NRA Support Anti-2A Senate Candidate

[NewColonial]

The NRA is not pro-2A as they try to make themselves sound. They have thrown their support behind Edd Houck. Houck refused to answer the VCDL survey on gun rights. In addition, last night at UMW during their debate, Reeves clearly stated he supported the 2nd amendment, and conceal carry, EVERYWHERE. Houck admitted he did not. He wanted to limit CC. "Shall not be infringed" means nothing to Edd Houck. Either you support the 2nd Amendment, or you not. Houck and the NRA do not.

The NRA will be getting no more money from me. I am ashamed that I have naively given so much in the past.

[Reverenddel]

You're just NOW figuring this out?

The NRA is nothing more than a political lobby group now, wanting more money, and more power. They take credit from the VCDL, and other smaller grassroots groups, and claim it as "NRA Grassroots", because most of us ARE NRA members...

On a national scale? They're the painted target, and they take it better than most, but the GOA, and other smaller groups do MUCH better.

Some still drink the Kool-aid for the NRA, but after they supported... HARRY REID in the NV senate race? I gave up on them officially.

[NewColonial]

Reverenddel, yes I am. This is not about me, so save it.

[allingeneral]

David - Have you considered informing the NRA of this issue to see if they make a change? The NRA is a HUGE organization, and I think in the end, they have gun owners' best interests in mind. Will they make mistakes? Sure! Are they out to get you or your guns? Absolutely not.

I think that our support of the NRA is required in order to continue to gain the political favor that the NRA gains. Their job is to lobby on the national level, and for the most part, I think they do a good job of it.

I would ask you to reconsider and even to go ahead and renew your membership at this time.

[allingeneral]

PS - I'm sending NRA-ILA an email now and here's a link to VCDL's Gun Questionnaire http://www.vcdl.org/surveys/Candidates_ ... ction.html

And results from the questionnaire:

[allingeneral]

Here is the response that I received (VERY QUICKLY!) from the NRA-ILA. I didn't expect a response at all. Color me impressed!

Mr. Sandlin,

Thank you for contacting NRA-ILA.

Our reasons for endorsing Sen. Houck are as follows:

In 2011, Senator Houck voted in support of the following legislation:
* HB 1422: Adds one family firearm, not to exceed $3,000 in value, to the list of items that every householder shall be entitled to hold exempt from Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
* HB 1856: Allows concealed handgun permit holders to obtain a replacement permit in the event that the original permit is lost or destroyed.
* HB 1857: Corrects a problem caused by the federal government where some military personnel who are attempting to purchase a firearm in the Commonwealth are being turned away because their permanent duty orders have assigned them to the Pentagon, which lists its official address in Washington, D.C., despite being located in Virginia.
* SB 757: Allows private property owners to discharge pneumatic guns on or within private property as long as it is conducted with reasonable care to prevent the projectile from crossing the property's boundary.

In 2010, Senator Houck voted in support of the following legislation:
* SB 3: Resident concealed carry permit holders may renew their permits by mail.
* HB 109: Repealed the authority of localities to impose a license tax of $25 on sellers of handguns and pistols and also repealed the requirement that gave authority to the county government to require sellers of pistols and handguns to submit the names, addresses, date of purchase to the county clerk of the circuit court.
* HB 505/SB 334: Allows concealed carry permit holders to carry their firearm into a restaurant, provided they do not consume any alcohol.
* HB 871: Allows a person who is applying for a concealed handgun permit for the first time has the same right to an ore tenus (verbal or oral statements) hearing if the permit is denied as a person who has previously held a concealed handgun permit.
* HB 885: Allows any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a handgun while in a personal, private vehicle or vessel to keep the firearm locked in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.
* HB 1191: Provides that Circuit court judges may authorize the Clerk of Court to issue concealed handgun permits in instances where the application is complete, the background check does not indicate that the applicant is disqualified, and, after consulting with the local sheriff or police department, there are no other questions or issues surrounding the application.
* HB 1217: Provides that local school boards may offer firearm safety education programs in the elementary grades. The bill requires that the program objectives incorporate, among other principles of firearm safety, accident prevention and the rules of the NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe(r) program.

In 2009, Senator Houck voted in support of the following legislation:
* HB 1851: Repealing Virginia's gun-rationing law for U.S. Armed Forces and Virginia Guard personnel.
* HB 2528: No locality may participate in any program in which individuals are given a thing of value in exchange for surrendering a firearm to the locality unless the governing body of the locality has enacted an ordinance authorizing participation.
* SB 1035: Allows concealed carry permit holders to carry their firearm into a restaurant, provided they do not consume any alcohol.

In 2009, Senator Houck voted against SB 1257, which would have been the first step to banning the private transfer of firearms, even between family and friends.

In 2008, Senator Houck voted in support of the following legislation:
* SB 436: Allows any person who may lawfully possess a firearm and is carrying a
handgun while in a personal, private vehicle or vessel to keep the firearm
locked in a container or compartment in the vehicle or vessel.
* SB 476: Allows concealed carry permit holder to carry his or her firearm into a restaurant, provided he or she does not consume any alcohol.


