Feb 8 Firearms Workgroup Meeting: Discussion and Impressions

   Dear Friends,

   Last night I went to the Johnston County Firearms Work Group meeting. You can see some of the local press coverage of the meeting here and here. Previous coverage on the issue can be found here.

   To recap the developments to date, the initial proposal advanced by the County Planning Board was problematic for those of us with an abiding interest in preserving our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  As a result, a group of concerned citizens and some of the County Commissioners and County Staff was formed to examine the issues at hand and come up with a better solution to balance the divergent points of view. The Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group was formed and set to work. In a January meeting they started addressing some of the problems - a summary of which can be found here.  They continued working thorough the issues and published a second revision that was discussed in last night's meeting.

   Over 50 members of the public were in attendance in addition to 12 from the Work Group. The Work Group was Chaired by the Board of Commissioners Chairman Allen Mims who started by introducing the panelists (a list of the members and their contact information can be found here). They commenced to work by going through revised proposal line by line. The goal was to find consensus and also to discuss points where further work was needed.  Among the areas were: what defines a person "impaired" by drugs or alcohol, when firearms could be discharged, and practical considerations on how the ordinance would be enforced.

   Throughout the group's discussion, I was impressed with the thoughtfulness, respect and insights that each member contributed to the process. All in all, it was a productive and worthwhile discussion and all of the citizens of the County can be satisfied by the way in which this is being handled.

   Once the panel worked though the proposal, Chairman Mims opened the floor to public comment. Passions were high, but opinions were expressed respectfully and I am satisfied that all were fully heard. Gun owners were concerned that their right might be in jeopardy while other residents were equally impassioned that they wanted to be safe in their homes. One thing both sides shared was a desire to enjoy the quality of life that we so highly value. Some points of misunderstanding were resolved and suggestions on how to improve the proposed ordinance to the benefit of all Johnston County residents were incorporated.  As the meeting ended, I was left with the impression that both the Work Group members and the citizens in attendance could be assured that their thoughts on the matter received a fair hearing.

   Once the language is finalized, check back here or visit the Johnston County Firearms Work Group web site for updates on future meetings and updates to the proposed ordinance.

   As a resident of Johnston County, I'd personally like to thank the members of the workgroup for their service to their neighbors and to the concerned citizens who took the time to attend the meeting. I am appreciative everyone's contributions in ensuring that this will continue to be a great place to live.

   Sincerely,

   Tom Goffe

  

Update: Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group

     Dear Friends,
     At this morning's Johnston County Commissioner's meeting, the Board of Commissioners Chairman Allen L. Mims, Jr. mentioned that the Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group would be meeting in the EOC on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 6:00 and invited the other commissioners and all in the audience to attend. He also said that he expects the proposal will be finalized and that it would be on the agenda of the Board of Commissioner's meeting on March 7, 2011 at the evening session (6:00) along with public comment at that time.
     The most recent edition of the proposed ordinance can be found here.
     I intend to be at both meetings and hope that other concerned members of the public will attend. If you'd like to provide them with your views on this issue, you can use their comment page to send your thoughts.
     Sincreely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Johnston County Firearm Ordinance Working Group Meeting on Feb. 8

Dear Friends,

A battle has been brewing for the last couple of months on regulating the discharge of firearms in Johnston County utilizing zoning regulations.  The first couple of attempts at imposing the earliest (and most restrictively draconian) versions aroused substantial public interest - particularly among supporters of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  As a result, the Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group was formed to involve interested citizens in coming up with an ordinance that would satisfy both sides in this contentious issue. The following announcement of the next meeting is posted on the Johnston County web site.

The Good Neighbor Firearms Ordinance Work Group will be meeting on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a proposed Johnston County firearms ordinance.  The meeting will be held in the Emergency Operations Center of the Johnston County Courthouse Law Enforcement Building located at 120 South Third Street, Smithfield, North Carolina.  Anyone attending this meeting should use the Courthouse Law Enforcement Building entrance located on Third Street. 

Please note that a final draft of the proposed firearms ordinance will be considered by the Johnston County Board of Commissioners during a public hearing to be scheduled and advertised at a later date.

