as a defender of RKBA. And per my NRA board member source, someone I have known for many years:

Even though President Meadows is quoted as saying "the entire Board is aware of these issues," well, this is one Board member that is not.

And then there's this:

As for the summer intern, Ackerman wrote that Mr. LaPierre “required we rent” her an apartment and requested that Mr. LaPierre provide details about his business relationship to the young woman.

Uh, yeah, details, please.

Who needs Cuomo when you have The Lairds of Fairfax? Although he will no doubt viciously drive his forces through the opening they have given him.

Also, WarOnGuns Correspondent Felix B sends a comprehensive document link.

What a self-created mess. And no, I don't expect any changes that are not forced, and won't be surprised to see Trump start distancing himself.

In the Red

Audit shows NRA in the red for second straight year: report [More]

This won't affect my Wine Club shipments, will it?

A Run for the Money

The NRA Says It’s in Deep Financial Trouble, May Be ‘Unable to Exist’ [More]

Does this mean my Wine Club shipments could be affected? That said, I won't be surprised to find the tale of woe overstated for effect -- by both sides.

Still, assuming there are serious continued cash flow concerns, here are a few suggestions: Get back to core Bylaws Purposes and Objectives, stop with the phony grades, recognize the main threat, stop promoting citizen disarmament and you may win some of the disaffected back -- if you can convince them you're sincere.

In any case, I'm sure Wayne and Chris have a luxury lifeboat ready to launch if they drive the ship up on the rocks.

Not that Rolling Stone has room to talk.

[Via Matthew L]

And If You Act Now...

I also think that this is why we have things like NRA Carry Guard... [More]

She missed a perfectly good opportunity to work in a plug for the NRA Wine Club.

NRA ILA and Rights Don't Mix

Chris Cox, the executive director for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, told a national television audience Donald Trump was wrong to suggest the shooting in Orlando could have been prevented, at least in part, if patrons to the nightclub Pulse had been allowed to carry weapons – that drinking alcohol and concealed carrying just don’t mix.

“No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms,” said Cox, during an interview on “This Week” with ABC. “That defies common sense. It also defies the law.” [More]

Well, gosh, if the Vulcan Chessmaster thinks it's logical to parrot gun-grabber talking points, who are those of us who believe the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but we should all be held accountable for our actions, to argue?

And then afterwards, he tries to weasel out of it. SOP.

I wonder if he recommends NRA members make sure their guns are in a different location when their wine club shipments arrive? If not, why not?

Decision, Decisions...

I haven't been this conflicted since invited to join the wine club.

UPDATE: I guess I need to explain that the last panel is one of my "Fauxtoshops" intended to express my contempt for shallow fundraising tactics by cynical fundraisers.

I Took the One Less Traveled By

You gotta be f'n kiddin' me.

Look, I understand you people have to raise money, but this is just plain offensive on so many levels, not the least being what it reveals about how you think of your membership--and the problem is, based on results, you're probably not all that wrong about a critical mass of them.

As for those "vital NRA programs" this will support, does that include helping your "Only Ones" Division achieve its "one goal" in places like New York and California?

I got another ad just yesterday (no, not the dil...uh...wine club pitch) from my old buddy the Vulcan Chessmaster, where he actually said...well here, see for yourself:

No, you might lose yours, but some gun owners are pretty serious about hearts actually stopping beating before that will happen to them.

We get that you need money for outreach, education, growth, programs, politics and court. But enough with the breathless hyperbole that treats your members like idiot ATM machines.  Have you considered approaching them like they're adults who value principles and sincerity, from whom you might be able to learn a thing or two?

Supply and Demand

The monster, sitting in a cage in back of his gun store and shooting range in Lawrenceville, can cut down a tree — and could easily fetch $30,000 in a perfectly legal sale. But for Powell, the sale would be the equivalent of hawking a Picasso or vintage wine.

The gun increases in value exponentially each year.

That is because it is the law — not the manufacturing costs — that drive the price. The federal government has outlawed the manufacture of machine guns for the civilian market in the United States since 1986. Only machine guns that were legally owned by civilians before that year can be sold privately.

Unless, of course, you're an "Only One."

If this isn't a blatant conspiracy to deny Americans their right to own militia-suitable firearms, I don't know what is.

And we talk about pitching gun owner against gun owner--why would these privileged elites--the very ones with the resources to finance Second Amendment challenges without batting an eye--want to let us hoi polloi into their exclusive club--and watch their investments devalue?

How this evident discriminatory result isn't an equal protection violation is also something I don't understand.

UPDATE: Brutus reminds me not to over-generalize and I agree there are exceptions. I'm not confident in how widespread they are, though.