What does the NRA do for us in CA? [Archive]

McMadCow

01-29-2006, 10:35 AM

Well, speaking as a San Franciscan who had his rights violated by the hypocritical voters in his city, the NRA got into court the very next day and issued the legal challenge to Prop H. They also worked out pushing back enforcement till March 1.
I agree with you that they have a pretty poor record until recently when it comes to RKBA issues- especially in CA- but with the tide turning in favor of gun owners all over, I think we'll see them become bolder with their action. So yeah, the NRA isn't great, but they're improving and they're certainly the best we've got for now.

50 Freak

01-29-2006, 10:38 AM

Also look at the whole picture. After the New Orleans crap, who was it that went in and stopped the gun confiscations and got the mayor and police chief to back down.

The NRA isn't that much of a political group in CA, but if we start supporting them more. They will be forced to in return support us more.

losangeles

01-29-2006, 10:40 AM

I'm happy with the way the NRA does its job nationwide. It's a tough battle here in Cali but the NRA is our main hope for support.

jnojr

01-29-2006, 10:48 AM

Well, speaking as a San Franciscan who had his rights violated by the hypocritical voters in his city, the NRA got into court the very next day and issued the legal challenge to Prop H. They also worked out pushing back enforcement till March 1.

That was a slam-dunk. Everyone lined up to file suit against Prop H, because they know it will be beaten in court.

Maybe I should rephrase... "When does the NRA ever stick their necks out, even a little, in CA?" I have never seen them attach their name to anything with a chance of losing. And since any pro-gun effort has some chance of losing, and all anti-gun efforts have a great chance of succeeding... the NRA, in turn, doesn't do a whole heck of a lot.

Those NRA-ILA "Alerts" have had something about CA once that I can recall, and it was something stupid.

jnojr

01-29-2006, 10:50 AM

The NRA isn't that much of a political group in CA, but if we start supporting them more. They will be forced to in return support us more.

How so?

I have a vague recollection that there is a disproportionately high number of NRA members in CA. Even if they don't... CA has over 10% of the nations population, so statistically we have over 10%, or... what? 300,000+? NRA members. What is the NRA doing for their 300,000+ California members? How many more would there have to be before they were "forced" or willing to act?

jnojr

01-29-2006, 10:52 AM

I'm happy with the way the NRA does its job nationwide. It's a tough battle here in Cali but the NRA is our main hope for support.

So... our "main hope for support" does little to nothing, and your response is to shrug and say "But they're doing a great job for everyone else!"?

If the NRA truly is "our main hope for support", then the fight is already over in CA.

50 Freak

01-29-2006, 10:54 AM

10% of the nations population, so statistically we have over 10%, or... what? 300,000+? NRA members

Yeah if you count in illegals who do not vote and do not join the NRA.

jnojr

01-29-2006, 02:31 PM

Yeah if you count in illegals who do not vote and do not join the NRA.

California has about 35,000,000 residents. Sure, there are millions more illegals, but still...

Supernam

01-29-2006, 02:47 PM

First of all, you should be asking what do you do for yourself. Secondly, you should send complaints to the NRA and not bicker amongst yourselves here.

Has everyone here signed and sent in one of THESE? (http://www.tacr.us/countylist.html)

Have you all personally sent an e-mail, letter, or made a phone call to the NRA to tell them that CA needs their help?

50BMGBOB

01-29-2006, 03:28 PM

I belong to several groups inclueding the NRA.Their web page http://nramemberscouncils.com/legs.shtml is a great place to track what is going on in CA with who and how to contact the people who are working the bills. Today it still has last years stuff but as the new session starts it will be up dating regularly. Any group is only as strong as it's grassroots! If you think that having a card in your wallet is all the supporta group needs then you are mistaken. At the vary least you have to stay informed and vote! Contacting the law makers, showing up at public meetings, writing the editor, recruiting, petitions and getting new shooters thru teaching all help to. You notice I didn't even mention money. If you aren't doing those things then the people that are doing them will be deciding where to spend it anyways and it may not be where you want it. This is true with what ever group you join. If they aren't doing enough for you, then what have you done for them? Unless you have far more money to buy influence than I do you will get a lot farther with time than money!

shopkeep

01-29-2006, 03:28 PM

My feeling on this is that RKBA will pass. It will NOT pass quite yet though, first they're going to have to make individual ownership of firearms illegal in California. The average American simply DOES NOT have the motivation to participate politically unless FORCED to do so.

