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

NRA Ratings Across Our District

     Dear Friends,
     As of today, the following list shows the official National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) candidate ratings.  In those races where an endorsement has been made, I have highlighted that designation.  Please note that the NRA does NOT make an endorsement in every race, nor do they consider the party of a candidate nor their stances on issues outside the 2nd Amendment in their endorsements.  More detailed information about their grades and current endorsements are online at the NRA-PVF web site.
     For the record, I am a volunteer donating my time and effort to support NRA endorsed candidates.  I do not represent them in any capacity. I do not endorse candidates, never have and never will as a part of my duties supporting the NRA. I am not a party to the endorsement process in any way, shape or form. Those determinations are made by the NRA Political Victory Fund using an established endorsement policy.  Members of the NRA or other citizens interested in the cause of liberty espoused by the 2nd Amendment should make their opinions and preferences known to the NRA by calling them at (800) 392-8683 or use the NRA-PVF online contact form. Candidates are listed in order based on their NRA rating.

US Senate
   Richard Burr (A) Endorsed
   Elaine Marshall (?)

US House of Representatives
District2
   Renee Ellmers (AQ)
   Bob Etheridge (D)

North Carolina Senate
District 7
   Doug Berger (A+) Endorsed
   Michael Schriver (B+)
District 10
   Brent Jackson (AQ) Endorsed
   Dewey Hudson (?)
District 11
   A. B. Swindell (A) Endorsed
   E. S. "Buck" Newton (A-)
District 12
   David Rouzer (A) Endorsed
   Jody McLeod (?)
District 14
   Dan Blue (C+)
   Geoffrey M. Hurlburt (?)
District 16
   Josh Stein (B-)
   Michael Beezly (?)
District 17
   Richard Stevens (B+) Endorsed
   David Donovan (?)
District 18
   Roger Gerber (AQ)
   Bob Atwater (B)
District 19
   Wesley Meredith (AQ) Endorsed
   Margaret Highsmith Dickson (C+)
District 21
   Wade Fowler (AQ)
   Eric Mansfield (?)
District 22
   Harris D. Blake (A) Endorsed

North Carolina House of Representatives
District 7
   Angela R. Bryant (C)
District 21
   DeAnn G. Poirier (?)
   Larry M. Bell (C-)
District 25
   Jeffrey L. Collins (A-) Endorsed
   Randy Stewart (?)
District 26
   Leo Daughtry (A) Endorsed
District 27
    Michael H. Wray (A-) Endorsed
District 28
    James H. Langdon, Jr. (C+)
    Brian Allen (?)
District 32
   Jim Crawford (A-) Endorsed
District 33
   Paul Terrell (AQ)
   Rosa Gill (?)
District 35
   Don Frantz (AQ) Endorsed
   Jennifer Weiss (F)
District 36
   Nelson Dollar (A-) Endorsed
   Robin Anderson (?)
District 38
   Madison E. Shook (AQ)
   Deborah K. Ross (F)
District 42
   Marvin W. Lucas (A-)
District 43
   Elmer Floyd (?)
District 44
   Johnny Dawkins (B+)
   Diane Parfitt (?)
District 45
   Jackie Warner (AQ) Endorsed
   Rick Glazier (C+)
District 49
   Glen Bradley (AQ)
   John May (?)
District 51
   Michael Stone (?)
   Jimmy L. Love, Sr. (A) Endorsed
District 53
   David Lewis (A-) Endorsed
   Abraham Oudeh (?)
District 54
   Cathy Wright (B+)
   Joe Hackney (F)
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   Tip of the day - questions, comments or concerns concerning these endorsements should be addressed directly to the NRA at (800) 392-8683.

