The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has made an endorsement in the upcoming Republican primary for governor.
The ISRA Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF) is proud to endorse Senator Kirk Dillard in the Republican primary for Governor. Along with Senator Dillard, Senator Brady and Treasurer Rutherford have been staunch, long standing proponents of the Second Amendment and the efforts of the Illinois State Rifle Association. It is clear, however, that Senator Dillard alone presents the best opportunity to defeat Governor Quinn in November. We urge you to vote for Senator Dillard in the Republican primary on March 18.
If you are either a Life Member or a 5-Year Member of the National Rifle Association, you should have received your ballot for the NRA Board of Directors in the March issue of the American Rifleman/American Hunter. There are 29 people listed on the ballot and the Nominating Committee has selected 28 for endorsement. However, you can only vote for 25 directors. Ballots must be returned and received by April 14th.
Dave Hardy has his endorsements for the board up here. He, like me, believes in strategic voting. This means only voting for the 5 or 6 that you consider the best. Dave categorizes them as either indispensable or very, very good. In the indispensable category he places Steve Schreiner, Carol Bambery, and Jim Porter. In the very, very good category he adds Sandy Froman, Lance Olson, and Bob Sanders.
Charles Cotton from the Texas Firearms Coalition and a current NRA board member has his endorsements up here. He, like Dave, endorses both Carol Bambery and Jim Porter. He adds Dwight Van Horn as well. He considers the three all very hardworking and people who get down in the trenches to do the heavy lifting.
Lt Col. Robert Brown, editor and publisher of Soldier of Fortune magazine and a NRA board member, has his endorsements up here. Col. Brown enthusiastically endorses Steve Schreiner for the board. SOF also recommends Tom King, Carol Bambry, Johnny Nugent, Jim Porter and Oliver North. Both Schreiner and King are on the front lines of the battle for the Second Amendment as they are in Colorado and New York respectively.
Jeff and Chris Knox of the Firearms Coalition has traditionally put forth endorsements. Their late father Neal Knox was one of the engineers behind the Cincinnati Revolt of 1977. This year they have not made any endorsements. They don’t think their endorsements would make any appreciable difference and that all the candidates they would endorse are pretty much assured election as are some that they aren’t too thrilled about.
Now for the non-endorsement.
Retired Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson is a current board member and has been nominated by the Nominating Committee. That said, it is time to thank him for his past service and send him off into retirement. I’m sure he is a fine person, an excellent shot, and a colorful character as are all of the old Texas Rangers.
His comments about semiautomatic firearms and magazine size to the Texas Monthly in 2007 (see video clip below) are just the sort of ammunition our enemies would love to exploit. On the gun boards around the country, there are many “fire Jackson” threads. As an example, see this one from Arfcom. Even MSNBC has noticed this and did a post on it entitled, “Young guns target ‘old school’ NRA board member.”
At this time in our fight for the Second Amendment, we need media savvy directors who are not going to tripped up by reporters with “gotcha” questions. Joaquin Jackson is not one of them. While his heart probably is in the right place, I just don’t think he helps the cause and should not merit re-election as a result.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is all about lists. In addition to her list of firearms with ugly (to her) cosmetics, she has thoughtfully provided a list of those people and organizations who don’t support your constitutional rights. One might go so far as to refer to it as an “enemies list”.
In addition to the usual politicians and gun control groups, Feinstein lists a number of religious, medical, education, and other non-profits supporting her Assault Weapons (sic) Ban of 2013. I would say it provides a convenient list of the groups who won’t be getting my charitable donations.
I would add one caveat. Many of the groups listed are national umbrella organizations whose endorsement is for themselves only and not for their member organizations. For example, Catholic Charities USA is listed as an endorser of Feinstein’s bill. As I give substantial donations to my diocesan Catholic Social Services and have been a member of its board of directors in the past, I sought clarification on this endorsement from the executive director of the diocesan organization. He informed me that this endorsement only covers Catholic Charities USA and not the many diocesan Catholic
Charities or Catholic Social Services who are constituent members. I’m sure that this may be the same for a number of the other organizations listed.
Below is the complete list of those people and organizations who have lent their name in support of Feinstein’s bill.
