NRA Must Face Truth in California—Now!

by David Codrea
codrea4@adelphia.net

February 26, 2002

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." — A. Lincoln, Republican

My last report, "NRA Backing Wrong Horse in California—Why?" recommended that the NRA switch its endorsement from Bill Jones to Bill Simon, otherwise the conservative vote in the California gubernatorial primary will be split.

There are several strong arguments for switching the endorsement. Fortunately, support for gun rights is not one of them since both men seem equally good. Jones has an outstanding pro-gun rights voting record, and Simon has an "A" rating by NRA-PVF, which also says he "is considered a 'Strict Constitutionalist' who promises to carry the Bill of Rights banner." True, Simon is untested in this area as an actual officeholder, but there are no guarantees that Jones, once in the governor's office, will not begin leaning toward the "center" — i.e., compromise in an attempt to appeal to more voters.

Since both appear equally good on gun rights, the strongest arguments for endorsing Simon are the simple facts: 

(1) Simon has captured endorsements from the state's leading conservative Republican organizations and taxpayer groups.

(2) Simon has a better financed campaign.

(3) Polls show Simon formidably ahead of Jones.

Were the situation reversed, I would not hesitate to support Jones.  But the writing on the wall can no longer be ignored.

Talk radio host Roger Hedgecock, guest-hosting for Rush Limbaugh, informed that program's 20 million listeners of today's major political story in the Los Angeles Times, that the newspaper's poll shows Simon tied with previous front-runner, anti-gun Richard Riordan. "Simon has emerged as the clear favorite of GOP conservatives, pushing Bill Jones into a distant third place," the story reveals, "With his firm support among the party base, Simon could benefit the most if a low turnout next Tuesday enhances the influence of Republican activists."

Next Tuesday.

That's not a lot of time, so the obvious must be stated, as painful as it may be to some.  For the good of California conservatives and gun owners, JONES MUST STEP DOWN.  NRA must persuade him to allow them to withdraw their previous endorsement, and if he's unwilling, they must do it without his sanction.  Failing to do this, NRA will pit their membership against the overwhelming majority of conservatives with disastrous results, that is, a Riordan victory.

"On gun control, Simon won 40% support among likely Republican primary voters who oppose stiffer regulation of firearms, compared with 21% for Riordan and 17% for Jones," The Times report continues.  NRA's endorsement is clearly out of step with the majority of gun-owning Republicans, presumably the majority of their own members.

Their loyalty to Mr. Jones for his past performance is understandable and commendable, but I submit NRA's primary loyalty must be to the Second Amendment and to their hundreds of thousands of California members.   NRA must meet immediately with the conservative Republican leadership, with Mr. Simon and with Mr. Jones.  The impasse must be resolved without delay, and the result must be an NRA endorsement of Simon. And they had better do it quickly. 

I call on conservative leaders and gun owners to press NRA for their immediate endorsement of Bill Simon for governor.  Contact them at: ILA-Contact@nrahq.org.   Also complete the "feedback" form on Bill Jones' website (http://www.billjones.org/Feedback/Feedback.cfm) and urge him, for the good of his party and his state, to release NRA from its endorsement, to bow out of the race, and to endorse Bill Simon.

Do it today, without delay.  The clock is ticking, and if somebody doesn't defuse it, a political bomb is going to go off — and the victims will be California conservatives and gun owners.

David Codrea is a co-founder and director for the national pro-rights media campaign, Citizens of America (www.CitizensOfAmerica.org), and an advisor and contributor for www.KeepAndBearArms.com. His professional writing is featured often in Guns and Ammo magazine. Additionally, he is the national coordinator for A Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment (www.KeepAndBearArms.com/Petition). His archives can be accessed here: www.KeepAndBearArms.com/Codrea.