Taking A Stand in 2009

[Guest David Waldrip]

All:

This email is going to the list of NRA Frontlines volunteers in the 7th Congressional district, but also to a *long* list of special guests. It is also being cross posted at TN Gun Owners.

Now that the holidays are over, I wanted to offer my thoughts on what supporters of the 2nd Amendment can do in 2009 to take a stand. After the elections, many people expressed an interest in "getting involved" and helping to make a difference going forward.

In my opinion, the best course of action is to do two things:

-join the NRA[/url], and

-then "do something".

First, one needs to take a stand and make a statement right now to the people and organizations that would further erode our rights to Keep and Bear Arms. The best and easiest way to do so is to join the NRA. The recent increase in gun sales and recent increase in enrollment in carry permit courses have caught the attention of the media, and that's good. I've heard that the number of new members joining the NRA spiked tremendously since the election, and once that information is made public, it will also get media attention. And that is the message that needs to be sent - that people are watching and acting. Whenever the political "powers that be" look to implement a law or policy, they always look at the political impact of doing so. That is why it is important to take a stand, join the NRA, and keep the momentum going.

Second, "do something". And it can be anything, such as:

-forwarding this email to other friends on your email list and asking them to join the NRA,

-signing up as an NRA Frontlines volunteer if you want to participate on the political side, and/or making a contribution to the NRA Institute for Legislative Acion,

-volunteering to help raise funds for the NRA Foundation through a local Friends of NRA group,

-learning to shoot, if you never have, then

-taking someone else shooting.

In closing, I can't overstate the importance of as many people as possible working together to defend our rights. Please help make a difference.

Thanks in advance.

David Waldrip

NRA Institute for Legislative Action

Election Volunteer Coordinator

TN 7th Congressional District

[Guest David Waldrip]

And, if you're interested in volunteering in or coaching youth shooting sports, see this post on the upcoming TN 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor training.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=209590#post209590

[Guest David Waldrip]

Well, the Dec. data came in per the NSSF.

December '08 background checks up 24% over December '07 background checks. That after Nov. '08 being up 42% over Nov. '07.

For the year, 12.7 million background checks, up 14% over '07.

If 12.7 million new members joined the NRA, we would be in a different situation.

If 12.7 million new folks decided to "do something" related to the right to keep and bear arms or to promote the shooting sports, we would be in a different "culture".

Have you joined yet? Have you decided to do something yet?

Here's to hope.

"Conclude. Then, do something."

-David

[Guest David Waldrip]

This email is going to the list of NRA Frontlines volunteers in the 7th Congressional district, but also to a *long* list of special guests. It is also being cross posted at TN Gun Owners.

Week before last, Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice-President of the NRA, blogged that "word" was it was a matter of "when" and not a matter of "if" the incoming administration would attack our Second Amendment rights. You can read that blog at www.nranews.com.

And, as many of us have already seen, after the inauguration, the White House web site had this section, under Urban Policy:

Address Gun Violence in Cities:

Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.

Over the past two weeks, the NRA Officers have been interviewed on NRANews from both the SHOT trade show in Orlando and the Safari Club Internatonal show in Reno. The number one priority that they stressed is that each of us persuades another person to join the NRA. It is critical that we send the message that we are paying attention and doing something. President John Sigler said the message would be most powerful if the 4 million member NRA became the 8 million member NRA.

Please send this link to a friend, and ask him/her to join as soon as possible:

http://membership.nrahq.org/default.asp?campaignid=XP019286.

Thanks in advance for your help and support.

David Waldrip

NRA Institute for Legislative Action

Election Volunteer Coordinator

TN 7th Congressional District

Edited January 26, 2009 by David Waldrip

[eapking]

I hear you David. I'm asking every level-headed person I know to join, asap!

[R.Z.]

A quick Google of the terms "NRA" and "compromise" are enough to reinforce my own decision not to join ...

How's about we throw that zealous support behind an organization who bills itself as the "no-compromise gun lobby"? (Gun Owners of America)

The membership numbers are very important, indeed ... and because of that - I, for one, will not allow myself to be counted as complicent with the the NRA's practice of "non-representative representation".

[Smith]

A quick Google of the terms "NRA" and "compromise" are enough to reinforce my own decision not to join ...

How's about we throw that zealous support behind an organization who bills itself as the "no-compromise gun lobby"? (Gun Owners of America)

The membership numbers are very important, indeed ... and because of that - I, for one, will not allow myself to be counted as complicent with the the NRA's practice of "non-representative representation".

Here we go again with the principal over practical. It likes arming some guerrillas to overthrow a dictator. Will they do every little thing you want? No, but they will get rid of the bigger evil. Then you are left with more manageable smaller battles. The war is more important than the battle and this is where conservatives/libertarians etc. fail to the liberals. Get out of the tower and into the fight. The best defense is a good offense. We have consistently been winning more battles than loosing. The stats back it up. Ownership is up, permits are up, court cases are leaning once again our way, more and more manufactures are coming on line and all some people can do is complain about the NRA not backing Olofson more, which is a questionable legal case to sink money in anyway or the Auto weapon ban.

Join the NRA and GOA and then keep pushing on local levels for more change. Otherwise it's like the people who voted for Perot, who only managed to elect Billary.

[Guest David Waldrip]

+1, Nsnate02.

So, R.Z., if you've got time for some more reading, why don't you Google "NRA Foundation" and "millions". Then Google "NRA" and "Camp Perry". Be sure to look at the schedule for Camp Perry and the start date and end date.

No brag............just sayin', and sayin' today because it's that kind of day.

-David

[Guest VolMickey]

Just registered as a NRA Grassroots Volunteer. Also, looking to join FONRA.

[G27]

Join the NRA and GOA and then keep pushing on local levels for more change. Otherwise it's like the people who voted for Perot, who only managed to elect Billary.

Bingo - mention the NRA to almost anyone and they know who you are talking about - try that with the GOA. The NRA has clout that the GOA doesn't have. If you feel strongly about your rights, join both.

Further, I can likely find quite a few bits of legislation that has been made or shot down due to the MRA lobby - can you find anything similar from the GOA?

[Guest David Waldrip]

VolMickey,

Welcome aboard the Frontlines. Regarding the FONRA in Jackson, just got to meet Crunchman at the gun show here in Memphis today, and he's one heck of a nice guy. Am sure he'll put you to work as soon as possible.

Thanks.

-David

Edited February 9, 2009 by David Waldrip

[Guest VolMickey]

Cool. I'm going to try to head to the GOS for the meeting tomorrow night (Tues, 2/10). Thanks!