Most gun owners in California are more interested in what's on the newest episode of their favorite FOX or WB40 sitcom than what's new in Gun Control or RKBA. Take away their guns and then when they can no longer legally enjoy their hobby they will have to help to get them back.

Take San Francisco... all kinds of oppressive local ordinances have been enacted for years. There are only 10 CCWs in all of San Francisco County!!! That means most retired law enforcement officers DO NOT have CCWs! But wow... now that handguns get banned people actually care!

We also need to cut out this moving out of state crap. Sure, it's easy to relocate and about 4 or 5 hardcore gun owners do that for every hardcore Bill Weise we have that stays and gets something done. I am NOT going to let a couple of gun grabbing politicians decide where I can and can't live.

akjunkie

01-29-2006, 03:50 PM

personally i dont think the NRA has done to much for californians. i didnt bother re-newing my membership when it expired.

however, i am a current member of the CRPA (California Rifle Pistol Association) i think they do more for us natives than the NRA.

in my opinion, i think the NRA feels that California is a lost cause so why bother.

Mssr. Eleganté

01-29-2006, 04:00 PM

Even if the NRA did nothing on the political and legal fronts in California I would still support them for all of the work they do in shooter education, training and competition. That is the primary purpose of the NRA.

But how can you say they aren't doing anything for California? They are always sending out emails to let me know about upcoming California and San Francisco legislation. Their always sending me lists of names and addresses of legislators to write to and call and they even include pre-printed post cards for those folks who can't be bothered to write their own letters.

Who contacted me asking for help handing out "No on Proposition H" fliers last November and who gave me the fliers to hand out?

Was it the CRPA? Nope.
Was it the GOC? Nope.

It was the NRA.

If California NRA members are less interested in writing letters or showing up at hearings to protest legislation than NRA members in other states, don't blame the whole NRA for that. Just blame California NRA members.

What is the NRA supposed to do, threaten California polititions that they won't get any votes from Texas during the next California election?

And taking on our crazy gun laws in court could have been disasterous. The NRA would have a hard time winning with Calfornia's liberal courts. And if they fought the laws all the way up to the US Supreme Court, they risked loosing and setting a precident that would screw the whole country. Now that the Supreme Court may be turning more conservative, the NRA will have more incentive to take on California gun laws.

shopkeep

01-29-2006, 04:06 PM

And taking on our crazy gun laws in court could have been disasterous. The NRA would have a hard time winning with Calfornia's liberal courts. And if they fought the laws all the way up to the US Supreme Court, they risked loosing and setting a precident that would screw the whole country. Now that the Supreme Court may be turning more conservative, the NRA will have more incentive to take on California gun laws.

I agree completely here, Shall Issue and Gun UNcontrol are taking the country by storm! Technically speaking on gun issues California is moving backwards and the rest of the country is moving in a different direction. With a more conservative federal court system it is not only inevitable people will challange the PRK there, but it will look like a backwards state when it does get challanged there. The VAST majority of Americans now live in Shall Issue states and Shall Issue is becomming a normal part of American Society. In time, victory will be ours... buy like I said we'll have to lose a lot more first (and of course get MORE LOWERS HAHAH!)

50BMGBOB

01-29-2006, 06:35 PM

It still comes down to what we, as a whole, are doing here. If carrying a card and giving a little money now and then is all you do then you aren't really helping! It is easier to cut and run to somewhere more gun friendly but the doesn't help. A lot of things start here and spread. Lets stop it here and let the sanity from the other states come back here.

bwiese

01-29-2006, 07:28 PM

If you are an off-list AR lower purchaser, remember that NRA (as well as CRPA) funds went to fighting for Harrott decision up thru the courts.