I hope you will take a look at the most recent draft ordinance, and join me at the upcoming meeting to voice our interest and concerns about this issue.

Sincerely yours,

Tom Goffe

NC State Senator Introduces Anti-Hunting BIll

Dear Friends,

Senator Ellie Kinnaird (D-23) yesterday (Feb 3) introduced NC SB 35 which proposes to outlaw all deer hunting with dogs within Orange County. At this point, her proposal has not attracted any co-sponsors. You can track the status of this bill at this link.


The text of the bill is short and to the point:

AN ACT to PROHIBIT THE HUNTING OF DEER WITH DOGS IN ORANGE COUNTY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. It is unlawful to hunt deer or attempt to take deer with the aid of dogs at any time.

SECTION 2. Violation of this act is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

SECTION 3. This act is enforceable by law enforcement officers of the Wildlife Resources Commission, by sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, and by peace officers with general subject matter jurisdiction.

SECTION 4. This act applies only to Orange County.

SECTION 5. This act becomes effective October 1, 2011, and applies to acts committed on or after that date.

Once it is assigned to a committee, I hope you will join me in letting the members know that laws like this are contrary to our hunting heritage and will be opposed by conscientious sportsmen.

Two Students Hurt in Accidental L. A. School Shooting

     Dear Friends,
     That was a headline that I read a few minutes ago.  It struck me as really odd and after a little thinking, it makes for a good story to describe how well gun control laws work.  With all the calls for restricting handgun magazine capacity, prohibiting gun possession within 1,000 feet of "high ranking governmental officials" and tightening up on gun ownership for people like the Tucson shooter we need to think through whether these proposals will work.
     According to the school shooting article, an LA school district spokesman said that a student brought a gun to school in a backpack and it went off when he dropped it. He said two people were wounded and a police spokesman said it was three. 
     Before I continue, let me state for the record that it ios my personal conviction that there is no such thing as a "gun accident."  Somewhere along the line, any unintentional discharge involves a violation of the basic rules of gun safety. Any intentional discharge is categorically the responsibility of the person who has the gun in their hand.
     My question is this: how could it have been accidental when there are plenty of laws to prevent such a thing from happening?
     Gun control laws prohibit possession of a firearm on school grounds or within 1,000 except for law enforcement personnel. Press reports indicate the gun was brought in by a student - not a police officer. It seems the law was violated here.
     Gun control laws prohibit purchase of a handgun by any otherwise legally entitled person under the age of 21.  Unless the high school student was over 21, they didn't purchase it themself.  Since that is pretty unlikely, it would seem that another law was violated.
     Gun control laws generally make it hard to possess a handgun in California unless it is an intra-familial handgun transaction. While that type of transfer is certainly possible, chances are probably better that is not the case, resulting in the violation of another law.
     Gun control laws prohibit the concealed carry of a handgun unless a person has met the licensing requirements mandated by law.  As far as I know, high schoolers generally can't meet those requirements so once again, uless subsequent reports prove otherwise I'll hazard a guess that yet another law was broken.
     It would further seem that the student who brought the gun to school (in and of itself a stupid act) did not take reasonable care to ensure it was unloaded and carried in a safe manner so as not to cause harm to others. Whether criminal negligence laws apply in this case will be up to the local District Attorney. I don't believe that I am going out on a limb by guessing that lawsuits will come out of this event.
     Now about those new gun control proposals that are currently being discussed.  It seems that "high governmental officials" probably were not within 1,000 feet of this tragedy, so that would have had not prevented this.  Press reports do not indicate that more than one round was fired, so limiting magazine capacity would not have prevented this.  Further, it is unknown whether the shooter who dropped the backpack had any identifiable mental defects that could have prevented this shooting.
     In other words, this was no accident, laws to prevent it were broken and new laws would not have prevented it.
     I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.  Please feel free to leave your comments below.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Your Help Needed: Texas Teen Challenges Federal Gun Law

Dear Friends,
For those who haven't heard, in Texas a Federal lawsuit has been filed seeking to strike down the law that requires a prospective handgun purchaser must be 21 years of age or older. The goal of the suit is to establish that the same laws that currently apply to rifle or shotgun purchase and ownership should also apply when it comes to a handgun.

