Month: April 2025

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Coming Changes To The Blog

April 16, 2025 by 15 Comments

With my election to the NRA Board of Directors there will be some changes that must come to the blog.

I will now have the fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and obedience. I have written extensively on this blog in the past about fiduciary duties and how certain segments of the Board blithely ignored them. I will not be one of those directors.

If you are a party in a lawsuit against the NRA, I cannot respond to you as you are an adverse party and all communications should be between the respective parties’ attorneys. This is upon the advice of outside legal counsel.

Letters, emails, and other confidential information from the NRA that may have been leaked to me in the past will need to stay confidential. However, this does not mean that information that is in the public domain such as filings with regulators and court documents cannot be shared. I can still share my opinion on this but I will probably be doing less of it.

There is still a world of things going on with regard to the Second Amendment, gun rights, wildlife conservation, and other things that I find of interest to write on.

One final note. This is a private blog and not a public forum. I have comment moderation enabled to cut down on the spam. Please do not force me to disable all comments with comments to which I am obligated not to respond.

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Counteract Everytown Protestors At General Assembly

April 16, 2025 by

Everytown and their affiliated organizations will be having a news conference and their “Annual Advocacy Day” in Raleigh at 11am. They are targeting S50/H5 which would make North Carolina the 30th state to allow permitless concealed carry. They are calling it “dangerous legislation” and, of course, are predicting that blood will run in the streets if the law is passed. In other words, the same old same old.

As a counter to this protest, Grass Roots North Carolina is requesting that people should contact House Rules Committee Republicans starting at 10am and continue through noon. H5 is sitting in Rules Committee having passed out of the House Judiciary 2 Committee.

Here is the GRNC Alert with suggested wording for calls and emails.

COUNTERACT “EVERYTOWN’S”
ANTI-GUN PROTEST 

GRNC has been alerted to the fact that Everytown for Gun Safety —an anti-gun group that has been funded in large part by far left politician and financier, Michael Bloomberg—is planning a protest this Wednesday (4/16/2025) outside the General Assembly, in Raleigh. Although it may be obvious that groups like this tend to operate with rent-a-mobs who don’t represent the true grass roots, it’s important that we remind our representatives of this, lest they wonder and take pause at any critical moments. 

You see, currently, H5 (“NC Constitutional Carry Act”) and S50 (“Freedom to Carry NC”) are in the General Assembly’s House Rules Committee, so let’s make sure Republicans in that committee understand where North Carolina’s actual Grass Roots voters stand on these pro-Second Amendment bills. 

Use Strategic Timing to Contact Key Republicans 
Below, see how you can contact key members of the House Rules Committee with strategic timing. You can reassure them that any shrill anti-gun protestor they may see, or hear, are just that, and the committee members can remain comfortable in the knowledge that the voters who actually sent them to Raleigh are strongly in favor of the ‘Constitutional Carry’ bills currently under debate. We’ll be phoning and emailing the members between 10:00 AM and noon on Wednesday (4/16), because Everytown’s protest begins at 11:00 AM, hence the “strategic” portion of this. See more below.  
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

PHONE COMMITTEEE CHAIR & VICE-CHAIRS:  Wednesday, between 10:00 AM and noon (or as soon as you can after that), telephone the Chair and the Vice-Chairs of the House Rules Committee. Find their phone numbers in the chart below. Deliver the following, friendly message: 

 “I am calling to voice my full support for the ‘Constitutional Carry’ bills currently before the House Rules Committee. I want to be clear that, contrary to what you might see outside today, I am not a paid member of a protest group funded by a wealthy anti-gun crusader from New York. I am a real North Carolina voter, and I voted to send Republicans to Raleigh to enact pro-gun legislation. As these bills are debated, please know that you have my full support on House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 50. Thank you!” 

EMAIL KEY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  Anytime between now and Wednesday at 12:00 noon (or as soon as you can after that), email all of the key members of the House Rules Committee, and encourage them to support the ‘Constitutional Carry’ bills. Below, you’ll find a copy-paste email list, and a copy-paste message you can use to easily send the message.  

 PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO GRNC: Help us fight gun control while we promote Second Amendment principles. Please CLICK HERE to contribute. Bear in mind that GRNC is an all-volunteer organization, so you can be sure your donations are put to the best possible use. Any amount helps, and any amount is appreciated.
CONTACT INFO   Phone Number List: 
Representative Phone Number  John R. Bell, IV (Chair)  (919) 715-3017  Tricia Ann Cotham  (919) 733-5886  Brenden H. Jones  (919) 733-5821  Erin Paré  (919) 733-2962

Copy-Paste Email List: 

John.Bell@ncleg.gov; Tricia.Cotham@ncleg.gov; Brenden.Jones@ncleg.gov; Erin.Pare@ncleg.gov; William.Brisson@ncleg.gov; Ted.Davis@ncleg.gov; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.gov; Blair.Eddins@ncleg.gov; Karl.Gillespie@ncleg.gov; Kyle.Hall@ncleg.gov; Neal.Jackson@ncleg.gov; Charles.Miller@ncleg.gov; Ray.Pickett@ncleg.gov; Reece.Pyrtle@ncleg.gov; Sarah.Stevens@ncleg.gov; John.Torbett@ncleg.gov; Steve.Tyson@ncleg.gov; Donna.White@ncleg.gov

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

 Suggested Subject: Genuine NC Voters Support ‘Constitutional Carry’   

Dear House Rules Committee Member: 

I am writing to voice my full support for the ‘Constitutional Carry’ bills currently before the House Rules Committee, and I’m encouraging you to do whatever is in your legislative power to advance ‘Constitutional Carry’ in our state. 

I want to be clear that, contrary to what you might see outside today, I am not a paid member of a likely-rented protest group, like Everytown for Gun “Safety,” which is funded by an anti-gun, out-of-state billionaire. I am an actual North Carolina pro-gun voter, who purposely sent Republicans like you to Raleigh to enact pro-gun legislation. As these bills are debated, please know that you have my full support, and the support of all NC gun voters on House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 50. 

All that to say, if you notice a lot of anti-gun noise coming from outside today, ignore it. It’s not from genuine grass roots voters, and you have the full support of the real grass roots voters, like me, who are monitoring your actions on this important matter through legislative alerts from Grass Roots North Carolina. 

Respectfully,  

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For 76th Director

April 15, 2025 by 1 Comment

The reformers aka NRA 2.0 have coalesced on supporting Charles Hiltunen III for the 76th Director. As Frank Tait notes in his Substack post, he is fully supporting Charlie for the 76th Director. He asks that anyone considering supporting him to please support Charlie.

As I’ve said earlier here and elsewhere, I am disappointed that Frank Tait didn’t make the cut. He would have been a valuable addition to the Board based upon his experience with non-profit boards, finance, and audit. As he finished 32nd in the race, two more resignations or deaths put him on the Board.

Charlie is an attorney, lobbyist, instructor, and shooting coach. In addition, he is the President of the Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association and is the Chair-elect of the Crossroads Council BSA. He touches all the bases and I think he should be elected as the 76th Director. That he, Frank, and Todd Vandermyde didn’t make the cut greatly surprised me.

We don’t know who will be his primary opponent but I suspect it will either be Tom King or Ron Schmeits.

As a reminder, anyone who is a NRA member attending the Annual Meeting in Atlanta is eligible to vote for the 76th Director. I understand voting is in Room 403 on the 4th Floor of Building B of the Georgia World Congress Center which is where you pick up your credentials for the Meeting of Members. Voting closes at the conclusion of the Meeting of Members.

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The Houses Of Bourbon

April 15, 2025 by

This has nothing to do with either the French or the Spanish Houses of Bourbon. Rather it is an interesting infographic that points out the parent companies of many bourbon brands.

This graphic from Vinepair is not 100% accurate. For example, Diageo has owned the Texas whiskey distiller Balcones since 2022. Additionally, it doesn’t consider Tennessee whiskey as bourbon though it meets the legal definition.

