By Dean Weingarten
Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- The NRA has been a bi-partisan group, at least since the formation of the NRA-ILA in 1975. The NRA-ILA is the lobbying arm of the NRA.
In the last few elections, few Democrats have been endorsed, because few Democrats supported the Second Amendment in any meaningful way.
As they say, the NRA did not leave the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party left the NRA. There are exceptions. A controversial pick was Harry Reid, Senator (D) from Nevada, who got an A rating from the NRA. Many have wanted the NRA-ILA to broaden their criteria to issues other than the right to keep and bear arms.
There are problems with that approach as well. How can you judge someone’s future actions? The best approach is to rely on past actions; but it is not a 100% predictor.
Democrat politicians who have actively supported Second Amendment rights are still being endorsed by the NRA.
The best of all worlds for the Second Amendment Supporter is to have all parties competing for the NRA endorsement.
That is what is happening in Missouri. Both the Republican and Democrat candidates for governor are strong supporters of the Second Amendment.
In this case, it is the Democrat who received the NRA endorsement. From governing.com:
The NRA Political Victory Fund said Koster’s commitment to the Second Amendment earned him an “A” rating. Â
“For over 17 years, he has fought to preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding Missourians,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman, NRA-PVF. “The NRA is proud to endorse Chris Koster and we urge Missouri’s gun owners and sportsmen to get out this November and vote to elect a governor with a proven record of fighting to preserve the Second Amendment.”
The reasoning of the NRA-ILA is clear. They base ratings on actual performance that can be measured, not on campaign promises or the answer to questionnaires.
It is a defensible strategy. No strategy is perfect, but a clear one is necessary if you want candidates to pursue your goals. From wikipedia.com:
The NRA endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in 1980 backing Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter.[60][61] The NRA’s policy is to endorse pro-gun incumbents because of their established record.[57] For example, in the 2006 Senate Elections the NRA endorsed Rick Santorum over Bob Casey, Jr.,[62] even though they both had an “A” rating.
Eric Greitens is the Republican candidate, emerging from a field of four in the primary. He is committed to restoration and defense of Second Amendment rights. The NRA gave him an AQ rating. That is an “A” rating, the same as Koster, except it is based on a questionnaire instead of votes and actions.
One of these two candidates will be elected governor of Missouri, barring an unforeseen event.
It appears that either one will work hard to restore and preserve Second Amendment rights. Both candidates have said that they would have signed SB 656, which Governor Nixon vetoed.
Both Candidates are good choices for Second Amendment Supporters. In this case, either vote is a win, and Second Amendment Supporters can look to the next priority to make their decision.
©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
About Dean Weingarten;
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
This is one BIG reason I gave up on the NRA. I can name others, like opposing Heller until the case was won, and then trying to claim credit.
“When the fairies are displeased with anybody, they are said to send their elves to pinch them. The ecclesiastics, when they are displeased with any civil state, make also their elves, that is, superstitious, enchanted subjects, to pinch their princes, by preaching sedition; or one prince, enchanted with promises, to pinch another.” (Thomas Hobbes. Leviathan, 1651)
I threw down a lifelong NRA membership after the Aurora shooting because our goals were aligned. Now I’m doubting that decision. They should just get out of the endorsement business. The Democratic party is completely opposed to everything gun rights people stand for and by supporting the top of the ticket like this, they are giving aid and comfort to down-ticket races as well. Some people figure “if Koster is gun-friendly, maybe my Democratic State Rep is gun friendly too! I’ll vote Democrat this year because the NRA says so!” Maybe they do this to appear bi-partisan. They figure they’ll… Read more »
The NRA is another organization that started with good intentions, but now it is lead by people who are in it for money and power. They don’t want victory! If they win, they won’t be needed anymore, and that means they wouldn’t sell nearly as many memberships. This is why they are willing to endorse Democrat candidates they know, will in the end, be counterproductive to their intended goals.
I’m in Missouri. While Koster has been in off here and has a track record, I still don’t know. I don’t vote for Democrats , socialist. The other person Greitens is former military, and now a Republican. Formerly democratic. I don’t know about that either. This will be a hard decision for all Missourian’s to make in November. Who do we trust to watch and govern our state and rights. Nixon WAS a good attorney and hit criminals hard and had a winning record in the courts. He was honest then. Becoming governor his spine disappeared as seen when Ferguson… Read more »
The very fact of running as a ‘rat implies identification with the ‘rat party platform, which to me is unspeakably anti-American and anti-rights at its heart. One or another one may stray on a point or two, but supporting the whole candidate based on a single anomalous policy position invites votes for destruction.
Koster’s our friend today but if elected, he’ll change his position in the company of “better” friends. We’ve seen it a hundred times before. The most flagrant that comes to mind is New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. As a representative in a gun friendly district, she was our friend. Now she’s one of our worst enemies and a strong Schumer ally.
Perhaps there are some Truman/JFK Democrats around, but I’m skeptical about voting for one. I’ve seen Democrats with A ratings do a complete flip and take their marching orders from the Clintons. Until the Democrats drop gun control from their party platform I won’t be voting for one.
I trust the GOA ratings, but not the NRA. They have double crossed us many times over, and not just on ratings. No trust in the NRA.
The same NRA that brought us the Brady Bill, Boehner, McConnell, and Ryan. I’m so impressed.