Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Lessons Learned, Part III

Dear Friends,
     At the NRA Political Victory Fund Kick-Off event last Saturday, the NRA's Manager of Political and Legislative Activities, Suzanne Anglewicz explained the NRA's endorsement policy.  As an organization dedicated to one specific issue - the preservation of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, they sometimes make decisions to support candidates with positions on other issues that NRA members might find irksome. Those positions do not and cannot influence the endorsements that the NRA makes. To do so would create a quagmire very quickly and dilute the value of the NRA endorsement. In other words, the word "Rifle" is part of the name for a reason, and we are the National Rifle Association and not the National Republican Association.  There is a fantastic National Review Online interview with the NRA Institute for Legislative Action's Executive Director Chris Cox that is well worth reading that gives a behind the scenes look at how endorsements are made. The official endorsement policy can be found on the NRA ILA's web site as well.
     Finally, Suzanne stated something that should be obvious to all of us - now is not the time to be complacent. While the explosion of interest in electing candidates with traditional values - including support for the 2nd Amendment - is heartening, we must take advantage of a rare opportunity. With the Supreme Court's decisions that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right and that the states cannot excessively restrict this right, both were decided by a single vote on the court. We need to ensure that Senators like our own Richard Burr who support the Right to Keep and Bear Arms are elected so that justices who oppose the Right to Keep and Bear Arms cannot be confirmed. At the state level we need to closely examine a candidate's support of the 2nd Amendment and elect those who will work hard to support and reinforce this liberty we all cherish. Even with the recent successes we must remain vigilant, engaged and dedicated. As I keep stating in this blog, you can contribute your talents and sweat by join me in working on the NRA's Frontlines.  I hope you will be able to do so.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

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