And at least they keep the national gun scene a tad sane - otherwise we'd have TWO pitched battles, national and California.

The fight over Washington DC gun rights will be a huge key to getting our freedoms. This lets NRA bypass state issues finally, and get core civil rights RKBA issues clear

Benellishooter

01-29-2006, 08:07 PM

I am hoping that the new additions to SCOTUS could actually rule on a 2nd Ammendment case that would reverse the anti-gun legislation in California. One right decision could mean all our rights back. I am not a "rose colored glasses" type of person. But, I think it is possible.

HillBilly

01-29-2006, 08:31 PM

I just want to know why I have to go through the trouble of specifically noting when my membership is REALLY due on a calendar myself, because I get a "membership renewal" notice every 2 weeks. I got one about 2 weeks after I initially joined, and my wife paid it again! I get them worded differently all the time! I got a DVD that I must waste my time sending back to them if I don't want to pay for it! COME ON!

Send me a letter saying you need something, and if it goes with my beliefs (and budget) I will give all I can...but leave the cheap tricks to newspapers and scammers.

Gunsrruss

01-29-2006, 08:43 PM

Seriously.

Put aside the "they hold the line everywhere else". True, and great... but the line isn't so hot for us.

I don't see the NRA doing anything in CA except trying to get members and squeeze them for donations.

I'm thinking that, if all CA NRA and CRPA members were to stop supporting those groups and instead look into Gun Owners of CA, Gun Owners of America, CCRKBA / SAF, JPFO, etc. we could send a strong message.

The Dulzura club was defrauded 5 years ago by one of the club members. The NRA is paying alot of our legal fees. This club is in San diego, South Bay Rod and Gun

metalhead357

01-29-2006, 09:41 PM

Mixed bag of nuts.....

I've belonged, cancelled, belonged, cancelled, and have currently belonged again for the last 5 years............

Taken in...NRA HAS done aLOT of good in SOME areas, but I hear this poster's plea. As the NRA has also FAILED in a lot of areas. How far back you wanna go? The Gun Control act of '63? 68? Whattt'd they do for 25+ years in getting THAT overturned...nada. But the HAVE help expand CCW states. Did stupendously stupid in Cali on the '89 Ban and again a wonderfully crappy job in the '94 Federal AWB...... DID help with its sunset. Couldnt do jack for SB23 it seems but HAS helped SF as already noted............... I have NO idea on if they helped or Hurt with Kasler or Harrot:confused: . I know they gave our club a Huge endowment for a new indoor range when the city started causing a beef, but did little (as I understand it) to help places like Coyote Point in San Mateo......... They floundered on the 50BMG AWB but did a fairly good job on (Can 't remeber the #....?) the Bill for individualized-serialized bullets, and on ammo tax bills........
Katrina? Yea, but the people STILL HAD THIER WEAPONS TAKEN. No immediate injunction that I can remember......
Couldnt help cops & domestic violence charges (even 30 years old with no further crimes/complaints) and people owning weapons.... AND STILL HASNT DONE JACK about restraining orders vs. due process and keeping guns UNTIL/UNLESS its been decided..............

Mixed bag folks. Mixed bag...

I WIDE OPEN to "other" suggestions and places to fund; but few have the alleged "clout" the NRA does........

Build it...and I will show, Hell I'll help build it~ But SOMETHING has to be done to muzzle the whelping media's false statements and the neandethalic ways of the Legislature...................

Its REAL SHAME that Arnie wasnt the terminator in office rather than the termi-dud that he's turning out to be. But whattya' expect being married to a Kennedy............

Metalhead.

Metalhead for Governor 2008

Mssr. Eleganté

01-29-2006, 11:46 PM

I'm getting the impression that some shooters think the NRA is some kind of fairy godmother that can wave a magic wand and make bad gun laws go away. "How come the NRA doesn't get rid of all gun laws? They suck! They don't care about me!"