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Copycatting 2A Scholarship

April 12, 2025 by 1 Comment

Building a body of legal scholarship that recognized the Second Amendment as an individual right was a goal that began over 50 years ago. This is what was known as the Standard Model. Early law review works include Of Arms and the Law by Dave Hardy and John Stompoly (1974 – Chicago-Kent Law Review), Handgun prohibition and the original meaning of the Second Amendment by Don Kates (1983 – Michigan Law Review), and The Embarrassing Second Amendment by Sanford Levinson (1989 – Yale Law Journal). Of course there were many more before the landmark DC v. Heller. The key was that they provided a body of scholarship that could be used to combat the idea that the Second Amendment only was a collective right.

As with all good things, copycats will take them, pervert them, and use them for their own nefarious purposes.

Submissions have opened for our third annual Everytown Law writing competition! If you are a law student interested in ways of utilizing litigation and the law to advance gun violence prevention, this is for you! Accepting submissions now through June 20: etwn.us/3Tq4vWD

[image or embed]

— Everytown for Gun Safety (@everytown.bsky.social) April 11, 2025 at 6:42 PM

Thus Everytown Law is trying to make up a body of legal scholarship that is supportive of gun control by giving monetary awards to law students. Winners have included papers that support bans on carry on public transport, attempts to find ways to pierce the PLCAA, finding supposed historical precedent for control of gunmaking, and support for red flag laws. The winners have come from prestigious law schools including Stanford, Yale, and Duke among others.

The gun control industry has already captured much of “Big Law” and now is trying to do the same with law schools and law students. I have written about such a program at the University of Minnesota Law School that is working with that state’s anti-gun Attorney General Keith Ellison on gun control laws. You have the Duke Center for Firearms Law at Duke Law School which is trying to provide the gun control industry with scholarly research to make a case for more regulation.

As an antidote for this is the Firearms Research Center at the University of Wyoming College of Law. The Center is directed by 2A scholar George Mocsary. Firearms historian Ashley Hlebinsky is the executive director and legal scholar David Kopel is a Senior Fellow.

As with everything coming out of the gun control industry it bears keeping an eye on.

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Celebration Dinner

April 11, 2025 by 10 Comments

Yesterday was cold and rainy so we waited until tonight to have our celebration dinner for me winning a seat on the Board of Directors.

We went to a little pub and restaurant called The Flying Squirrel Pub which is close to us. Prior to being The Flying Squirrel they were known as Voodoo Brewing and only rebranded a day ago.

We had a giant pretzel with beer cheese and sliders which was plenty for dinner. I had a Pluff Mud Porter from Holy City Brewing out of Charleston, SC which was very nutty which I loved.

Not only was the food good and the service great but it had a nice, friendly atmosphere with lots of families with their kids as well as guys stopping for a beer on their way home from work. It was a fitting place to celebrate our win.

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NRA Election Results In Order

April 11, 2025 by 13 Comments

I received this in an email from John Frazer just a few minutes ago. It is the unofficial (but almost official) order of finish. I have marked those on the NRA 2.0 ticket in bold. The official official results with vote totals will be announced at the Meeting of Members.

I don’t know who each side will be pushing for the 76th Director yet. When I know, I’ll post it.

The incorporation amendment was fairly noncontroversial once people understood it and passed with a 97% affirmative vote.

ELECTED FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS ENDING IN 2028

  1. Mitzy McCorvey
  2. Jack Hagan
  3. Howard L. Massingill Jr.
  4. Willes K. Lee
  5. Sharon Callan
  6. Sandra S. Froman
  7. James Fotis
  8. Cathy Wright
  9. Bob Barr
  10. Larry E. Craig
  11. Theresa Inacker
  12. Carol Frampton
  13. Todd Ellis
  14. Jason Wilson
  15. Jonathan S. Goldstein
  16. Dwight D. Van Horn
  17. Al Hammond
  18. Blaine Wade
  19. John Richardson
  20. James A. Sheckels
  21. Philip Gray
  22. Knox Williams
  23. Anthony P. Colandro
  24. Lawrence Finder
  25. Robert Scott Emslie

