User Panel
Posted: 5/11/2017 6:52:11 AM EDT
Marion Hammer, if you're unaware, was the past NRA President.
She enjoys near legendary status within the NRA for her past accomplishments, which by all measure were in fact significant. Her former title and accomplishments, are now however overshadowed by her lying and gross failures as the NRA's point person for the State of Florida. She has allowed a near total abandonment of the NRA within Florida, while sitting back year after year and watching anti-gun groups steal easy victories in a state who's legislature is top to bottom GOP and riddled with NRA "A" rated politicians. Over the past few years the same exact story has unfolded in Florida. Open Carry, Campus Carry, Airport Carry and School Carry were all on deck to be heard by committee and then to be brought to a vote for the passage of their respective laws. This has gone on in near identical fashion for at least the past 3 years. The big ones have been Open and Campus Carry. Each time these items get brought to committee for a vote, these bills have been summarily killed in committee by Florida GOP politicians. Most recently by NRA "A" rated Senator Flores. Each time these GOP "A" rated politicians kill pro-2A legislation in committee, Marion Hammer makes some asinine statement about how she has no clue how it happened, didn't see it coming, but she's going to "Stand and Fight!". The first time this happened, ok, I guess it's possible Marion Hammer and the NRA-ILA got blindsided by some rogue GOP politician who killed these bills in committee. The second time this IDENTICAL situation occurred the following year, same bills, same GOP legislature, bills stopped in committee by these GOP politicians, Hammer once again is seemingly bewildered as to how it could have happened. Again, didn't see it coming, no clue how it happened. It's now getting tough to stomach these excuses. When the previous years failures seemed to serve as a clear example to every gun owner in Florida, yet Hammer and the NRA-ILA are once again "bewildered" in the face of yet another failure. Welcome to this year, 2017. Let's see if you can guess what happened based on the above. Multiple pro-2A bills. The same bills as in prior years. They go to committee to determine if they'll receive full House votes. (In a State legislature run top to bottom by the GOP). And again, the bills killed in committee, never to even receive a vote, by you guessed it another NRA "A" rated GOP politician, Senator Flores. NRA "A" rated Flores sided with Bloomberg backed anti-gun group "Moms Demand Action" and did a public victory lap after killing these bills once again. As in the past years, Marion Hammer races to find the nearest microphone stand to make her statement. No clue how this happened, didn't see it coming, bewilderment... but Hammer once again vigorously proclaims the NRA's latest slogan to "Stand and Fight!!!!". 3 consecutive years of watching identical events unfold. 3 consecutive years of a Florida legislature run by the GOP. 3 consecutive years of watching the same easy pro-2A victories killed in committee by the GOP and NRA "A" rated politicians. 3 consecutive years of Marion Hammer with the same, pathetic and stunningly arrogant excuses for watching failures repeat themselves while claiming total ignorance as to how it could have possibly happened. To add insult to injury, Hammer and the NRA-ILA just released the following statement regarding this.... Florida: Bloomberg Groups Falsely Claim Credit For "Defeating" Second Amendment Bills
They said: "After months of heated debate in Tallahassee, we're closing out the 2017 legislative session with BIG wins for gun safety in Florida: * Open carry: DEFEATED * Guns on campus: DEFEATED * Guns at airports: DEFEATED * Guns in elementary, middle, and high schools: DEFEATED" In reality, none of those bills were defeated. No pro-gun bills were defeated by a vote of any committee or on either floor of the Legislature. Some just didn't get heard in committees or on the Senate or House floor. In short they just didn't make it all the way through the process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So these bills simply "didn't make it through the process" Marion? No Marion, that's not the complete story. While you continued to claim political ignorance once again in the face of yet another failure, despite it LITERALLY BEING YOUR JOB, NRA "A" rated Senator Flores aligned with Bloomberg backed "Moms Demand Action" and killed these bills once again in committee. Bloomberg did win. You and the NRA-ILA (and most importantly Florida gun owners) lost again, and you had every opportunity, you had been put on notice from the previous years IDENTICAL failures, and yet once again have the fucking gall to make the statement above? If this is how you "Stand and Fight" as you have claimed now for 3 consecutive years in the face of HUGE and REPETITIVE failures, Florida NRA members could be represented by an eggplant in a pants suit and garner the exact same results. WHAT IS YOUR WORTH TO FLORIDA GUN OWNERS Marion? This NRA Benefactor member says YOU ARE WORSE THAN WORTHLESS. You veil yourself in a false persona as a person of action and results, giving a false sense of