Have you seen what the 1968 Gun Control Act looked like before the NRA was able to fight tooth and nail to get it weakened? And this was during a year when beloved political leaders were being gunned down and millions of Americans where demanding more gun control. And our friends at Remington and Winchester were demanding an end to "cheap foreign" gun and ammo imports.

Do you remember the complete ban on military surplus firearms imports from 1968 until 1986, when the NRA was able to get the ban lifted for C&R military surplus firearms? How many of us got interested in firearms only because we saw that rack of greasy Mausers and Mosin Nagants at Big 5 and though "Heck, for $69, why not?" The NRA got those milsurps back on the racks of California sporting goods stores and helped get thousands of young Californians interested in shooting.

Do you remember Bill Clinton telling an interviewer that Al Gore lost the election because of the NRA? Can you imagine a US Supreme Court with two or three more justices appointed by Al Gore and how they would vote on gun issues?

What about the Lawful Commerce in Arms Act? We see that the Winchester plant is closing down. How many more gun companies would we have lost after a $500 million dollar class action law suit victory by the mayor of Chicago or Detroit. Oh, I forgot, that law included a trigger lock requirement for new handguns. TOTAL FAILURE!

And the NRA was able to do all of this even while the most effective public relations machines in the worlds, Hollywood and network televison, were churning out lie after lie about the NRA and the American gun culture. Staging "news" reports with full auto machine guns and telling viewers that these would soon be on the streets if the AWB wasn't renewed. And handing out their highest filmmaking honors to a propagandist "documentarian".

Some of you seem to be saying that the NRA is OK when they win, but when they loose they no longer deserve our support. And that other pro-gun groups might do a better job because they talk real tough.

metalhead357

01-30-2006, 12:10 AM

EXCELLENT Points Amendment~

And you did knock some of MY cobwebs loose. I forgot about that lil' import ban on parts!!!!!

As said above, I UNDERSTAND this poster's feelings. Not neccessarily SHARE all of them.....

As said, the NRA DOES GOOD.....

But as in any profession, any professional might ask "Can we do it BETTER?"

In that...yes, I think the NRA CAN do better. What got me REAL upset on one of my rounds just before quitting was when they got a friggin NEW BUILDING to the tune of a couple million....and were sending out COLOR MAILERS back in the day when Colorized mailers and Laser printers & laser paper were NOT cheap.... I flat out called them up and basically said "Look, Dont send me jack! WHEN and IF you HAVE to send me something--- send it plain text junk re-salvaged paper!" and a few other items of the day (back in that day....)

Made me wonder THEN just as NOW.....as they do/say in non-profit help places $0.90 of every dollar is going directly to the kids...blah blah blah....

I've forever wondered what exactly the ratio of "my" money is actually getting spent on STOPPING or mitigating future legislation VS. non-essential overhead & self promotion, company cars, etc........... How much California money is actually being spent on california. The one and only time I asked on the phone I got " A LOT!!!!" with a very surprised person on the other line............. What is a lot? I dunno, THAT conversation was PRE 1994 Federal AWB.............

Apparently "A LOT" wasnt enough then.......

As for now????? I STILL SAY SUPPORT THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GOT EVERYTHING TO LOOSE IF WE DONT......

the internal politicking and banter (like mine) can be handled....it can...but the Priority has got to be the furtherence of Fireams in America....not coffee mugs and Hats.............................

Mssr. Eleganté

01-30-2006, 01:42 AM

I have to agree with you about the mailers. When I was a year by year member of the NRA I know for a fact that all of the mailers they were sending me had to have cost more than the $25 per year I was sending them. They were sending one or two heavy envelopes per week with multi-page color brochures and fake little "honored member" "suitible for framing" awards and things.

Then I found out there is a number you can call to tell the NRA to stop mailing you stuff. I called and the guy on the phone seemed really embarassed about all of the mailers and said that they new that a lot of folks hated them but that they had found that it is the only way some people will contribute. He must be right because now every other group I've ever sent money to is starting to send out the same type of stuff. My girlfriend is on a bunch of liberal mailing lists and she gets it to, "personal" letters from Robert Redford and such. It is just the way fundraising is done these days.

