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.

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
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     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.
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     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

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

NRA Voting Endorsements Alarm the New York Times

     Dear Friends,
     I just came across an article that made me chuckle: a New York Times article that sounds the alarm about the NRA's "get out the vote" effort.  One thing that made me laugh was the following line: "The gun-rights group is set to send out 4 million — 4 million! — voter cards to members in every state."  Are they scared, incredulous, or heaven forbid encouraging law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to vote?  It is hard to tell, but I think it might be all of those things.  Perhaps even more enlightening are the comments about the article.  I'll leave it up to you to give them a look and to draw your own conclusions.  Suffice it to say that the opponents of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms don't seem like they are only limited in their desire to curtail our liberties guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment.  If you ever needed a reason to vote, that should be enough.
     I've received one of those endorsement cards in the mail already.  Please don't glance at it and toss it. Share it with your family and friends. Make copies and post them on bulletin boards at work, leave some at your local gun shop or hunting club. There are a lot of folks out their who share our interest in liberty but don't know who to vote for, what to ask or where to get unvarnished information. That is where you can help by sharing endorsement cards. When you send e-mails, insert a link to my blog or the NRA-PVF endorsement page under your signature.
     So the New York Times is alarmed.  We must be doing something right.
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Tip of the Day:  Need a ride to the polls?  With early voting your opportunity to vote is even more convenient than ever before.  Drop me a line and I'll put you in touch with one of our Frontlines Volunteers who can help out.  Whatever you do, make sure your voice is heard at the ballot box.  If you need help in any way, please let me know what I can do.

     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Two Great Voting Tools

     Dear Friends,
     One question I am often asked is "who are the pro-gun candidates.  I cranked out a couple of voters guides, but there is another way to find out.
     In the NC 2nd Congressional District, Richard Burr is the NRA endorsed candidate for US Senate.  For the US House, NRA has not made an endorsement, however Renee Ellmers has a grade of AQ while Bob Etheridge has a D.
     In the NC State Senate and House races, things get a bit stickier because of all the districts for those races which are contained in the 2nd Congressional District.  Without knowing where you happen to live, I can't really say "Candidate "X" or Candidate "Y."  Any easy way to figure it out is to go to the NRA Political Victory Fund website, then enter your nine digit zip code and click ENTER. That will tell you which candidates are running for each office, whether they are endorsed or not, and their NRA grade.  You can also use this link for the NC Board of Elections to find specific information for you.  It will show voting locations for early voting, your regular polling place and other personalized information.  To use this, just select "SHOW ME MY VOTING INFORMATION, enter the requested information and then click SELECT.  Most importantly, it tells you whether or not you are registered.  If you are not, you can go to an early voting polling location and register then vote all in one fell swoop.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Sincerely yours,
-Tom Goffe

Why Vote? Another Non-Victim, Another Reason

     Dear Friends,
     I was doing some follow-up to a posting about a store owner who saved himself and three others from two armed thugs when I came across this story.  Two armed men confronted a mother and son in Halifax County and tried to rob them on their carport.  What they didn't expect was that the son would run into the house, retrieve a gun and fire back. One suspect was wounded and the other was apprehended along with their getaway driver. Police later recovered a double barreled shotgun and a 12 guage pump believed to have been used in the crime.  One of the robbers was wounded and all three are in custody and being held on bond. Two of the men have criminal records.
    I sure hope that we will continue to enjoy the Right to Keep and Bear Arms that is illustrated in this story and in my last posting.  If we vote for candidates who support the 2nd Amendment, our rights stand a much better chance of remaining intact.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

NC House Voter Guide

Dear Friends,
     Part three of my voter guide covers the positions on the 2nd Amendment for the North Carolina House candidates competing within the 2nd Congressional District.  My comments about endorsements and grades that I made in my posting on federal races apply here as well.

North Carolina House of Representatives

District 7  (Parts of Nash County)
   Angela R. Bryant (C) “Not necessarily a passing grade. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation.”