Law Enforcement
International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
International Association of Chiefs of Police
Major Cities Chiefs Association
Police Executive Research Forum
Police Foundation
Women in Federal Law Enforcement
Chaska (Minn.) Police Chief Scott Knight, former chairman of the Firearms Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck
San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne
Localities
U.S. Conference of Mayors
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Ventura County Board of Supervisors
Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Anthony Smith
Boston City Council
California mayors
Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan
Petaluma Mayor David Glass
Pleasant Hill Mayor Michael Harris
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner
San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido
Santa Cruz Mayor Hilary Bryant
Saratoga Mayor Jill Hunter
Tiburon Mayor Emmett O’Donnell
California cities
Calabasas, Calif.
Lemon Grove, Calif.
Los Angeles
Stockton, Calif.
Ventura, Calif.
West Hollywood, Calif.
Gun safety (sic)
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Violence Policy Center
Washington CeaseFire
Education and child welfare
20 Children
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Federation of Teachers
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Child Welfare League of America
Children’s Defense Fund
Every Child Matters
Moms Rising
National Association of Social Workers
National PTA
National Education Association
San Diego Unified School District
Religious
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Churches of the South
American Baptist Home Mission Societies
American Friends Service Committee
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Camp Brotherhood
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Health Association
Catholic Health Initiatives
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Catholics United
Church of the Brethren
Church Women United, Inc.
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Disciples Home Missions, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Dominican Sisters of Peace
FaithsAgainstGunViolence.org
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Health Ministries Association
Heeding God’s Call
Hindu American Foundation
Interfaith Alliance of Idaho
Islamic Society of North America
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Reconstructionist Movement
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Mennonite Central Committee, Washington Office
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches
National Episcopal Health Ministries
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Pax Christi USA
PICO Network Lifelines to Healing
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Rabbinical Assembly
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
San Francisco Interfaith Council
Sikh Council on Religion and Education, USA
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Sojourners
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church
United Methodist Women
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Washington National Cathedral
Women of Reform Judaism
Health care
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Surgeons
American Public Health Association
Doctors for America
National Association of School Nurses
Other
Alliance for Business Leadership
American Bar Association
Black American Political Association of California
Grandmothers for Peace International
National Parks Conservation Association
Sierra Club
TASH
Washington Office on Latin America
Anti-gun opponents of the NRA will insist that the “R” really stands for Republican. While the majority of the candidates supported by the NRA-PVF tend to be Republican it is because they also support gun rights. That said, the NRA often does support Democrats who are pro-gun such as the retiring Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC-11)
The Grand Forks Herald ran a story yesterday morning illustrating the NRA does indeed support Democrats. In the race for North Dakota’s sole Congressional seat, the NRA has rated State Rep. Pam Gulleson (D) an A and given her their endorsement based on her pro-gun record in the State House. She faces Republican Kevin Cramer who is rated AQ by the NRA-PVF. Cramer does have the endorsement of the Gun Owners of America which does tend to be more Republican oriented. The dueling endorsements is what grabbed the paper’s attention.
FARGO – The North Dakota U.S. House race has attracted dueling endorsements from the pro-gun lobby.
Pam Gulleson, the Democratic candidate, was recently endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
Meanwhile, Republican Kevin Cramer has picked up the backing of the Gun Owners of
America, a more hard-line group on Second Amendment issues.
Gulleson on her website said she was proud to receive the NRA’s endorsement and does list them at the head of her endorsements’ list.
Gulleson accepted the endorsement, saying, “I am strong supporter of the
2nd Amendment and will protect and strengthen the rights of law-abiding
Americans to own guns for both recreation and personal security. I’m
proud to have received the endorsement from the National Rifle
Association and look forward to working with the NRA as a member of
Congress to protect gun-owners.”
Because different gun rights organizations place different emphasis on things, I thought it would be useful to also provide the Gun Owners of America rankings for the North Carolina congressional races. It is also a response to one of the comments from yesterday’s post of the NRA-PVF endorsements/grades.
Here are the GOA-PVF grades for the North Carolina congressional races. One thing to notice is that they include all candidates on the ballot including Libertarians and known write-in candidates. Checking the list of GOA-PVF endorsements, at this time they have no endorsed candidates running in North Carolina.
Mitt Romney today announced the endorsement of the National Rifle Association.