So anyway, after calling the number and telling the NRA I didn't want any more junk mail all of the mailers stopped showing up. Now I'm happy and the NRA doesn't have to waste anymore money mailing me stuff.

People forget that the NRA is just the sum of its members. If they want it to become more hardcore then they need to vote for more hardcore directors. I have to say that the NRA is WAY more hardcore today than it was a few years ago. Did you see Ted Nugent's speach at the NRA convention?

Another good way to get the NRA to be more hardcore is to reward them when they do good. I didn't think the Federal AWB would ever really expire. Not in an election year, no way. But when it did expire I sent the NRA another $100 and told them exactly why. They took a lot of heat in the press and may have lost some "shotgun only" members for it. So I let my money talk to let the NRA know that military style semi-auto shooters might pick up the slack. If they get the San Francisco gun ban thrown out I'll do the same thing.

A lot of the compromises the NRA has to make, the ones that cause people to say the NRA isn't pro-gun enough, happen because the NRA doesn't have enough support among shooters. In politics you sometimes have to pretend you've won in order to appear strong for the next fight. Ronald Reagan was a master of this type of politics. If you keep picking fights that you can't win, you start to get a reputation of being a loser and then nobody in Washington respects you at all. It's stupid, but it's politics.

Sgt Raven

01-30-2006, 09:10 AM

During the worse of times for gun owners, when the NRA gets most of its short term new members, their lucky if 10% of the gun owners in the USA are members. Think of the clout they would have if 50% of the gun owners in the USA were members. Think of the clout they'd have in Kalifornia if 50% of the gun owners here were members.

When collecting signatures for the RKBA measure last time we tried, you wouldn't belive how many people said they weren't and didn't want register to vote. Cause they didn't want to be on some list etc. we're are own worse enemy.

jnojr

01-30-2006, 09:37 AM

I don't know why I'm having a hard time being really clear with my question, but I'll try again.

I'm not worried about the past. I don't "hate the NRA". I don't expect them to "wave a magic wand". I simply want to know... what are they doing for us Californians, right now? As in, what do I get out of sending them money?

For the record, I do support the NRA in principle. It's very important to have a national RKBA lobby... without them, I'm sure that nationally, we'd be a lot worse off. But most of the stuff the NRA is fighting at the national level, we already have here in California! Bans, waiting periods, restrictions, forms, paperwork, may-issue CCW, and really no end in sight. It doesn't matter to me how successful thay are at the national level when my rights just keep eroding away year after year.

Yes, this is ultimately the fault of us the people for not voting properly, for not retaking Sacramento after it was bought and taken over by the special interests, etc. But that doesn't matter now. There isn't going to be a sudden "voter revolt" in California. Our Legislature had a 24% approval rating, yet Prop 77 was still defeated by a good ten point margin.

What we need isn't political lobbying. We need a vigorous, active pro-2A group that's going after gun owners. We need a very visible group that people can feel like is going to have a good chance of accomplishing something if they join, volunteer, donate money, etc. I really doubt anyone feels that way about the NRA or CRPA... they go through the motions, and go on record as opposing this or supporting that, but that's about it.

JWC6

01-30-2006, 11:08 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong...

Didn't the NRA offer legal assistance in the Harrott V. County of Kings case?

If they did, then the NRA did us all a great service...

50BMGBOB

01-30-2006, 01:56 PM

It still comes down to the grass roots. How much support we get is directly related to how much we give! At the vary least, stay informed and VOTE! Gun owners are our own worse ememy when we don't supported each other and don't vote! How many times I've seen shooters at the local range complain that my 50 should be banned becuase it is to loud. Or that semis are throwing brass at them. Or that that gun can't shot accurate enough. Or can't be used to hunt. The shotgunner that doesn't like rifles or pistol. The target shooter that doesn't like hunting. The list goes on and on! If the other guy is the one involved and voting who do you think is making the decisions?