District 21  (Sampson County)
   Larry M. Bell (C-) “Not necessarily a passing grade. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation.”
   DeAnn G. Poirier (?)  “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 25  (Parts of Nash County)
   Jeffrey L. Collins (A-) NRA Endorsed “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.” Campaign Web Page,    Facebook Page,

   Randy Stewart (?)  “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 26  (Johnston County)
   Leo Daughtry (A) NRA Endorsed  “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”  Facebook Page,    Legislative Web Page

District 27  (Vance County)
    Michael H. Wray (A-) NRA Endorsed “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”  Campaign Web Page,    Facebook Page,    Legislative Web Page

District 28  (Sampson County)
    James H. Langdon, Jr. (C+) “Not necessarily a passing grade. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation.”
    Brian Allen (?)  “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 32  (Vance County)
   Jim Crawford (A-) NRA Endorsed “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”  Project Vote Smart Page,    Legislative Web Page

District 33  (Parts of Wake County)
   Paul Terrell (AQ) “A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.”
   Rosa Gill (?)  “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 35  (Parts of Wake County)
   Don Frantz (AQ) NRA Endorsed  “A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.”  Campaign Web Page,    Facebook Page,  

   Jennifer Weiss (F) “True enemy of gun owners' rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owners' rights and/or actively leads anti-gun legislative efforts, or sponsors anti-gun legislation.”

District 36  (Parts of Wake County)
   Nelson Dollar (A-) NRA Endorsed “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”  Campaign Web Page,    Facebook Page,    Legislative Web Page

   Robin Anderson (?)  “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 38  (Parts of Wake County)
   Madison E. Shook (AQ) ) “A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.”
   Deborah K. Ross (F) “True enemy of gun owners' rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owners' rights and/or actively leads anti-gun legislative efforts, or sponsors anti-gun legislation.”

District 42  (Parts of Cumberland County)
   Marvin W. Lucas (A-) “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”

District 43  (Parts of Cumberland County)
   Elmer Floyd (?) “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 44  (Parts of Cumberland County)
   Johnny Dawkins (B+) “A generally pro-gun candidate. However, a "B" candidate may have opposed some pro-gun reform or supported some restrictive legislation in the past.”
   Diane Parfitt (?) “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 45  (Parts of Cumberland County)
   Jackie Warner (AQ) NRA Endorsed  “A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.” Project Vote Smart Page,    Facebook Page,

   Rick Glazier (C+) “Not necessarily a passing grade. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation.”

District 49  (Franklin & parts of Nash County)
   Glen Bradley (AQ) “A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.”
   John May (?) “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 51  (Lee & parts of Harnett County)

   Jimmy L. Love, Sr. (A) NRA Endorsed “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”  Campaign Web Page,   Legislative Web Page

    Michael Stone (?)  “Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 53  (Chatham & parts of Harnett County)
   David Lewis (A-) NRA Endorsed “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”  Campaign Web Page,    Facebook Page,    Legislative Web Page

   Abraham Oudeh (?)“Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners' and sportsmen's rights.”

District 54
   Cathy Wright (B+) “A generally pro-gun candidate. However, a "B" candidate may have opposed some pro-gun reform or supported some restrictive legislation in the past.”
   Joe Hackney (F) “True enemy of gun owners' rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owners' rights and/or actively leads anti-gun legislative efforts, or sponsors anti-gun legislation.”

Sen. Burr Coming to Smithfield + Early Voting Information

     Dear Friends,
     Our NRA endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate will be coming to Smithfield.  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. Mark your calendars now and join me in turning out for this stalwart supporter of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
     I look forward to seeing you there!
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Tip of the day: did you know that you can register and then vote all in one fell swoop?  You can do it at one of the one-stop voting sites in your county.  A list of the locations can be found at this link.  The following information on how to do this comes from the NC Board of Elections web site.

A North Carolina resident who is qualified to register to vote may register In-Person and vote at a One-Stop Site in the person's county of residence during the One-Stop Absentee Voting period. The One-Stop Voting period extends from 19 to 3 days before Election Day. However, there is no voter registration during the One-Stop Voting period for a Second Primary. The process is sometimes referred to as “In-Person Registration,” but it is important to recognize that it not permitted on Election Day itself.