The following is the text of an e-mail that I received from the NRA:

"To strengthen our case, we are in need of the following:

Young people, age 18-20 who would be willing to sign an affidavit that they would like to purchase a handgun, if it were legal.

And,

FFL dealers, who would be willing to sign an affidavit that they would like to sell a handgun to a person 18-20 years old, if it were legal.

In both cases, Texas residency is not required, although it would be a plus.

These folks would not be plaintiffs, but would be supporting witnesses."

"Please contact the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) at ILAlegal@nrahq.org or call (703)267-1661 for more information.

Thank you for your support."

Any help or assistance provided will be greatly appreciated. If you have any relatives or friends in Texas who support the 2nd Amendment, please copy and paste the information above and pass it along. I'll be adding my personal support to this as well. If they win in overturning the Federal law, it could help here in North Carolina as well.

Sincerely yours,
-TomGoffe

A New Day for Liberty in Washington

   Dear Friends,

   Last summer and fall, I exhorted you to work your will at the ballot box on election day.  For many of us who value the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, that was a pretty successful evening.  NRA endorsed candidtes won approximately 85% of the time and together we in the 2nd Congressional District managed to replace a champion of the poor, misguided anti-gun agenda with a woman new to politics who centered her candidacy on restoring liberty.  As Bob Etheridge fades into the sunset, it is a new dawn for the citizens of the 2nd District and for America.  We worked hard to elect a pro-gun candidate and I have no doubt that your efforts put Renee Ellmers in the US House of Representatives.

   Renee Ellmers was sworn in about an hour ago.In a rare example of governmental efficiency, her Congressional website is up and running.  There you can subscribe to her electronic newsletter, send her your comments and ideas and otherwise keep an eye on what she is doing to support and strengthen our liberties.

"Do you like to shoot...? ...get on the subway and go to Maryland."

     Dear Friends,

     "We're acting as judges. If we're going to decide everything on the basis of history -- by the way, what is the scope of the right to keep and bear arms? Machine guns? Torpedoes? Handguns?" he asked. "Are you a sportsman? Do you like to shoot pistols at targets? Well, get on the subway and go to Maryland. There is no problem, I don't think, for anyone who really wants to have a gun."

 

     That was United Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer last weekend in a Fox News interview. You can read the first part of the interview here and the second part here. In the quote above, he was explaining his thinking behind the dissenting opinion he wrote in response to the Heller case that the Supreme Court recently decided. The emphasis I added to the final 3 sentences tell me that Justice Breyer does not seem to inhabit the more practical world in which the rest of us live.

 

     With respect, Mr. Justice, it doesn't work that way and the American people will have none of this twisted thinking.  To begin with, prior to that decision, it was against the law for anyone in Washington, DC to own a handgun in any way.  Even if you liked to shoot pistols at targets, you could not own one if you lived in Washington, DC.  As for owning one to defend your home or family against the predators in DC - forget it. You had little choice but to call the police and hope for the best.

     Secondly, even if you broke the law by owning a handgun in DC, you would be breaking the law again by carrying one in the DC Metro.  Even if you lived in Virginia (where handguns are legal to own) and wanted to use the Metro to go shooting in Maryland (where shooting a gun is still nominally legal) you would be breaking the law by carrying it onto the Metro and be breaking the law again by carrying it in DC.

     Third, he says that "there is no problem, I don't think, for anyone who really wants to have a gun." That is certainly true as long as you do not view breaking a few gun laws as a problem.  Personally, I like avoiding things like that. I love our police, but I religiously stay out of trouble - life is easier that way.

     By way of background, I lived in New York City for five years and later worked in Washington, DC for nearly six years.  I've gotten familiar with this brand of "thinking." When I moved to North Carolina the gun laws were a breath of fresh air by comparison.  That is not to say that we don't have some legal impediments to gun ownership, though.  Obtaining the permission of my local sheriff to purchase a handgun is one. The laws pertaining to the possession of any gun during a "state of emergency" are another that trouble me greatly. There are some aspects of where one can and cannot legally carry a concealed handgun that make little, if any sense.