As far as it was asked earlier, if they have just writen CA off as a lost cause? Look at some of the threads here and there are alot of people that feel that way here! Don't get me wroung, there are a lot that are making a differance here too! Look at the group buys, the push for signature gathering and the call for more active groups (like this thread). We did not get to where we are overnite and anyone that thinks it will change overnite is not being realistic! We are seeing changes at a national level and I beleive we are starting to see changes at a state level too! If we can keep from getting discouraged and endure the setbacks that will undoubtablly come then we can make a differance. I know the fundraising is a put off for a lot of people. It is important but if you don't want to give many then give time! Get out and help educate people, work with your local club/range, recruit or gather signatures. At the vary least, VOTE!

stator

01-30-2006, 02:35 PM

They do not do much for California relative to the revenue of CA members and the overal membership from other states. Last time I checked, CA was the largest source of revenue for state memberships.

Their like to pick fights they can win and unfortunately, they do not see much winning opportunity in CA because of the state politics and the 9th Circuit. They have even filed brief against a pro-gun lawsuit (case out of SAC several years ago).

Do what I do, everytime they write for money, send that packet back to Wayne's office asking to audit their CA work. I tell them if they have done significant working in CA, I will donate $1500. So far, too much of their response has been recycled amicus curiae briefs (i.e. very lost cost measures). They tag the dollar costs of each one filed as if they had to pay lawyers to write each from scratch. So far, each check has gone to SAF rather than the NRA. Alan at SAF must love me as I have his personnel email address.

The net result is that the NRA never calls me anymore and rarely sends me any postal mail other than my Rifleman subscription (life member).

I do not give blindly to pro-gun groups... I only pay on performance.

grammaton76

01-30-2006, 03:04 PM

Heh, I'm a life member, and my idea of contributing to the NRA is buying folks gift memberships.

It takes care of a birthday or Christmas or something, so I benefit, and American Rifleman is a really neat magazine. My mom always used to grab my latest issue whenever she came to visit so she could read the historical stuff, until I got her her own membership. :)

mkinla

01-30-2006, 03:18 PM

I'm just amazed at how California can destroy our 2nd amendment right..:mad:

jnojr

01-30-2006, 06:43 PM

I'm just amazed at how California can destroy our 2nd amendment right..:mad:

That's because we don't have a "Second Amendment right".

Please follow the links on http://www.reformcagunlaws.com/ When you're done, we need more volunteers to help get petition forms into gun stores, ranges, etc.

We can take this state back, at least as far as RKBA is concerned. But that requires CA gun owners to stop moaning "Ohhhh, it'll never work!" and pitch in to help. That means it's probably a doomed effort, but I'm still willing to work and fight.

MidnightSon117

02-01-2006, 06:19 PM

My problem with the NRA is that they NEVER respond to my inquiries about becoming a certified instructor. I've sent several messages, voicemails, and requests for information (attached to my check-and-renewal form!), and have gotten ZERO responses from them.

I've been teaching people safe-handling of firearms for years, but I'd like them to know I am also certified by the NRA to instruct in whatever firearm the choose. People I teach ask me about my credentials because they think it's important to know, especially when I do such a fine job of teaching them.

I've been asking for this information every so often for the past few years, and apparently, whoever is fielding my messages, voicemails, and requests at the office I've been trying to contact doesn't think it's too important. I even called another office that was handling membership renewals, and the lady who answered told me that the office handling the information I was looking for was closed. She apologized and replied a bit sheepishly, when I pointed out how questionable it looks that an office people pay good money to stays open longer than an office providing a service in return for that money. And this call was only 3 in the afternoon, PST.

If anyone higher-up on the NRA totem pole can pass this on, I would like some information on becoming a Certified Instructor to teach people at the grassroots-level about safe-handling of firearms. And to the NRA brass, why don't you combine departments of membership and program information, or at least keep them in the same building, open during the SAME hours? I didn't renew my membership for a couple of years for lack of any response the first few times, and I'm more than willing to invest elsewhere again.