To use this process, a citizen must (1) go to a One-Stop Voting Site in the county of residence during the One Stop Absentee Voting period, (2) fill out a voter registration application, and (3) provide proof of residency by showing the elections official an appropriate form of identification with the citizen’s current name and current address.  The new registrant may vote ONLY at a One-Stop Absentee Voting Site in the county of registration during One-Stop Absentee Voting period and not on Election Day.  Acceptable forms of identification include:

• A North Carolina driver’s license with current address
• A utility bill with name and current address
  • A telephone or mobile phone bill
  • An electric or gas bill
  • A cable television bill
  • A water or sewage bill
• A document with name and current address from a local, state, or U.S. government agency, such as:
  • A passport
  • A government-issued photo ID
  • U.S. military ID
  • A license to hunt, fish, own a gun, etc.
  • A property or other tax bill
  • Automotive or vehicle registration
  • Certified documentation of naturalization
  • A public housing or Social Service Agency document
  • A check, invoice, or letter from a government agency
  • A birth certificate
• A student photo ID along with a document from the school showing the student’s name and current address
• A paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W-2 statement

• A bank statement or bank-issued credit card statement.  

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     I hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity if you are not already registered. You can also vote there if you are already registered.  This is a great way to beat the lines on November 2.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Lee County Candidates Forum Oct. 7

     Dear Friends,
     The Sanford Herald is sponsoring a Candidates Forum at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Lecture Hall at 1801 Nash Street, Sanford, NC on Thursday, October 7 from 6:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m.  Rumor has it that Congressman Bob Etheridge might make a rare public appearance.
     This will also be a great opportunity to hear NC Senate District 18 candidate Wesley Meredith and NC House District 51 candidate Jimmy L. Love, Sr.  Both of these fine men are NRA Endorsed candidates. I hope that you will join me in taking a little time to support their candidacies. For those of you who think the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is important just let me mention that the candidates opposing both of these men did not bother to answer the NRA's candidate survey. This event is a great forum to let them know that our rights are important to us and will be fundamental to how we vote on November 2.  I hope to see you there.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

I Saw the Cost of Liberty Today

Dear Friends,
     If you didn't make it to the Fayetteville Gun Show today, it will still be running tomorrow from 10:00-5:00. Stop by and get bumper stickers, buttons, campaign literature and even some of the NRA's newest yard signs - though supplies are limited.  They have hundreds of tables and I can promise you one thing: mine is the only one that will give you something for nothing and won't ask for a donation!  As you enter the door, look towards 10 o'clock for the American flag and that is where you will find me.
     On a personal note, one thing made a huge impression on me today.  I go down to Ft. Bragg every so often to the PX and Commissary and can't help but notice all of the license plates denoting that the owner has earned the Purple Heart, Bronze Star or is a Disabled Veteran. As a disabled veteran myself I am kind of attuned to that sort of thing. But at the gun show I got to see and meet many of these young heroes behind the license plates. I was stunned at all the young men in wheelchairs, walking with prostheses, or with scars you won't see on the average college campus. You can't see that when you are just driving along the road.  It really hit home the high price they are paying for our freedom - joining the ranks knowing full well what could happen to them as opposed to the Cold War Army that I enlisted in.  And they do it anyway. Even now as I write this I have trouble keeping my emotions in check. I was overwhelmed with admiration, gratitude, empathy as well as sadness that what they do for all of us isn't properly acknowledged.  Thanks guys - you are carrying the torch of freedom in the finest American tradition. Even if we are remiss now, history will right that wrong.
     One way we can repay their sacrifice on the altar of freedom is to vote.  These courageous young people don't offer excuses on the battlefield - they get out therr, face their fears and get the job done. In this day and age, there isn't one American citizen in North Carolina who is able to check a box that has an excuse for not voting.  No excuses - just do it. Check your voter registration status. If you need to register, do it right now. You should  view a sample ballot, make your selections and then vote - either absentee, during early voting (Oct. 14-30) or find your local precinct,and go to the polls on November 2. There - you have the tools, now exercise the freedoms these heroes have purchased for you at the cost of life, limb and blood shed on the battlefield.
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Tip of the day: the new and improved NRA Political Victory Fund website is now fully operational.  Among other things, it has official NRA candidate grades and endorsements available for your consideration.  If you are an NRA member, please visit this useful online tool prior to election day and join me in supporting these candidates.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

Why Burr, Why Now?

