The election of NRA Directors is once more upon us, with ballots due from voting members by March 27.
The only nomination of special note is actor Tom Selleck, who will no doubt be groomed as the next high-profile trophy president in the Charlton Heston mode—in other words, a handsome and popular star who reads his lines well. With the passing of Neal Knox, no serious challenge to the “Winning Team” exists, thus there is no need for a “Don’t vote for these guys” ad.
The choices this year ensure that Wayne La Pierre will maintain uncontested control. There are 31 candidates for 25 open slots, and the Nominating Committee has endorsed 28 of them. That’s outrageous.
No true reform will come to the NRA until voting members can rate director candidates based on unequivocal platforms of support for “shall not be infringed.” Unfortunately, no such demand has been made by the membership, so expect more status quo, backroom deals, political compromises and suspect politician ratings.
Too bad. As a start, I’d like to see each candidate for the BOD specifically answer the following questions, adapted from a questionnaire I have sent in the past to political candidates who claim to be pro-Second Amendment.
I won’t hold my breath, but if anyone can get a candidate to give straight for-the-record answers to these, please let me know.
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1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges the birthrights of all Americans?
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern?
7. Do you support or oppose Project Exile, and do you agree with current NRA management’s call to “enforce existing gun laws”?
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
10. If elected to the NRA Board, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
The only nomination of special note is actor Tom Selleck, who will no doubt be groomed as the next high-profile trophy president in the Charlton Heston mode—in other words, a handsome and popular star who reads his lines well. With the passing of Neal Knox, no serious challenge to the “Winning Team” exists, thus there is no need for a “Don’t vote for these guys” ad.
The choices this year ensure that Wayne La Pierre will maintain uncontested control. There are 31 candidates for 25 open slots, and the Nominating Committee has endorsed 28 of them. That’s outrageous.
No true reform will come to the NRA until voting members can rate director candidates based on unequivocal platforms of support for “shall not be infringed.” Unfortunately, no such demand has been made by the membership, so expect more status quo, backroom deals, political compromises and suspect politician ratings.
Too bad. As a start, I’d like to see each candidate for the BOD specifically answer the following questions, adapted from a questionnaire I have sent in the past to political candidates who claim to be pro-Second Amendment.
I won’t hold my breath, but if anyone can get a candidate to give straight for-the-record answers to these, please let me know.
--------------------------
1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges the birthrights of all Americans?
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern?
7. Do you support or oppose Project Exile, and do you agree with current NRA management’s call to “enforce existing gun laws”?
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
10. If elected to the NRA Board, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?