ELECTED FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM ENDING IN 2027

  1. Joel Friedman

ELECTED FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM ENDING IN 2026

  1. Richard Fairburn
  2. James W. Porter II
  3. Danny Stowers

NOT ELECTED — ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR 76TH DIRECTOR

  1. John C. Sigler*
  2. Gene T. Roach
  3. Frank Tait
  4. Charles T. Hiltunen III
  5. Regis Synan
  6. Todd Vandermyde
  7. Tom King
  8. Jeffrey Fleetham
  9. Ronald L. Schmeits
  10. David Mitten
  11. Richard Todd Figard
  12. Kim Rhode
  13. James L. Wallace
  14. Charles Rowe
  15. Lucretia Hughes Klucken
  16. Isaac Demarest
  17. Steven Dulan
  18. Lane Ruhland
  19. Greer Johnson
  20. Mark Shuell

(* At Mr. Sigler’s request, his name will not be included on the 76th Director ballot.)

As an additional reminder,  Board member Ken Blackwell has submitted his resignation, to take effect after the Board meeting on April 30 (and after the results of the 76th Director election are announced on April 26).  After the Board meeting, Mr. Blackwell’s resignation will take effect and create a new vacancy. The top remaining runner-up from the mail ballot will complete the final year of Mr. Blackwell’s term. 

SPECIAL BALLOT RESULT

Finally, the Board-recommended amendment to the certificate of incorporation (changing the NRA to a “non-charitable” not-for-profit corporation under New York law) was approved by a 97% to 3% margin. 

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Only A Day Late!

April 10, 2025 by

March 9th was National Gin and Tonic Day. This is not to be confused with International Gin and Tonic Day which will be on October 19th.

I apologize for being a day late with the notification but I had other things on my mind.

My biggest suggestion about making a good gin and tonic is to use a quality tonic water such a Fever Tree, Q, or Franklin & Sons. You can get by with a just OK gin but not a crappy tonic water.

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Elected!

April 10, 2025 by 7 Comments

From Stephanie Daniels, Asst NRA Secretary, at 12:06pm

Congratulations! Based on the draft report of the ballot results, you have been elected to the NRA Board of Directors for a three-year term ending in 2028. The newly elected Directors will be recognized at the Annual Meeting of Members in Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April 26, and will take office upon the adjournment of the meeting. The Board will meet on Monday, April 28. Authorization to attend the meetings will be emailed to you under separate cover. We look forward to seeing you there.

In terms of who else has been elected, I know Theresa Inacker, Jim Sheckels, and Scott Emslie. According to my email with Rocky Marshall, so far we know that 7 of NRA 2.0 were elected and 3 were not.

UPDATE 1: You can add Anthony Colandro, Al Hammond, and Todd Ellis to the list of those elected. On the downside, it just kills me that Todd Vandermyde did not get elected. He had a ton of great ideas plus the experience to make the difference in legislative affairs.

UPDATE 2: In addition to Todd, I heard that David Mitten, Regis Synan, Todd Figard, Jim Wallace, and, shockingly, Frank Tait were not elected from the NRA 2.0 team. I did hear that Bob Barr and Sandy Froman were re-elected.

On the plus side, Jim Porter, Knox Williams, Jonathan Goldstein, Philip Gray, Willes Lee, and Cathy Wright were elected from the NRA 2.0 team. Additionally, Tom King was not re-elected.

UPDATE 3: Rounding out the results for NRA 2.0 team, Mitzy McCorvey, Jack Hagan, Howard Massingill, Dick Fairburn, Jim Fotis, and Jason Wilson were elected. On the downside, Charles Hiltunen along with the two write-in candidates, Paul Babaz and Charles Brown, were not elected.

I don’t have the rank order of candidates yet but have heard it will be sent to the Board tomorrow. It should also be posted on the publications website after that so perhaps Friday or more likely Monday.