NRA Grassroots Leads “Pro-Gun” Charge for McClintock!
(Unbelievable!)

by David Codrea
codrea4@adelphia.net

September 17, 2003

KeepAndBearArms.com -- Under coordinated leadership from professional NRA Grassroots staffers, California’s activist gun owners have blanketed the Golden State in a blitz designed to get out the vote for proven Second Amendment champion Tom McClintock.

“We’re angered by California’s Republican establishment throwing it’s weight behind anti-gun Arnold Schwarzenegger, and view it as a betrayal” read an NRA Political Victory Fund new release, accompanied by a substantial “seed money” donation to help McClintock buy much-needed media time.

“We have been faithful and long-time supporters of the GOP, both in California and nationally, and they seem to think they can repay us is by offering a candidate who supports a ban on semiautomatic firearms and .50 caliber target rifles, mandatory trigger locks, magazine indicators and gun disablers, and a host of other Second Amendment infringements,” the communiqué stated. “We are disgusted that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s positions are fundamentally identical to those of Gray Davis and Cruz Bustamante.”

In a three-pronged approach, utilizing volunteers from NRA Members Councils and the California Rifle and Pistol Association, and joined by the Fifty Caliber Institute, which was galvanized to action by the threat to their firearm of choice, the organizations have employed their extensive telephone, fax and email alert networks. Members of these groups have been mobilized to staff tables outside gun stores and shooting ranges throughout California to ensure that gun owners are registered to vote before the Sept. 22 deadline, and informed about the profound differences the two candidates have on gun rights.

A contingent of several dozen representatives converged on this past weekend’s Republican Convention in Los Angeles to present their demands to the GOP leadership, and to let assembled party loyalists know that subverting gun owners’ rights will not be rewarded. Additionally, the gun groups’ paid lobbying staffs have been working around the clock to educate the public and inform the media…except…

Except NONE of this stuff has happened. I made it all up. These groups have been silent on the race. They haven’t taken a stand. At this writing, there’s not even any mention of it on their respective NRA Members Council, CRPA and FCI websites. 

Unbelievable.

Even if they involved themselves NOW, it would be too late for a voter registration drive. Every day these groups delay makes it harder for McClintock to compete with his better-funded opponents. Do they want McClintock to fail?

These are the people who pass themselves off as our leaders? What in the world have gun owners been sending them money for? If they won’t involve themselves in this critical struggle to protect the last vestiges of gun rights in California—indeed, if they continue avoiding the struggle altogether—what the hell good are they?

Epilog:

As this is being released, a 3-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has halted the recall election. Depending on how this development is resolved, the election will either go forward on October 7, or be delayed until March of next year.

Either way, it is past time for NRA, CRPA and the Fifty Caliber Policy Institute to start acting like the leaders their fundraising appeals tell us they are. If they won’t, it’s past time gun owners shifted their support to those who aren’t afraid to lead.

David Codrea is not affiliated with the Tom McClintock for Governor campaign in any official capacity—he is simply a citizen exercising his First Amendment right to free political speech. He is also an advisory member of the Silveira v Lockyer Support Fund, financing research to achieve a definitive Second Amendment ruling by the Supreme Court. For information on this groundbreaking effort and how you can help, visit www.KeepAndBearArms.com.