effective representation to Florida gun owners. Your "action" consists of excuses at press conferences after your repetitive failures. Your results align with failure. Over and over again. You have no accountability and clearly no shame. The NRA's greatest strength is the state level battleground. The state of Florida and these repetitive failures highlight the enormous need for new NRA leadership. You were given the absolutely best conditions for easy wins in THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. And never better than this year. The GOP across the board on the Federal level in 2017. GOP control across the board on the state level in Florida.... again. You were given the benefit of learning from and responding to IDENTICAL past failures, to adapt and to win. Not only did the NRA-ILA and Hammer fail Florida gun owners not once but 3 times, while enjoying IDEAL conditions for easy wins, Hammer now has the fucking nerve to release a statement somehow claiming Bloomberg somehow failed. No, Bloomberg and his ilk won. You and the NRA-ILA have once again failed in a catastrophic manner. You know it, we know it and you remain untouchable in the halls of the NRA to the extent you are beyond reproach and beyond any form of accountability. I and other Florida gun owners and NRA members are disgusted by this. So let this serve the NRA membership here as a warning and a lesson. When there's another election for Board members, and you have the opportunity to vote, please, for the love of god, STOP VOTING FOR FUCKING CELEBRITIES LIKE ERMEY AND SELLECK, and get behind men like Adam, Nolo and others who will actually DO SOMETHING. |
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There is more money for the NRA to be made in fear mongering than winning.
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In before the "The NRA is not there to help at a state level" crowd
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That sucks. How are you guys going to get grass roots campaign going for next year?
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That sucks. How are you guys going to get grass roots campaign going for next year? View Quote We just watched Nolo and SuperMoose attempt the same, unsuccessfully. Miami_JBT has a tough road, but it's one that must be paved by the support of NRA voting membership. The best route currently is to grow a significant grassroots alternative to NRA "representation". Florida is simply not represented by the NRA. It's either more of the same failures, or people get behind organizations who will actually "Stand and Fight" as the NRA motto goes. And by the way, the NRA has a history in Florida of intentionally marginalizing grassroots organizations. Let that sink in and ask yourself "Why would they do that?" Why not join forces to assure wins? Thats something only the NRA can speak to. And quite frankly, there's no good answer what so ever. |
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That sucks. How are you guys going to get grass roots campaign going for next year? View Quote Comes the next legislative session, we need to put out efforts and money behind our own in state organizations rather than Hammer, who many, including myself, believe has actually sabotaged open carry in our state. BTW: The OP's analysis and commentary was excellent and right on the money. I'm tired of the fake, phony, misleading, self congratulatory, e mails we receive from her during and after the legislative session. According to her e mails; our bills "weren' t defeated, they just didn't make it all the way through the process". Killing the bills in committee year after year without allowing them to come to the floor for a vote is apparently no problem to our very highly paid pro gun lobbyist. That's merely the scam that protects our quisling legislators from having to vote publicly for or against out gun rights; something even a blind man can see since they've used the exact same con game for several years in a row. And then she had the gall to equate the gun grabbers fake, self promoting, dead on arrival, publicity seeking only, anti gun bills with ours; when it is we and not they, who have the Republican Party super majority in the legislature and the governorship. What a crock of dogshit. |
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Anything I can do personally to help? View Quote I'd say to simply be aware of what's happened in Florida under the NRA's watch, to support grassroots/local pro-2A groups. ARFCOM is a good place to get messaging such as this so please take this stuff seriously, because if this can happen under the conditions in Florida, it absolutely can happen anywhere. My days of simply taking the NRA and their press releases at face value are OVER. For very good reason. Dig deeper in to the legislative efforts in your state and others. Miami_JBT and I have talked offline and it was he who opened my eyes to this very regrettable reality regarding the current state of the NRA in Florida. Previously, I took them at face value. It was a mistake I will not make again. |
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OP nails it. This whole legislative year has been a disgrace and a disaster for gun rights.