NRA has a pro-gun incumbent-friendly policy that dictates our support for pro-gun incumbents seeking reelection. It is important that we stand with our friends who stand with us in Congress or the state legislature through their actions. Of course, should a pro-gun challenger (Reeves) win his election, and stay true to support for our gun rights, then he will be the beneficiary of this policy when seeking re-election. (emphasis mine)

For candidates who are not incumbents or who have not previously held elective office and thus lack voting records, we review answers to NRA's candidate questionnaires, their campaign literature and relevant statements, and rely on intelligence from NRA members and gun owners in the field.

Sen. Houck's voting record demonstrates he is a proven pro-gun legislator who has gone to bat for the Second Amendment and NRA approved legislation year after year and has the voting record to back it up. Reeves is an un-proven, with regard to gun rights voting issues, candidate and these is where the distinction is drawn. Reeves received an AQ based on our candidate questionnaire, but does not have a voting record to back it up.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best,
Caitlin
NRA-ILA Grassroots Division
11250 Waples Mill Rd
Fairfax, VA 22030
800-392-8683

[NewColonial]

I've contacted them too. Let's see how they respond to "intelligence from NRA members and gun owners in the field."

Frankly, I think the NRA seeks out democrats for the sole purpose of appearing bipartisan. They have their own interests at heart.

[Chasbo00]

Some still drink the Kool-aid for the NRA, but after they supported... HARRY REID in the NV senate race? I gave up on them officially.

Actually the NRA did not endorse anyone in this last senate race. But, I'm pretty the NRA was leaning toward endorsing Harry Reid until they got a whole lot of flack from the NRA membership at large.

The NRA needs some new leadership; it does not need to go away.

[NewColonial]

I too heard back from the NRA-ILA. Not a canned response, they are looking for a transcript from last night's debate. Pointed them to the reporter, maybe she can help.

[Reverenddel]

"The NRA needs some new leadership; it does not need to go away."

AGREED!

[TFred]

The NRA's "incumbent-friendly" policy is well known and yes, it did nearly cost them a HUGE price with regard to Harry Reid last year. Reid, personally, is relatively (key word) gun-friendly, for a liberal Democrat, again, key words.

The critical error that the NRA is making, and continues to make, is that they do not "score" certain crucial votes taken by the candidates in their formula for endorsements.

In Reid's case, I don't believe they even consider votes to confirm Supreme Court justices. It's not a one-subject vote, so they don't even see it. In the case of Virginia, they don't consider the fact that every Democrat will vote for the leadership of Saslaw and Marsh, which are literally votes to thwart the will of the people, and to kill all significant gun bills.

I've said this before, and I will continue to say it until proven wrong: There will be no further advancement of gun rights in Virginia until such a time as the Senate is not in control of the Democrats. They've figured out how to cheat the system, and they've done it for two years in a row now, with NO consequences. Gun rights are on hold, until we kick them out.

TFred

[Chasbo00]

The NRA's "incumbent-friendly" policy is well known and yes, it did nearly cost them a HUGE price with regard to Harry Reid last year. Reid, personally, is relatively (key word) gun-friendly, for a liberal Democrat, again, key words.

The critical error that the NRA is making, and continues to make, is that they do not "score" certain crucial votes taken by the candidates in their formula for endorsements.

In Reid's case, I don't believe they even consider votes to confirm Supreme Court justices. It's not a one-subject vote, so they don't even see it. In the case of Virginia, they don't consider the fact that every Democrat will vote for the leadership of Saslaw and Marsh, which are literally votes to thwart the will of the people, and to kill all significant gun bills.

I've said this before, and I will continue to say it until proven wrong: There will be no further advancement of gun rights in Virginia until such a time as the Senate is not in control of the Democrats. They've figured out how to cheat the system, and they've done it for two years in a row now, with NO consequences. Gun rights are on hold, until we kick them out.

TFred

Spot on! The NRA needs to focus on the national political arena. Here in VA, VCDL is the most influential and effective gun rights outfit by far with respect to state politics and gun legislation.

VA gun owners should support both outfits.

[VBshooter]

Sadly a lot of candidates didn't fill out the VCDL surveys..What pisses me off is asking them about it and they don;t even have the courtesy of a response ... That;s either brazen indifference or a whole lotta confidence in getting reelected.... My 2 reps never resoponded to me but i do know they vote PRO gun 98% of the time .. The Dems aren't running anyone better in the district so the old boys get another go round this year....

[TFred]

I too heard back from the NRA-ILA. Not a canned response, they are looking for a transcript from last night's debate. Pointed them to the reporter, maybe she can help.

Where did you send your comments? E-mail addy?

TFred

[NewColonial]

I used the form on their contact page. The response I had came from ILA-Contact <ILA-Contact@nrahq.org>.

I posted my opinion at http://www.musingsoverapint.com/2011/11 ... inged.html as well.

[TFred]

I just sent in my two cents. Hopefully they will act. I would think that media coverage of a last minute endorsement change would be pretty interesting. If they have the guts to do it.

I'm not going to hold my breath.

TFred

[NewColonial]

NRA's excuse might their reasoning is why they endorse Houck *over* Reeves. It does not excuse endorsing Houck period. They could certainly choose NO endorsement. They did the same when their members spoke out against the NRA possibly endorsing Hrry Reid.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/08/2 ... dorsement/