Gun Rights Organizations – Page 42 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Pat Toomey Gets Formal NRA Endorsement

It was obviously expected, but now it is formally a done deal, and well deserved. It will also, hopefully, keep the pressure on Casey. This means, for EVCs, that we can direct our armies of volunteers to Toomey’s campaign for Senate. I jest about that a bit, but actually, despite the fact that the gun issue hasn’t gotten much play, I’ve gotten more people this year wanting to volunteer than any year previous. Hopefully we can really make an impression on the local political establishment this year when it comes to the gun vote.

I should also note that every person to contact Bitter in her district (which mostly covers Philly and some of Montgomery County) have been Philly cops, who can’t really get involved in campaigns, but care about the issue and wanted to know who to support. The ones that care enough to call are the ones who CeaseFire PA and the Brady folks will tell you are on their side.

Interview with Chris Cox in National Review

NRA has never had a very close relationship with the National Review crowd. To that part of the conservative movement, we’ve always been a bit of the crazy uncle in the attic. With that said, I’m glad to see an interview with Chris Cox in National Review.

GOP Committeeman Mark Hillman is a Bozo

Clearly they don’t appreciate the Second Amendment being a bipartisan issue, and is lashing out at NRA, and outright lying in at least one instance:

Itâ€™s simple: the NRA likes to play it safe by backing incumbents, even those whose support of gun rights is as sturdy as a soggy role of toilet paper. When the NRA endorsed liberal Democrat Sen. Harry Reid, NRA lobbyist Chris Cox explained that its â€œlong-standing policy â€¦ gives preference to incumbent candidates who have voted with the NRA on key issues.â€

They back incumbents with pro-gun records, which Markey has. Secondly, NRA has not endorsed Harry Reid this election. If you’re going to throw bombs, at least get your facts straight. I’m also outraged that he demeans pro-gun votes by Democrats:

(Remember Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall voting to allow guns in national parks but only after obtaining permission from the Senateâ€™s top gun-grabber, Sen. Charles Schumer? Markeyâ€™s votes were of the same lot â€” manipulative campaign fodder.)

You’re confusing the park issue with National Concealed Carry. But that aside, this is politics, and you know that given your position within the GOP. This happens with any controversial vote. At the end of the day they voted for it.

The GOP needs to get this through their thick skulls: you don’t own the gun vote. We owe you jack. The fact of the matter is we got more done in this Congress than we did in eight years of total GOP control. The way to compete with the Democrats isn’t to lambaste the NRA, it’s to tell us what more you’re going to do that the Democrats haven’t. There are ways to woo us.

I would strongly encourage members of the Colorado GOP to give them a call and tell them you expect them to compete against Democrats by kissing our asses even more, rather than berating NRA for following an incumbent friendly endorsement policy that they have benefited from, and will benefit from again. The bar is raised. We no longer have to depend on one party to secure our Second Amendment rights. Clearly some in the GOP aren’t happy about that. Hear that guys? World’s smallest violin.

Looks Like Corbett Gets His Endorsement

It’s hardly a surprise that NRA is planning events to announce the endorsement of Tom Corbett for Governor. Normally Bitter would have attended and reported, but we haven’t gotten around to getting her car inspected yet. Onorato is trying to make gun control an issue in the campaign, and he’s on the wrong side. It’s really important that gun owners punish the Democrats for this. I’m convinced Rendell has the state party convinced NRA is a paper tiger in Pennsylvania. This is the election we show them that’s not the case.

ISRA News

The Illinois State Rifle Association recently was awarded with Outstanding State Association by NRA. Thirdpower has some pics of their recent Annual Meeting. They’ve won a lot for us this year, and they deserve every bit of the recognition they are getting.

Today is Delaware’s Primary

And we’ll find out just how nuts NRA is for endorsing Christine O’Donnell in the primary. My instinct would have been to sit this one out. Not because Mike Castle is our best friend, but because this strikes me as a risky bet. Some polls have shown the race between O’Donnell is close, and turnout is expected to be low. NRA would, no doubt, like to be able to send the message to Castle, and by contrast all the other Republicans, that they can end the political careers of intransigent Republicans (hear that Lindsey Graham?).

But to send that message, you have to win, and we’ll see how O’Donnell does after tonight when the results start to come in. The end result, either way, is likely going to be that seat remaining anti-gun. If Mike Castle wins his primary, he’s polling well for November against Chris Coons. If O’Donnell wins, the Democrats are very likely to hold that seat. These party concerns can’t and shouldn’t be a concern for NRA, but it’ll make November interesting. O’Donnell, to put it mildly, is nuts. I don’t see any scenario where she wins in Delaware, with the Democrats holding a significant registration advantage, and where Independents tend to like more moderate candidates. I think Delaware could support a better conservative than Mike Castle, especially this election, but I don’t think it can support someone as far right as Christine O’Donnell. This seems to be a frequent mistake being made by the Tea Party movement.

Interesting Posters Appear in SF – update

The most interesting posters started appearing on certain bus stops throughout San Francisco on August 31st. Mind you, the San Francisco MTA has a policy against ads that “appear to promote the use of firearms.”

The posters were a joint effort of the Second Amendment Foundation and the CalGuns Foundation. More here and here. A clearer picture of the poster can be found here. The poster is an adaption of an earlier poster by Oleg Volk.

UPDATE:Â According to a CBS News blog, the SFMTA is investigating whether the posters above should have been allowed to be posted at bus stops in the first place. The feeling I get from that report is that the MTA has been getting a lot of pressure from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to remove the ads.

If they remove them, Alan Gottlieb will be one happy man. He has vowed to sue if they are removed and itÂ sounds like he is just itching for the chance to sue SF on First Amendment grounds.

On the Harry Reid Non-Endorsement

By now, I think you’ve all heard the news that Harry Reid will not be getting an endorsement from NRA this election cycle. They didn’t come straight out and say it, but it appears the Sotomayor and Kagan votes are being graded heavily.

It would have been hard to defend an endorsement after the Kagan vote. NRA detractors certainly would have made that argument and they would have had a good point.

The Plot Uncovered

Joe reports that some guy on a forum has figured it all out, and that the NRA has been secretly funding the Brady Campaign. Code ten to HQ, repeat, code ten to HQ. Send in “The Piano Tuners”. If I were this guy, I would highly suggest building a bunker from all the fundraising letters you’ve received. Now you know what they are for. Not that it’s going to help!

Someone Had to Do It

Gun Owners Against Illegal Mayors. Done by a blogger I think we all know.