“As the Supreme Court has recently reaffirmed, the Second Amendment
protects a basic and fundamental individual right—the right to bear
arms,” said Mitt Romney. “And it is the NRA that protects the Second
Amendment. I am proud to have their support for my candidacy, and when I
am president, I will do all in my power to defend and protect the right
of all law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms.”
“As a lifelong hunter, I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment
rights,” said Paul Ryan. “The Second Amendment is essential to the
functioning of a free society. Not only do millions of Americans own
firearms, but recreational hunting and shooting adds billions to our
economy every year and supports thousands of jobs. The NRA is committed
to protecting our Second Amendment rights. Mitt Romney and I will have
that same commitment when we are in the White House.”
“Since 1871, the NRA has protected the right of men and women across
our country to keep and bear arms,” said Chairman of the NRA Political
Victory Fund Chris Cox. “This right is enshrined in our Constitution
through the Second Amendment. It’s the right that makes all of our other
constitutional rights possible. Americans deserve to have a friend of
our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage in the White House.
That’s why we are proud to endorse Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan for
President and Vice President of the United States. Mitt and Paul will
defend all of our constitutional freedoms from those who would seek to
limit or deny them. We encourage every freedom-loving American to vote
for the Romney-Ryan ticket on November 6.”
In the not exactly unexpected news category comes the announcement that the NRA-PVF has endorsed the ticket of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan for President and Vice-President respectively. What is somewhat unexpected is the size of the crowd that came out to Fisherville, VA for the announcement and rally. It was estimated to be approximately 15,000 and cars were back up for miles trying to get in.
CSpan has the video feed from the rally. At approximately the 53:00 mark you will see Wayne LaPierre begin to give the NRA’s endorsement.
From the Romney Scrapbook on Facebook
From the Romney Scrapbook on Facebook
From the Romney Scrapbook on Facebook
In addition to the endorsement by the NRA-PVF, the rally featured a concert by country music star and NRA Life Member Trace Adkins.
Fairfax, VA. – The National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund
today announced its endorsement of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan for
President and Vice President. NRA’s Executive Vice President, Wayne
LaPierre, and NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) Chairman, Chris W.
Cox, made the announcement in Fishersville, Virginia, during a rally
with both Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan in attendance. Also,
attending and performing at the press conference was country music
superstar and NRA Life Member Trace Adkins.
“Virginia is ground
zero – the front line of this election. This is where the race could be
won or lost. This is where the difference can be made. This is where gun
owners must make that difference.” said LaPierre.
“Today, we
live in an America that is getting harder to recognize every day led by a
President who mocks our values, belittles our faith, and is threatened
by our freedom.” said Cox. “So on behalf of the four million men and
women of the National Rifle Association, representing tens of millions
of NRA supporters, it is my honor to announce the NRA’s endorsement of
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan for President and Vice President of the United
States.”
The actions of President Barack Obama have harmed the
Second Amendment for generations to come. He has appointed two anti-gun
nominees to the Supreme Court – one of whom has already signed an
opinion saying that law-abiding Americans do not have an individual
right to own firearms. Obama’s administration worked on a United Nations
Arms Trade Treaty that would undermine our Second Amendment rights, and
he has helped cover-up the deadly Operation Fast and Furious scandal,
arming Mexican drug cartels that continue to kill countless innocent
American and Mexican citizens. He has also said that the ability of
lawful citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection should be
banned nationwide. As a state legislator, he opposed a law to protect
people who use guns in their own homes for self-defense; endorsed a
total ban on the manufacturing, sale and possession of all handguns; and
supported a 500 percent increase in federal taxes on guns and
ammunition. Unaccountable to the voters, America’s 100 million gun
owners justifiably fear that a second Obama term would bring an all-out
assault on the Second Amendment.
But there’s a clear choice this
November. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will protect our Right to Keep and
Bear Arms by appointing Supreme Court justices who will uphold the
rulings in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of
Chicago – two landmark cases which held that the Second Amendment
guarantees a fundamental, individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms for all
law-abiding Americans. Romney and Ryan have also stated their
opposition to efforts by the United Nations to implement a global
gun-control bureaucracy.
“In this election, there is no debate.
There is only one choice – only one hope – to save our firearms freedom
and our way of life,” LaPierre continued. “Get to the polls on election
day and make the difference in this campaign. Help take back our country
and protect our freedom. On November 6, vote freedom first – Vote
Romney-Ryan!”
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