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Ok, sure, slick. View Quote |
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Her shenanigans with the open carry bill years ago and her turning on the grassroots organizations is why I didn't just stop renewing my NRA membership... I called up and cancelled it. I still get fired up when I remember the BS she pulled.
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NRA Endorsement and Rating system needs to be revamped
Over and over again in Florida, NRA Endorsed and ‘A’ rated candidates have backtracked and killed pro-gun legislation. The NRA-PVF needs a complete overhaul. Just this week we had House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) blocked and killed pro-gun legislation. (Florida Republicans killed another Pro-Gun bill in the last week of the Legislative Session.) Worse though is this year’s shining star of betrayal. Senator Anitere Flores (R). Who the NRA endorsed back in 2012 and in 2016 still allowed her to keep her ‘A’ rating even after she voted ‘yes’ for a Special Legislative Session to be called for Gun Control back on June 28, 2016. Then on July 6, 2016 she sent Florida’s NRA representative, Marion Hammer a letter flat out stating that she defends the 2nd Amendment and that Government has no right to infringe upon it. Her history of comments and statements after the Pulse Nightclub Terror Attack in Orlando in which she sided with gun grabbers was known. Yet they still gave her the ‘A’ rating and believed her letter. Senate President Joe Negron (R) could have had SB-140 (2017’s Pro-Gun Bill) bypass the Senate Judiciary Committee and go directly to a floor vote but instead he allowed it to go through the committees that Senator Anitere Flores had a chair in. Worse though is he put Senator Flores in the number two slot in the Senate. In 2016, it was Representative Charles McBurney (R) that betrayed gun owners and NRA Members. He refused to hear “Burden of Proof”, SB-344 thus killing the bill which overwhelmingly passed the Senate and was ready to enter a largely Republican House. When he decided to run for a Judgeship, that is when the NRA stepped up to the plate and attacked him. But from 2008 to early 2016, the NRA supported him. Let’s not forget Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla and his actions in both 2015 and 2016. He chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and blocked every pro-gun bill that came across his desk. In 2011, it was Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff (R). But that year was even worse than the ones that came after it. Florida had an Open Carry Bill sailing through the Legislature. Marion Hammer at first openly supported the bill. Then NRA ‘A’ Rated Senator Bogdanoff gutted open carry from the bill and Marion Hammer defended her actions and attacked Open Carry supporters. Here is Marion Hammer of the NRA openly defending that year’s bill as one primarily for Open Carry. Florida: Gun Enthusiasts Push For Open Carry Law Here is what she said in the video: Marion Hammer: Open carry was banned 24 years ago and the time has come to fix it.” Marion Hammer: “This is Florida. It gets really hot here in the summer. Lot of time folks might go into a restaurant or into you know a meeting and they want to take off their jacket. They can’t take a jacket off and expose the firearm. It’s just silly.” That interview was before Sen. Bogdanoff gutted the bill. After Senator Bogdanoff gutted the bill, Marion Hammer defender her and attacked NRA members and Florida Gun Owners. Response To Rude Open Carry Blogger Dear Sir: First of all you don’t have a clue what you are talking about. Neither NRA nor USF sold out anybody — we are protecting the rights of all law-abiding gun owners.Second you are as rude and offensive as you are wrong. It is you, and other open carry supporters like you, who are also rude and offensive, who are selling out all law-abiding gun owners.There are currently over 800,000 CW License holders and 8 million law-abiding gun owners in Florida. These bills are about their rights — not the small number of open carry supporters who are trying to hijack and control the bills. A few hairs on the tip of the tail are trying to wag the dog.SB-234 and HB-517 were filed on behalf of NRA and USF and they were NEVER about “open carry.” Neither OpenCarry.org or FloridaCarry.org had anything at all to do with the purpose, the drafting, or the filing of those bills. These bills also contain other important protections for gun owners including clarification of where CW License holders may have firearms in their vehicles when they park and language to repeal the contiguous state law and thus allow Floridians to purchase rifles and shotguns