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
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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

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

US Senate and 2nd Congressional District Voter Guide

     Dear Friends,
     These two fine candidates have earned the NRA's coveted endorsement based on their support for our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. I hope you will support them at the ballot box today.  This page has been updated to reflect Renee Ellmers recent endorsement.    

US Senate

   Richard Burr (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

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

US House of Representatives

District 2 (Chatham, Cumberland, Franklin, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Sampson, Vance and parts of Wake Counties)
   Renee Ellmers (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.” Campaign Web Page  Facebook Page
   Bob Etheridge (D) “An anti-gun candidate who usually supports restrictive gun control legislation and opposes pro-gun reforms. Regardless of public statements, can usually be counted on to vote wrong on key issues.”

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

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