     Dear Friends,
     On Sept. 14 the NRA Political Victory Fund endorsed Richard Burr's candidacy for a second term in the United States Senate.  Throughout his first term Senator Burr has been a staunch friend of the 2nd Amendment working with great dedication and effectiveness for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. With everything else going on in our lives, it is sometimes easy to forget how much he has done for us.
   + He earned an "A" rating and endorsement from the NRA Political Victory Fund.
   + He cosponsored and voted for the DC Personal Protection Act. That would repeal their gun ban and registration statute and restore the right of self-defense for law-abiding residents of America's capital.
   + Sen. Burr signed a "friend of the court brief," that contributed to the Supreme Court decision to strike down the gun ban in America's capital and reiterating that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right in the Heller case. {Read the full story on Wikipedia.}
   + Sen. Burr signed another "friend of the court brief" in the McDonald case that led the Supreme Court to decide that the 2nd Amendment guarantees a fundamental right that protects all Americans. {Read the full story on Wikipedia.}
   + Sen. Burr cosponsored legislation to reform the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
   + Sen. Burr cosponsored National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity legislation that would extend federal protection of state Right-to-Carry licenses and permits across America.
   + Sen. Burr cosponsored and voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which prevents outlandish lawsuits designed to bankrupt the American gun industry.
   + He cosponsored and voted for the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act which prohibits gun confiscation during states of emergency as happened after Hurricane Katrina.
   + He voted against confirming anti-gun Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan
    
     Why now? The most compelling reason is that the pro-gun wing in the Supreme Court is a one vote majority. If another seat becomes vacant, we can assume the President will nominate yet another opponent of our 2nd Amendment liberties.  We will need Senators like Richard Burr to stand strong in defense of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.  His record is clear and he got the NRA endorsement the old-fashioned way - he earned it.
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     Tip of the day: more about bumper stickers.  Whether you have this year's Cadillac or a 15 year old Jeep like I do, you might be skittish about putting a bumper sticker on it or are worried about how to get it off (as if anybody would ever want to do that).  One solution is to go to your local office supply store and get a magnetic sheet.  They can be found near the computer printer labels. Put the bumper sticker on that, trim it with a pair of scissors and slap it on your car. If you decide to move it - no problem. Just lift it off and move it.
     Don't forget to go to the Fayetteville Gun Show this weekend.  I'll be joined by other volunteers passing out literature, bumper stickers, buttons, yard signs and talking up our endorsed candidates.
     Sincerely yours,
     Tom Goffe

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

NRA Endorsed Candidates in Our District

Dear Friends,
As it stands now, the following candidates have received the endorsement and support of the National Rifle Association.  I've included their campaign web sites as well as their official legislative office sites so that you can become acquainted with them.

United States Senate: Richard Burr (campaign web site)
US House of Representatives, District 2: Renee Ellmers (campaign web site)
North Carolina State Senate, District 7: Doug Berger
North Carolina State Senate, District 11: A. B. Swindell (campaign web site)
North Carolina State Senate, District 22: Harris Blake (campaign web site)

In the days and weeks to come more NRA endorsements should be forthcoming and I will update this list accordingly.  There are many races that are important to all of us where an official NRA endorsement has not yet been announced.

One thing that every candidate for office has in common is that they are competing for OUR vote. They want to work for us, and just like a job interview we as the employer need to evaluate their resumes, question them and make an informed decision on which one will do the best job for us as supporters of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. For now, I invite you to become acquainted with these candidates and to consider how you can lend your talents and efforts to their campaigns.  One great way to help out is to join the NRA's Frontlines - a group of concerned 2nd Amendment supporters dedicated to ensuring victory in the 2010 election.

Sincerely yours,
Tom Goffe