in other states.Go back to the very beginning when we started working to pass the bill and read the first USF and NRA ALERT on SB-234 (ALERT ROUND 4 on February 18, 2011)The sections of those bills that deal with how you can carry a firearm — that added “openly” — were ALWAYS about protecting concealed weapons license holders from being arrested and charged with a crime for violating the “open carry” law, s. 790.053 (click here: s.790.053 ) or the improper exhibition law, s. 790.10 (click here s.790.10 ) when carrying a concealed firearm and the firearm accidentally or inadvertently or unintentionally becomes exposed. Now why did Senator Bogdanoff suddenly attempt to kill a pro-gun bill via amendment? Because her daughter is a known criminal. Yup, after Senator Bogdanoff gutted Open Carry, her daughter was arrested for a number of crimes. And of course the NRA still supported her for her actions after 2011. But the biggest crime of Senator Bogdanoff’s and the NRA’s action in 2011 is that in 2012. Dale Lee Norman was arrested for exercising his 2nd Amendment Rights in Fort Pierce, Florida. Mr. Norman was a legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon and was walking down the sidewalk when he had a wardrobe malfunction. His shirt rode up and exposed his pistol. Arrested for Accidental Exposure of Lawfully Carried Handgun in Florida Mr. Norman was forced to the ground at gun point and arrested by three officers. So what does that have to do with Senator Bogdanoff? The amendment she used to gut open carry from the 2011 bill had a worthless replacement that stated that “Brief and Accidental Exposure” is legal. Yet we see here that in 2012. Her amendment did nothing to protect the law abiding citizenry from abuse. The NRA backed her in 2012 for her election and endorsed her anyways. As a NRA member, it makes me angry and mad. Time and time again I have seen politicians and candidates backtrack and betray NRA members and Gun Owners. NO MORE! The NRA needs to revamp the way it deals with politicians. If they want NRA support then they need to tow the line. If not then the NRA needs to go after them with both barrels. Furthermore the entire system put in place to endorse candidates needs to be revamped. Especially after the failure that is Senator Anitere Flores. Lou4NRA.org |
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I'm glad that we are all starting to take notice. But what to do about it has me more concerned. Phone calls and emails mean nothing to these anti-2A Rino's. I wish we had a more powerful Florida focused 2A organization.
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Pretty disgusting to see how the NRA has so completely failed in Florida. Almost looks like they are complicit not incompetent.
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I'm glad that we are all starting to take notice. But what to do about it has me more concerned. Phone calls and emails mean nothing to these anti-2A Rino's. I wish we had a more powerful Florida focused 2A organization. View Quote I'm laying the ground work for stuff next year to go after the anti gun GOP turncoats. Rallies, protests, etc Show up at the Capitol and before then go to your district office with fellow Gun Owners and NRA members. Show your membership and flat out tell those in office that Marion Hammer no longer speaks for you. |
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She has to be in her 80's.....it's not a job for a senior citizen.
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There is only so much you can do. We have "republican" rep who is "pro 2nd" holding Constitutional Carry hostage in committee.
Two years in a row now. I've had communications with the person and even offered to meet face to face. It makes you wonder if they are being bribed. |
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She's paid to do a job. And she does it, very well. This has been going on long enough to see that the NRA's desired result is what we've been getting.
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There is only so much you can do. We have "republican" rep who is "pro 2nd" holding Constitutional Carry hostage in committee. Two years in a row now. I've had communications with the person and even offered to meet face to face. It makes you wonder if they are being bribed. View Quote |
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The NRA does very little at the state level in most cases. That's just fact. For example, here in Texas the NRA rep covers THREE states and since Texas Legislature only meets every other year- at the same time that the NM Legislature meets, we get NOTHING from them. New Mexico is a blue state so they spend most of their time over there.