    So what can we do about this convoluted thinking?  Instead of letting judges like Mr. Breyer determine what is and isn't a "problem" and hoping for the best - why not just cut to the chase and remedy these faults in the law by changing the law?  Many times judges find that they are forced to decide what the law means or how it should be applied when it is not specific enough or if it conflicts with another law.  By introducing and enacting laws that will remove the strange impediments to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms that have cropped up over the years, we can strengthen our liberties.  I hope you will join me in letting our new legislature know where you stand on this important issue.

 

     Sincerely yours,

     Tom Goffe

Election is over - what is next?

     Dear Friends,
     The NC State Board of Elections is set to meet tomorrow in Raleigh and finally certify the results of the November 2 election.  As you may have noticed, the candidate that the NRA endorsed for Congress in the 2nd District as well as the slate of 2nd Amendment supporters vying for election to the NC House and Senate did really well.  Thanks to your votes and hard work, 85% of them won in their respective races.
     Now is the time to start thinking about how we can turn the election results into action to strengthen our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  This is where your thoughts and opinions are important.  What would you like to see them do?  Is it to end the law that otherwise law-abiding citizens must obtain a permit from their local sheriff in order to purchase a handgun?  What about ending the de facto disarming of citizens by the Governor when she declares a state of emergency?  Maybe you'd like to remove the prohibition that keeps law-abiding students and citizens from concealed carry on university campuses?  Is there something else regarding enjoying the full rights we are supposed to enjoy under the provisions of the 2nd that you'd like to see enacted?
     Please add your comments or send me an e-mail and give me your thoughts.  We have a fantastic opportunity and while the political environment is right we must make the most of it.  I look forward to hearing your ideas.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

...and you thought the election was over

     Dear Friends,
     With a little luck the election for the US House of Representatives in the 2nd Congressional District will finally end today.  This past Wednesday I had the chance to observe the recount in Vance County on behalf of the NRA endorsed candidate, Renee Ellmers.  The process was conducted by the County Board of Elections and started promptly at 9:00 and didn't end until 5:15.  Ballots were taken out of storage, machines were zeroed and then each and every ballot cast was fed into the machines again using the same process that was used after voting was completed on Election Day.  There were 10 people there observing the process on behalf of Mrs. Ellmers in addition to a lawyer from her legal team.  Mr. Etheridge was represented by a member of the NC Democratic Party, the chair of the Vance County Democratic Party as well as a lawyer from the Etheridge campaign.  The count was done without rancor with all of the participants working together to make sure that every ballot was counted in accordance with state law.  There were just a couple of minor disagreements that were resolved to everyone's satisfaction on the spot and in consultation with the NC State Board of Elections where necessary.  While it was tedious and about as much fun as watching paint dry I think that all who were there believed it was important and worthwhile.  I'd like to commend the Vance County Board of Elections for their professionalism and the diligence with which they conducted the recount.
     After tallying 4,414 votes cast, the result of the recount added just one vote for Mr. Etheridge while the tallies for Mrs. Ellmers and Mr. Rose were unchanged.  It struck me as remarkable that of the stacks and stacks of ballots that the resulting count was so consistent. I have no doubt that it was done fairly and equitably.
     Later today it is expected that the results of the recounts in all 10 counties in the 2nd District will be provided to the State Board of Elections who will in turn make the final tally from recount. They are expected to make that public later today.  If the process employed in Vance County is applied to the other nine counties is used, I am sure that the public and the respective candidates can trust that the results are fair and final.
     I am sure that all of us who have participated in this campaign will be happy to see it come to a conclusion and that we are looking forward to seeing our new Congressman at work representing our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Election Results