Sgt Raven

02-01-2006, 06:33 PM

50BMGBOB

02-01-2006, 08:12 PM

I took a basic class to get into a CCW class. While there I was asked if I wanted to be an instructor. within a couple of months I was in classes to be a certifed instructor and now donate time to teach others gun safty. Use the link Sgt Raven gave and after you get certified find a group of instructors to work with. It makes it easier to get started. There is a differance between taking a few friends out and teaching a group of strangers. It is a great way to support shooting though!

jnojr

02-01-2006, 09:11 PM

Sgt Raven

02-01-2006, 09:42 PM

All of you guys who have these "great contacts" with the NRA... ask them why they've completely ignored the RKBA initiative. I've never been able to get even an excuse from them or the CRPA why they just stick their fingers in their ears and pretend it doesn't exist.

The same reason they didn't back it last time. NIH "not invented here". Plus if we get it on the ballot the NRA will have to spend a large amount of money trying to get it passed. And if it doesn't pass it makes them look bad or weak.

Ford8N

02-02-2006, 06:32 AM

delloro

02-02-2006, 08:24 AM

That was a slam-dunk. Everyone lined up to file suit against Prop H, because they know it will be beaten in court.

Maybe I should rephrase... "When does the NRA ever stick their necks out, even a little, in CA?" I have never seen them attach their name to anything with a chance of losing....

forcing LA to revise their corrupt CCW system is one that springs to mind. fighting "SNS" bans is another.

jnojr

02-02-2006, 10:52 AM

forcing LA to revise their corrupt CCW system is one that springs to mind. fighting "SNS" bans is another.

Los Angeles has not "revised their corrupt CCW system". In the '90s (IIRC), a group of applicants who were denied sued (did the NRA help? I don't know) and won. Supposedly, they got CCWs and the LA Sheriff was ordered to start issuing permits. However, he simply ignored the order and continued as before. Or maybe handed a few more out to cronies.

William Bratton was issued a CCW when he was first hired as Chief of LAPD, since he couldn't carry otherwise until he passed his POST test.

Oh, and there are still "SNS" bans... Reseda is a perfect example.

jnojr

02-02-2006, 10:59 AM

The same reason they didn't back it last time. NIH "not invented here". Plus if we get it on the ballot the NRA will have to spend a large amount of money trying to get it passed. And if it doesn't pass it makes them look bad or weak.

I'm not talking about "backing" it. They could simply mention it, like in their NRA-ILA Alert emails. "Hey, everyone, this effort is underway right now. It isn't supported by the NRA, but here it is... go look and see if you want to participate". But that, of course, would leave them in the very obvious predicament of trying to explain just why they aren't "officially supporting" it. And I agree with your answer... if it isn't a slam-dunk, they don't want to take the chance of being "associated" with a "failure".

But I reiterate... if, as Californians, we continue to send our money to a group that very carefully picks which battles it's willing to fight, we're going to continue to lose our rights. The ammo serialization and stamping bills will be back. And they will eventually pass. The NRA might come out and "take a position" on them... but that'll be about it.

We need a strong RKBA presence in California, and we need California gun owners to support that group ahead of all others. It does us no good whatsoever to help support a national fight for RKBA, because that (in the absence of a favorable SCOTUS decision) does not apply to us.

Sgt Raven

02-02-2006, 11:24 AM

I'm not talking about "backing" it. They could simply mention it, like in their NRA-ILA Alert emails. "Hey, everyone, this effort is underway right now......snip.......And I agree with your answer... if it isn't a slam-dunk, they don't want to take the chance of being "associated" with a "failure".

I've been in the fight for some time. Our "members council" split off from the NRA so we could do things the NRA didn't want us to do. I worked on the first GM/DK version of the RKBA and am working on this one too.
But if the NRA mentions it at all they will be seen as backing it and they prefer for thing to come from NRAHQ down not from us up.