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

How You Can Help Us Win

Dear Friends,
     In the last few days since the American Rifleman, American Hunter, and America's 1st Freedom hit our mailboxes with my contact information, I've talked to concerned 2nd Amendment supporters across the 2nd Congressional District who have asked how they can help.  It has been very encouraging to hear from so many people willing to step up and take action to get the word out and elect candidates who support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
     One thing you can do is to sign up for the NRA's Frontlines. It is easy to do online and takes all of 5 minutes. There you can select a myriad of activities that fit your schedule, inclinations and talents. Some of the choices available to you include:

            - Registering pro-gun voters

            - Making phone calls

            - Contacting your lawmakers

            - Writing letters to the editor

            - Walking precincts

            - Attending town hall meetings

            - Yard sign distribution

            - Bumper sticker distribution

            - Election day activities/poll work

            - Literature drops

            - Working at campaign headquarters

            - Gun shows (registering voters, handing out yard signs, bumper stickers, & campaign literature)

            - All of the above

     If none of these things are appealing, you can also talk to relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers and hunting & shooting buddies. Topics include candidates who support the 2nd Amendment, the importance of voting, how they can join or support the NRA. Other great places to do this include gun shops, ranges, gun & hunting clubs, gun shows, etc. Just the simple act of wearing your NRA hat or shirt the next time you run errands can help.  I even heard one man suggest using an NRA yard sign as a sun shade in his car window. Use your imagination! If you have another idea, please send me an e-mail and I'll publish it here in a future edition.

     To all who have called or written to me asking how you can help, Thank You! Without people like you who are willing to get involved, our 2nd Amendment rights would be in an even more precarious state.  I really appreciate your patriotism, dedication and desire to serve.  These are the things that make America great.

     Sincerely yours,

     Tom Goffe

NRA Endorses Senator Richard Burr

The following is the text of a press release announcing yesterday that the National Rifle Association has endorsed Senator Burr.  My two cents will follow shortly....

Fairfax, Va. -- The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is endorsing U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) for re-election this November.
“Richard Burr’s steadfast commitment to preserving our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage has earned him the NRA-PVF endorsement,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman of NRA-PVF. “I know Senator Burr will continue to fight for and protect the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding gun owners in North Carolina and across the United States.”
During his tenure in the U.S. Senate and U.S House of Representatives, Richard Burr has consistently supported gun rights for law-abiding Americans. Burr cosponsored and voted for the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act, to repeal the D.C. gun ban and restore gun rights to residents of our nation’s capital. He signed the pro-gun congressional “friend of the court” brief in the McDonald case, supporting the position that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right that protects all Americans. He also signed the pro-gun congressional brief in the 2008 Heller case, supporting the Second Amendment as an individual right and striking down the gun ban in our nation’s capital. Burr cosponsored legislation to force much-needed reform of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), voted for the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity amendment, cosponsored and voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act preventing attempts to bankrupt the American gun industry through bogus lawsuits, voted for an amendment that prohibits gun confiscation during states of emergency and voted against confirmation of anti-gun Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Senator Burr’s unwavering commitment to preserving our Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage has earned him an “A” rating and endorsement from the NRA-PVF.
“North Carolinians value their Second Amendment freedoms, and Richard Burr is the clear choice to represent them,” Cox concluded. “We ask all North Carolina gun-owners and hunters to re-elect Senator Richard Burr on November 2nd.”

Which Candidates Will the NRA Support?

Dear Friends,
I've had a few questions in recent days asking which candidates will receive an NRA endorsement.  Frankly, I know as much as you do.  The selections have not been announced, but it is worthwhile to review the criteria the NRA Political Victory Fund will use in making the endorsements official.

First, the NRA is first and foremost a single issue organization dedicated to allowing all citizens the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in the manner intended by our founding fathers. That is it in a nutshell.  They focus like a laser on this important goal.

Their selection criteria does not account for party affiliation or a candidate's position on issues that are not related to our 2nd Amendment liberties.  This might cause some heartburn for some members who do not care for what a legislator thinks about other issues. What does matter is that the selectee has demonstrated an ability to deliver the goods when it comes to this individual right. Details about the selection process can be found on the NRA Political Victory Fund web site. 

As NRA members, we might have to take a moment to work out the rationale in our minds. First and foremost we have to remember to stay focused. The sole criteria is that candidates are selected based not just on what they say, but what they do when it comes to gun and hunting issues.  That is the way it should be.

I'd like to know what you have heard, and more importantly, what have you think. Working together, we can clear up some of the disinformation and dispel the myths and half-truths that are flying around. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
-Tom