     Dear Friends,
     It was a long night and a short morning, but here are the results from our quest to safeguard our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
     Senator Richard Burr handily won re-election defeating Elaine Marshall 55% to her 43%.
     The US House of Representatives District 2 race is a bit murkier.  Renee Ellmers (NRA "AQ") received 91,920 votes while 6 term incumbent Rep. Bob Etheridge (NRA "D") received 89,821 votes and Libertarian candidate Tom Rose had 3,418.  Ellmers appears to have won by 2,099 votes or 1.13% but Etheridge has not conceded and news reports indicate he plans on calling for a recount.  Election law "experts" on local news discussions have said that an automatic recount is triggered if the margin is less than 1%.  Etheridge is 247 votes short of that point. We must remain vigilant to ensure that the verdict of the majority of the participating voters across the district prevails.
     In the North Carolina State Senate, there were 11 contests with 7 NRA endorsed candidates.  Of those, 6 of won and 1 lost.  Congratulations to Senators Berger, Jackson, Rouzer, Stevens, Meredith and Blake.  In the State House of Representatives, I'd like to congratulate the Representatives Collins, Daughtry, Wray, Crawford, Dollar, and Lewis. There were 19 contests with 9 NRA endorsed candidates where 6 of those won.
     All in all, it was a pretty good night for the supporters of the 2nd Amendment.  Together we were able to let Washington and Raleigh know that we value our rights and those who work against them had better find something else to do.  Last night was not the end, but rather another beginning as we continue to fight for freedom and restore the full intent envisioned by the founders of our Republic.  I invite all of you who value this important freedom to join me in continuing to support these fine men and women and to assist them on the frontlines as they advance the cause of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Ellmers Defeats Etheridge; Burr to Serve Second Term in Senate

     Dear Friends,
     Renee Ellmers, the NRA endorsed candidate, defeated 6 term US Representative Bob Etheridge in a race that surprised local and national pundits. Etheridge (NRA grade of "D") was widely expected to be re-elected. Ellmers campaign was buoyed by the NRA endorsement that was announced the Thursday before election day in a timely Grassroots Alert. Clearly, the NRA members made a decisive difference in a race where the margin of victory was 1.1%.

Of 185,189 votes cast, Ellmers won by 2,099.

Senator Richard Burr, our pro-gun voice in the United States Senate handily defeated anti-gun challenger Elaine Marshall to earn his second term.  He earned 55% of the vote compared to her 43%.

Thanks to all of you who volunteered, voted and stood tall for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  Please join me in congratulating our new Congressman!

Sincerely yours,
Tom Goffe

More results for our RNA endorsed candidates will be posted in the morning.

Today is THE Day

     Dear Americans,
     The talk has ended and the ball is in your court. The power is yours.  Not just today, but every day by watching your elected representatives, seeing how they vote and holding them accountable for implementing the will of We the People.

     Please consult the NRA Voting Guide. Select these fine liberty loving candidates, print out enough copies for you and your families, friends and neighbors as you go to the polls together.  Please vote for Richard Burr for Senate and Renee Ellmers for Congress. On the NRA Voting Guide you will find great candidates for the North Carolina Senate and House.
     If you can't recall where you should go vote, that information is available on this link to the North Carolina Board of Elections.
     Please Vote Freedom First!
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Freedom's Voice Will Be Heard Tomorrow

     Dear Americans,
     I can't begin to tell you how excited I am that tomorrow is coming.  As a former soldier, I took an oath with each enlistment to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.  Standing at attention with hand held high, I got goose bumps as I repeated that sacred oath to defend freedom. Tomorrow we all have a chance to do the same thing - with our votes. We will be faced with a choice - to vote for candidates who support freedom and liberty, or those who favor "common sense gun control" or some other attempt to place limits on the liberties that men and women are fighting for in Afghanistan or Iraq even as we speak. My brother-in-law is one of those warriors.  I'll be voting in honor of his service and his sacrifice. I may not be able to wear the uniform and carry a rifle anymore to defend freedom, but my ballot is every bit as powerful  and just as necessary to stop tyranny, oppression and subjugation now and in the future.  Whether you are a teenager voting for the first time or you cast your first vote for during World War II, together we stand in defense of freedom.  Our voice will be heard.
     If you think your gun rights are not being challenged, consider the case of a lawman in Maine - in full uniform with his gun - who was denied the right to vote.  The reason: he had a gun.
     Freedom depends on you.  If not you, who?  If not at the ballot box, where? If not tomorrow at the polls, when will you ever have a better opportunity to support liberty?
     Remember, Richard Burr for Senate and Renee Ellmers for US House of Representatives.  They need your vote.
     Sincerely yours,
     -Tom Goffe
__________________________________
     Tip of the Day:  When you go to the polls tomorrow, please be sure to take your family, friends and neighbors.  Before you leave, go to the NRA Endorsement Page, click next to each endorsed candidate, or in cases where no endorsement has been made, select the candidate with the highest grade.  Then print it out and be sure to have copies to pass out to the people going with you.  You might also want to take your kids with you so that they can see democracy in action. Set the example and share with them the joys of being free people who can vote in the greatest country on earth.
    

