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Expel Michael Moore from NRA

by David Codrea
codrea4@adelphia.net

Posted June 20, 2002

11 June 2002

Mr. Edward J. Land
Secretary
National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030

Sent via notarized/certified mail-domestic return receipt

SUBJECT: Expel Michael Moore from NRA

Dear Secretary Land,

As an NRA Life Member, I am appalled that filmmaker Michael Moore is identified as an NRA member in an article from the UK's The Guardian, "Gunning for the Land of the Free," and from the Associated Press, "Michael Moore looks at guns, violence, and fear."

Association Bylaws, Article III, Sec. 11, "Involuntary Termination of Membership and Disciplinary Proceedings" states in part:

"Any individual or organization member may be suspended or expelled for good cause, including, but not limited to, any conduct which is contrary to, or in violation of the Bylaws of the Association."

Moore's long-time public anti-gun advocacy is in direct conflict with Article II, Purposes and Objectives, section 1: "To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, especially with reference to the inalienable right of the individual American citizen guaranteed by such Constitution to acquire, possess, collect, exhibit, transport, carry, transfer ownership of, and enjoy the right to use arms, in order that the people may always be in a position to exercise their legitimate individual rights of self-preservation and defense of family, person, and property, as well as to serve effectively in the appropriate militia for the common defense of the Republic and the individual liberty of its citizens;"

Additionally, Article III, "Membership," section 1., "Eligibility," requires that the member "subscribes to the objectives and purposes of the Association."

If Moore IS an NRA member as claimed by the above-referenced news accounts, the articles should provide all the evidence NRA needs to expel him. Should you desire additional proofs, I have also enclosed several other exhibits confirming his anti-Second Amendment positions.

Obviously, I have no way of knowing if Mr. Moore truly is an NRA member -- I am relying on news accounts that say he is. He did not reply to my email asking him if this was true. If he is not, I urge you to publicly correct the record. If he is, pursuant to Bylaws Article III, section 11 (c) (1) and (2) please accept this written, notarized and signed complaint. I hereby formally request that you take immediate steps to expel him pursuant to Bylaws Article III, section 11(c)(3), by notifying the accused, and referring this complaint to the Ethics Committee.

Mr. Land, nothing in this complaint should be construed as an attempt to have a chilling effect on criticism of NRA policies and management decisions by members in good standing. Since ways of best supporting the Second Amendment may, and often do, prompt honest, vocal and even heated disagreement, members must always be free to voice opposition to official Association positions. Indeed, this is healthy and should be encouraged to ensure that alternate strategies and points of view receive consideration in management decisions. But the Bylaws provide wide latitude for doing so without subverting the Purposes and Objectives of the Association, without flouting membership eligibility requirements, and without publicly undermining our inalienable right to keep and bear arms.

Because it concerns a high profile member, I believe other NRA members may be interested in learning about and joining me in this complaint. I therefore intend to share this letter and also believe NRA's response and decision should be publicly communicated.

Sincerely,

David Codrea
Life Member # XXXXXXXX
Address Suppressed for privacy reasons
codrea4@adelphia.net

Enclosed:

"Gunning for the land of the free," The Guardian, May 17, 2002
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,716906,00.html

"Michael Moore looks at guns, violence, and fear," AP, May 17, 2002
http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/17/cannes.michael.moore.ap/

"Mike's Message," MichaelMoore.com, March 1, 2000
http://www.michaelmoore.com/03012000.html

"Mike's Message- Send Charlton Heston to Thurston High School," MichaelMoore.com, May 27, 1998
http://www.michaelmoore.com/message527.html

"Mike's Message-Welcoming the National Rifle Association to Denver," MichaelMoore.com, April 30, 1999
http://www.michaelmoore.com/message43099.html

"Mike's Message," MichaelMoore.com, June 4, 1999
http://www.michaelmoore.com/message6499.html

My email to Michael Moore, May 29, 2002

EXHIBITS

While relevant excerpts are included in the enclosures, the following exhibits are not reproduced in their entirety, except for the complete copy of my email to Michael Moore, in order to avoid copyright infringements. They may be accessed at the transcribed url's:

Gunning for the land of the free
TV documentary about the US love of firearms makes history
Stuart Jeffries in Cannes
Friday May 17, 2002
The Guardian

The United States was lampooned yesterday for being not so much the land of the free and the home of the brave but a fearful and gun-crazy nation obsessed with violence, in a powerful film that premiered at Cannes last nightBowling for Columbine was a personal journey for Moore; he had been a marksmanship champion as a teenager and is a lifelong member of the NRA.

Michael Moore looks at guns, violence, and fear
May 17, 2002
Associated Press (CNN site)
Moore believes America is obsessed with guns, and -- wearing his trademark baseball cap and sagging jeans -- he crossed the United States (and visited Canada) filming 200 hours of footage to find out whyThe movie plays with many contradictions; Moore, who grew up around guns, has been a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association.

Michael Moore writings from the other articles I referenced. These are but a few readily retrievable examples. If you want to see more, just use a good search engine with the words "Michael Moore gun".

"Mike's Message," MichaelMoore.com, March 1, 2000
http://www.michaelmoore.com/03012000.html

"I'll end by repeating what I have said many times before -- the handguns have to go."

"Mike's Message- Send Charlton Heston to Thurston High School," MichaelMoore.com, May 27, 1998
http://www.michaelmoore.com/message527.html
"Let's blame the real villains. Let's blame the gun companies, who are out to make a buck and don't take responsibility for what their products are doing to our country and our children. Let's blame the NRA, which lobbies so tirelessly to protect our constitutional right of easy access to automatic weapons...Charlton Heston and the NRA can kiss my ass. "
"Mike's Message-Welcoming the National Rifle Association to Denver," MichaelMoore.com, April 30, 1999
http://www.michaelmoore.com/message43099.html

"Thanks for all the ideas on what we should all do to greet the National Rifle Association at their annual convention in Denver tomorrow (Saturday) morning. They ranged from all of us going there dressed as Moses proclaiming with our staffs raised in the air: 'IT'S NOT THE GUNS, IT'S THE BULLETS!!', to having the mayor of Denver move the convention to Columbine High School ('where they'll feel more at home').

"Mike's Message," MichaelMoore.com, June 4, 1999
http://www.michaelmoore.com/message6499.html
"[E]ver since [1812], the Second Amendment has been more like the Second Commandment. It made a lot of sense then; it makes no sense now."

My unanswered email to Michael Moore:

-----Original Message-----
From: David Codrea codrea4@adelphia.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 7:37 AM
To: mmflint@aol.com
Subject: You and the NRA

I have seen several news articles saying you are a lifelong NRA member. Is this true? How do you reconcile that against your public stand for gun control?

David Codrea