The Texas State Rifle Association carries all the load in Texas. The sad damn thing is that we have nearly 1 Million NRA members in Texas and only 30,000 TSRA members. If we had 200,000 TSRA members we would probably have seceded by now! |
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The NRA does very little at the state level in most cases. That's just fact. For example, here in Texas the NRA rep covers THREE states and since Texas Legislature only meets every other year- at the same time that the NM Legislature meets, we get NOTHING from them. New Mexico is a blue state so they spend most of their time over there. The Texas State Rifle Association carries all the load in Texas. The sad damn thing is that we have nearly 1 Million NRA members in Texas and only 30,000 TSRA members. If we had 200,000 TSRA members we would probably have seceded by now! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
The NRA does very little at the state level in most cases. That's just fact. For example, here in Texas the NRA rep covers THREE states and since Texas Legislature only meets every other year- at the same time that the NM Legislature meets, we get NOTHING from them. New Mexico is a blue state so they spend most of their time over there. The Texas State Rifle Association carries all the load in Texas. The sad damn thing is that we have nearly 1 Million NRA members in Texas and only 30,000 TSRA members. If we had 200,000 TSRA members we would probably have seceded by now! http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/03/nra-says-open-carry-texas-group-too-extreme.html "Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners," the NRA wrote. "That’s not the Texas way. And that’s certainly not the NRA way." |
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The NRA does very little at the state level in most cases. That's just fact. For example, here in Texas the NRA rep covers THREE states and since Texas Legislature only meets every other year- at the same time that the NM Legislature meets, we get NOTHING from them. New Mexico is a blue state so they spend most of their time over there. The Texas State Rifle Association carries all the load in Texas. The sad damn thing is that we have nearly 1 Million NRA members in Texas and only 30,000 TSRA members. If we had 200,000 TSRA members we would probably have seceded by now! View Quote Florida Lobbyist Record - Marion Hammer
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. Florida SunBiz Public Records Database Every year the NRA registers in Florida as a Non Profit Lobbying Organization. Every year Marion Hammer is listed as a Director. The NRA paid Marion Hammer $256,000 in 2016. |
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IBTBK Quoted:
There is more money for the NRA to be made in fear mongering than winning. I have gotten flak for refusing to join the NRA because they've sat with hands folded while urban politics has run amok in my state. This thread illustrates why I won't change my tune. They - NRA, R party, etc. -- aren't in it for the right(s). They're in it for the power. Will not subscribe. |
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Truth rings universal. I have gotten flak for refusing to join the NRA because they've sat with hands folded while urban politics has run amok in my state. This thread illustrates why I won't change my tune. They - NRA, R party, etc. -- aren't in it for the right(s). They're in it for the power. Will not subscribe. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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IBTBK Quoted:
There is more money for the NRA to be made in fear mongering than winning. I have gotten flak for refusing to join the NRA because they've sat with hands folded while urban politics has run amok in my state. This thread illustrates why I won't change my tune. They - NRA, R party, etc. -- aren't in it for the right(s). They're in it for the power. Will not subscribe. |
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Not in FL. Marion Hammer is the State Level Org. Florida Lobbyist Record - Marion Hammer http://i.imgur.com/3wexzAU.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WtF4KdE.jpg http://i.imgur.com/LS5mKTr.jpg
NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. Florida SunBiz Public Records Database http://i.imgur.com/vjNKNeS.jpg http://i.imgur.com/HnsSGgY.jpg Every year the NRA registers in Florida as a Non Profit Lobbying Organization. Every year Marion Hammer is listed as a Director. The NRA paid Marion Hammer $256,000 in 2016. View Quote http://nonprofit-990.bugaco.com/person/001515088/marion-hammer/overview According to the non-profit form 990 filing for the United Sportsmen of Florida, in addition to the $256,000 from the NRA, it appears that Marion Hammer receives an annual executive director's salary of $110,000 from the non profit United Sportsmen of Florida. The Florida gun rights business seems to pay very well. I wonder how well it would pay if we were actually successful in attaining our rights? I'm guessing, not so good anymore. |
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Just like having Obama in the WH made it some of the most profitable times in the gun industry. Keeping the Status Quo in FL makes her money.
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Just like having Obama in the WH made it some of the most profitable times in the gun industry. Keeping the Status Quo in FL makes her money. View Quote |
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If you join you can take over from the inside. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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IBTBK Quoted:
There is more money for the NRA to be made in fear mongering than winning. I have gotten flak for refusing to join the NRA because they've sat with hands folded while urban politics has run amok in my state. This thread illustrates why I won't change my tune. They - NRA, R party, etc. -- aren't in it for the right(s). They're in it for the power. Will not subscribe. Im a proud NRA member who is disgusted by their abandonment of my state. I have every intention of leveraging the voice I do have to effect vital changes. That can only be done by current members. |
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As disgusted as I am with the NRA in Florida, Miami_JBT is right. Im a proud NRA member who is disgusted by their abandonment of my state. I have every intention of leveraging the voice I do have to effect vital changes. That can only be done by current members. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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IBTBK Quoted:
There is more money for the NRA to be made in fear mongering than winning. I have gotten flak for refusing to join the NRA because they've sat with hands folded while urban politics has run amok in my state. This thread illustrates why I won't change my tune. They - NRA, R party, etc. -- aren't in it for the right(s). They're in it for the power. Will not subscribe. Im a proud NRA member who is disgusted by their abandonment of my state. I have every intention of leveraging the voice I do have to effect vital changes. That can only be done by current members. With the NRA, it is made up of its members. Same with the GOP. If neither base actually voices concern then no change will occur. I've been a NRA member since 1994. I've been a Republican since I registered to vote when I turned 18. Change can only come from the membership. In the NRA they have set it up in a manner to weaken the membership. But they can't outright silence us. This is why I'm running. I'm just one guy. But I believe that I can be the voice and the stick wielded by the majority of the membership. |
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As disgusted as I am with the NRA in Florida, Miami_JBT is right. Im a proud NRA member who is disgusted by their abandonment of my state. I have every intention of leveraging the voice I do have to effect vital changes. That can only be done by current members. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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IBTBK Quoted:
There is more money for the NRA to be made in fear mongering than winning. I have gotten flak for refusing to join the NRA because they've sat with hands folded while urban politics has run amok in my state. This thread illustrates why I won't change my tune. They - NRA, R party, etc. -- aren't in it for the right(s). They're in it for the power. Will not subscribe. Im a proud NRA member who is disgusted by their abandonment of my state. I have every intention of leveraging the voice I do have to effect vital changes. That can only be done by current members. |
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The NRA has had in the past have Board Members that were anti gun.
Joaquin Jackson of the Texas Rangers is a prime example. NRA board member Joaquin Jackson, the enemy with in As a NRA Board Member and he flat out said in 2005 that: "I personally believe a weapon should never have over, as far as a civilian, a five-round capacity. If you’re a hunter, if you’re going to go hunting with a weapon, you shouldn’t need over but one round. So five rounds would be plenty ... Personally, I think assault weapons basically…need to be in the hands of the military, and in the hands of the police." View Quote In 2007 the NRA defended him via a press release. NRA-ILA | Statement of Joaquin Jackson Statement of Joaquin Jackson
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2007 Concerns have been raised in response to statements made by NRA Board Member Joaquin Jackson to Texas Monthly in 2005. We have received inquiries seeking clarity as to NRA’s positions on the subject matter discussed in Mr. Jackson’s interview. To be clear, NRA supports the right of all law-abiding citizens to Keep and Bear Arms for all lawful purposes. We will continue, as we have in the past, to vehemently oppose any efforts to limit gun ownership by law-abiding citizens as an unconstitutional infringement on our Second Amendment freedoms. These efforts include opposition to any attempts to ban firearms, including firearms incorrectly referred to as "assault weapons", and any attempts to place arbitrary limits on magazine capacity. For more information on NRA's legislative efforts to protect and defend the Second Amendment, please visit www.NRAILA.org and www.Clintongunban.com. STATEMENT OF JOAQUIN JACKSON Some misunderstandings have arisen about a news interview I participated in 5 few years ago. After watching a tape of that interview, I understand the sincere concerns of many people, including dear friends of mine. And I am pleased and eager to clear up any confusion about my long held belief in the sanctity of the Second Amendment. In the interview, when asked about my views of “assault weapons,” I was talking about true assault weapons – fully automatic firearms. I was not speaking, in any