What an NRA Endorsement Tells You About A Candidate

     Dear Friends,
     It is easy to dismiss an NRA endorsement of a candidate as being just limited to how they stand on the 2nd Amendment.  While that is the sole issue that concerns America's original Civil Rights organization, it actually is a good proxy for understanding where a candidate stands on the role of government.  In this election, the NRA has been asking you to "Vote Freedom First."  With their grades and endorsements, the NRA is letting voters know whether a current or aspiring legislator fully supports the liberties given to us in the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution, or if they believe it is good to refine, modify, limit or even deny them to us.
     Over the last 221 years, the freedoms that the founders of our nation have bequeathed to us have been changed and even denied based on what were thought at the time to be "rational reasons based on (then) current needs."  As we have added to our experience as the freest nation in the history of mankind, we have made mistakes, learned from many of them and applied remedies.  Slavery, the denial of the vote to women and the internment of citizens based on their national heritage are just a few examples. What the NRA does is stand as a bulwark against efforts to "interpret" the right to keep and bear arms against currently fashionable impulses that could result in a similarly egregious denial of liberty.  Candidates who fully support the 2nd Amendment in both word and deed show that they understand the original intent of the founders. They demonstrate that they believe "all men are created equal." Anything less is reason enough to deny a candidate the opportunity to enjoy the privilege and great responsibility of representing us, "We the People."  Take a look at the NRA's grades and endorsements to get some insights on how candidates value freedom. In the 2010 election, they have endorsed Richard Burr for Senate and Renee Ellmers for Congress representing the 2nd District.  The NRA Political Victory Fund web site also has a comprehensive list of candidate grades and endorsements for the North Carolina Senate and House.
Voters need to indeed Vote Freedom First.  Voters need to remember that on Tuesday.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Registration Deadline is TODAY

     Dear Friends,
     Today is your last day to register to vote in the 2010 election.  That's the bad news - the good news is that you can vote at the same time with one-stop voting!  Please double check your voter registration status here and be sure to make your voice heard both here in North Carolina and in Washington.  You can also look up where to vote online if you prefer to vote on Tuesday, November 2.
      I'd also like to invite you to take a look at the NRA Voter Guide for North Carolina or see my 2nd District Voter's Guide for federal office as well as for the NC Senate and NC House.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
     Tip of the Day:  If you use the NRA Voter Guide for North Carolina, you can click your mouse on each candidate you like, then print out your personalized list of candidates and take it with you into the voting booth.  Just another example of the NRA going the extra mile to ensure that you get to the polls for vote for freedom.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

NRA Endorses Renee Ellmers for Congress

     Dear Friends,
     It is official: The National Rifle Association has endorsed Renee Ellmers for Congress.  Read below what the NRA Political Victory Fund had to say about this fine candidate and learn more on her website and on her 2nd Amendment page in particular.  I invite every citizen who values their Right to Keep and Bear Arms to volunteer, contribute or attend an event for this candidate who is dedicated to fighting to preserve our liberty.  Above all, VOTE.

