Ok. My March 2001 American Rifleman magazine contained the ballot for this year's selection of NRA directors. Reading the "point" - "counterpoint" between Mr. Neal Knox and Mr. Charlton Heston was enlightening, more so than in years past.
Mr. Knox's proposed amendment "calls for one director per state, elected by mail ballot of Life and other voting members from within his or her state; plus 24 directors elected "at large."
"Patterned after the U.S. Constitution, it assures both geographic representation (like the U.S. Senate) and high-population representation (like the U.S. House)."
To which Mr. Heston offered the following rebuttal: "This is not about democracy - that's a smoke screen. It's about self-interest, pure and simple. That's why NRA's Board of Directors voted unanimously against this amendment.
It would mandate that directors come one each from 50 states instead of all NRA members voting nationally for the best choices regardless of residence. This is yet another self-serving Bylaw Amendment that would throw out NRA's current election procedures and install a scheme to Mr. Knox's fancy."
??????
Last time I checked, we elect precisely two U.S. Senators from each of the 50 states, regardless of population density. So, what is wrong with selecting one Director from each state, plus 24 "at-large" directors as proposed by Mr. Knox?
This year, a total of 64 nominees were presented to the 10 member NRA nominating committee. Of the 64 nominated, the committee threw out 34. That's 34 who never made it to the general membership ballots.
Of the 30 candidates "approved" by the nomination committee, we will elect 25.
In simple terms, the NRA national membership will, in effect, "vote against" a mere 5 nominees. The nominating committee, in effect, "voted in" 83% of this year's directors - 25 out of a pool of 30.
Some choice the general membership has. Voting "against" only 5 nominees. The balance, or some 59, were decided by the NRA nominating committee alone.
So yes, I will vote for the Knox amendment. Because I agree with Mr. Knox's statement - " NRA can never be damaged by representing its members."
The breakdown of the current slate of 30 nomineees, by home state, is below. Also noted is which candidate was carried by said home state.
Alabama - 1 - Bush
Alaska - 1 - Bush
Arizona - 1 - Bush
California - 4 - Gore
Florida - 1 - Bush
Georgia - 1 - Bush
Iowa - 1 - Gore
Illinois - 2 - Gore
Idaho - 1 - Bush
Kansas - 1 - Bush
Maine - 1 - Gore
Massachusetts - 1 - Gore
Michigan - 3 - Gore
Missouri - 1 - Bush
New Jersey - 1 - Gore
Oklahoma - 1 - Bush
Pennsylvania - 1 - Gore
Texas - 5 - Bush
Utah - 1 - Bush
Virginia - 1 - Bush
Very illustrative. Look at Illinois, Michigan, and California. Al Gore carried all 3 states, and yet we have 2, 3 and 4 nominees who reside in each state?
Mr. Heston, Mr. LaPierre and company, I am an active competitor and 8 year member of the NRA. Each year I have basically voted in sync with the recommendations put forth by the board of directors. However, this year, I will not follow suit. There is nothing wrong with our current U.S. senate election procedure, and I see no wrong in what Mr. Knox advocates.
Fellow AR-15 posters, feel free to post your comment and or opinion. I rest my case.