way, about semiautomatic rifles. While the media may not understand this critical distinction, I take it very seriously. But, as a result, I understand how some people may mistakenly take my comments to mean that I support a ban on civilian ownership of semiautomatic firearms. Nothing could be further from the truth. And, unfortunately, the interview was cut short before I could fully explain my thoughts and beliefs. In fact, I am a proud owner of such rifles, as are millions of law-abiding Americans. And many Americans also enjoy owning fully automatic firearms, after being cleared by a background check and meeting the rigorous regulations to own such firearms. And these millions of lawful gun owners have every right – and a Second Amendment right – to own them. As a hunter, I take great pride in my marksmanship. Every hunter should practice to be skilled to take prey with a single shot, if possible. That represents ethical, humane, skilled hunting. In the interview several years ago, I spoke about this aspect of hunting and my belief that no hunter should take the field and rely upon high capacity magazines to take their prey. But that comment should never be mistaken as support for the outright banning of any ammunition magazines. In fact, such bans have been pursued over the years by state legislatures and the United States Congress and these magazine bans have always proven to be abject failures. Let me be very clear. As a retired Texas Ranger, during 36 years of law enforcement service, I was sworn to uphold the United States Constitution. As a longtime hunter and shooter, an NRA Board Member, and as an American – I believe the Second Amendment is a sacred right of all law-abiding Americans and, as I stated in the interview in question, I believe it is the Second Amendment that ensures all of our other rights handed down by our Founding Fathers. I have actively opposed gun bans and ammunition and magazine bans in the past, and I will continue to actively oppose such anti-gun schemes in the future. I appreciate my friends who have brought this misunderstanding to light, for it has provided me an opportunity to alleviate any doubts about my strong support for the NRA and our Second Amendment freedom. View Quote Even when he passed away the NRA defended him. LaPierre Mourns Loss of Former NRA Board Member Joaquin Jackson “Joaquin Jackson was an American hero in the truest sense,” LaPierre said. “His twenty-seven years as a Texas Ranger was the stuff of legends, the heroic tales of books and movies and campfires. He loved the people he served, loved Texas and America, loved and adored his wife and family." View Quote “Joaquin believed in the Second Amendment with all his heart and was a great friend to gun owners in his service to the NRA. I knew I could always count on his personal support and friendship.”
“The NRA has lost a valued director, a trusted member of the NRA family,” LaPierre continued. “America has lost a legendary lawman. I have lost one of my heroes." View Quote “I once asked Joaquin how he would like to be remembered,” LaPierre recalled. “I’ll never forget what he told me. He said, ‘Wayne, I’d like to be remembered as a good hand, a Texas Ranger, a lawman that made Texas safe for decent people.’ That’s how I’ll always remember my friend, Joaquin Jackson.” View Quote In his back peddling he first stated that he meant that Fully Automatic Firearms should be banned but then he says that "And many Americans also enjoy owning fully automatic firearms, after being cleared by a background check and meeting the rigorous regulations to own such firearms. And these millions of lawful gun owners have every right – and a Second Amendment right – to own them." Yup.... that's the history of part of the NRA. That's why we need to force change by electing new members to the Board. Marion Hammer is part of the old guard that defended folks like Joaquin Jackson. Joaquin Jackson's actions and statements mirror that of the constant Florida Lawmakers that have been supported by Marion Hammer and then become turncoats and block pro gun legislation. |
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Maybe these "A" rated guys aren't really "A" rated. Repeal and replace them.
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Maybe these "A" rated guys aren't really "A" rated. Repeal and replace them. View Quote |
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So what organization do all the NRA bashers who are pushing the exact same talking points today belong to? Is NAGR trying to make a move? What have they ever accomplished? I doubt GOA is making a come back. Do you all belong to some failure of a state level "no compromise" group? The fact that you all are pushing the exact same talking points says this is an orchestrated spamming of this forum by some entity.
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For one, Miami_JBT is running for the NRA Board. We just watched Nolo and SuperMoose attempt the same, unsuccessfully. Miami_JBT has a tough road, but it's one that must be paved by the support of NRA voting membership. The best route currently is to grow a significant grassroots alternative to NRA "representation". Florida is simply not represented by the NRA. It's either more of the same failures, or people get behind organizations who will actually "Stand and Fight" as the NRA motto goes. And by the way, the NRA has a history in Florida of intentionally marginalizing grassroots organizations. Let that sink in and ask yourself "Why would they do that?" Why not join forces to assure wins? Thats something only the NRA can speak to. And quite frankly, there's no good answer what so ever. View Quote |
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