Vote Freedom First - Vote RENEE ELLMERS for CONGRESS

October 29 2010                                                                                                                 
The NRA-PVF (www.NRAPVF.org) has endorsed Renee Ellmers for Congress.  It is critical that you vote for Renee Ellmers for Congress, and urge your family and friends to do the same.  We need to bolster our ranks in Congress to keep this White House from pursuing an anti-gun agenda after the 2010 elections.
That's why it's more important than ever that we elect Renee Ellmers to Congress to help build a pro-gun firewall around our Second Amendment rights.  Renee Ellmers has been endorsed by the NRA-PVF for her responses to our federal candidate questionnaire and is committed to oppose federal gun control schemes and support pro-gun reforms.
By contrast, her opponent - Congressman Bob Etheridge - has earned a "D" rating for his anti-gun record in Congress.  He has voted to regulate gun shows out of business.  Etheridge refused to sign the pro-gun "friend of the court" brief in the landmark Heller and McDonald Second Amendment cases and voted against repealing the gun ban in our nation's capital.  Etheridge also voted against current federal laws preventing attempts to bankrupt the American gun industry through bogus lawsuits and allowing commercial airline pilots to be armed in the cockpit.  Finally Etheridge refused to answer our federal candidate questionnaire - a clear indication of indifference if not outright hostility, to the rights of gun owners and sportsmen.
The choice is clear!  All gun owners and sportsmen in North Carolina's second congressional district should support Renee Ellmers on Election Day.  If you can volunteer to help, please contact her campaign at www.ReneeForCongress.com and 252-220-0181.  Also spread the word to your family, friends, and fellow gun owners.  And on November 2, Vote Freedom First - Vote Renee Ellmers for Congress!

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION

P.S.  Don't forget to vote to reelect Senator Richard Burr.

Sincerely yours,
Tom Goffe

Voters: Trust, But Verify

     Dear Friends,
     Ronald Reagan was famous for saying "trust, but verify" when it came to dealing with the Soviet Union.  That same thought also applies to voting.  Today I saw in the New Bern Sun Journal an article that was very troubling.  A voter attempted to vote a straight line ballot there and just as he was about to finalize his electronic vote, he saw on the machine's screen that somehow it was changed from one party to another.  He contacted a poll worker and after a few tries his desired votes were properly recorded into the machine.  According to the story, he wasn't the only citizen to have that problem. 
     How many people who voted did not catch a similar error and unknowingly cast ballots for people they DON'T want to elect?  What can you do about it?
     First - double check your votes line by line and race by race.  Whether you are using a pen to fill out ovals or an electronic touch screen machine, give it a second look.
     Second - if you make a mistake or want to change your vote, ask a poll worker for help.  Tell them you think you might have made a mistake and want to correct it.  Don't but your paper ballot into the machine or finalize your vote on an electronic machine then ask for help.  It is too late then.  STOP and ASK FOR help the second you have a question or think you made a mistake.  The poll workers are there to help.  Hey - we all do that every so often. But if you make a mistake here, it could haunt you for 2 or even 6 years.
     Third - please share this information with your family and friends who will go voting with you.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

In Case You Missed the Rally Friday Night

     Dear Friends,

Smithfield Rally Oct. 22, 2010

     Turnout was fantastic and exceeded my wildest expectations.  I don't know whether it was great candidates or free BBQ, but one thing is for sure - it was a memorable evening.  Sen. Burr, Renee Ellmers, Sen. Rouzer, Rep. Daughtry and about 4,000+ good people were there.  Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory was the emcee and the speakers knew what the crowd wanted to hear: short, hard-hitting messages supporting our traditional liberties.  To repeat - short and to the point.  In case you couldn't make it, you can get an idea of the size of the crowd {tip of the hat to Mayor McCrory}
     Please be sure to give your relatives and friends a ride to the polls - whether you are participating in early one-stop voting or if you go on Nov. 2.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Good Food & Good Candidates Coming to Smithfield Tomorrow

     Dear Friends,
     Many of our NRA endorsed candidates will be coming to Smithfield tomorrow afternoon.  Senator Richard Burr will be at the Central Marketing Tobacco Warehouse, 1416 Wal-Pat Road on Friday, October 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Also scheduled to appear is NRA "AQ" rated candidate for the US House of Representatives for the 2nd District, Renee Ellmers.  State Senator David Rouzer, Representatives Leo Daughtry, a nice selection of candidates for judicial seats and Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell are also expected to attend.  There will be free BBQ, bluegrass music, and some really nice people.  To repeat, FREE BBQ!  Bring your appetite and I'm sure that these fine supporters of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms will not be disappointed if you bring your checkbook.
     I look forward to seeing you there!
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe