Washington, DC -(Ammoland.com)- Moving from the newsroom to the political backroom, there’s been a lot of “gun activity” on Capitol Hill in recent days.
House Speaker Paul Ryan recently announced that he will hold votes next week on barring Americans from buying guns if their names appear on a government watch list.
Gun Owners of America will issue a Call to Action this coming Tuesday, and give you pre-written text to send your Representative.
Gun Owners of America plans to fight this gun control legislation, every bit as hard as we did on the Senate side — something which garnered the ire of Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), who is quite annoyed with Gun Owners of America.
But it’s not just the Gun Owners of America staff and me that are frustrating him.
He’s annoyed with you, too!
After all, all of the gun control proposals failed in the Senate last week.
One of the proposals still remains in limbo. But no gun control was added to the Commerce-Justice-State spending bill.
Not a single one.
And Reid blames you and me for this.
Reid went so far as to say that Republicans are “taking their orders” from Gun Owners of America and the NRA.
It’s a bit overstated, to be sure, but there is no doubt that your activism has played a tremendous role.
The Sacramento Bee reported that GOA’s message — that ALL gun control is an infringement — was finding a receptive audience amongst many Republican Senators:
“Any infringement (on the right to own a gun) violates the Second Amendment,” said Larry Pratt, executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America.
He found plenty of Republican support. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said using the Orlando attack to seek tougher gun laws was a “political distraction.”
“The American people find it ridiculous that in response to an ISIS terror attack, the Democrats go on high dudgeon that we’ve got to restrict the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” Cruz said.
What the Sacramento Bee had to say is not unique.
Two years ago, the New York Times credited GOA and its members with playing a huge role in unifying the gun movement — which, ultimately, helped kill the post-Sandy Hook gun control legislation.
The Times said:
Many lawmakers and gun safety advocates believe Gun Owners of America’s rising profile and heavy membership drive has led the N.R.A. to take a more aggressive stance against measures it once supported, like an expansion of background checks to include private gun sales.
Not only that, the Times reported that Republicans were now hesitant to support gun control compromises, citing “Mr. Pratt’s group [aka, GOA] as their biggest impediment, fearing retribution.”
Your loud opposition to gun control makes a HUGE difference.
It is what helps us to defend the Constitution and the Second Amendment, which protects our right to keep and bear arms.
And so I am very thankful that your support allows us to be here, putting the heat on wayward politicians.
About Gun Owners of America (GOA)
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no compromise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul.
Visit: www.gunowners.org to Join.
The nation, despite some ups and downs, got along reasonable well prior to Harry, one hopes it will manage without Harry, aka Senator Reid.
NRA backed HoHouse Hairy Reep a couple of elections ago. I dropped out of the NRA when they compromised on the Cop Killer Bullets. I donate regularly to GOA.
Harry Reid is the best reason I can think of for term limits. He has been feeding out of the public trough long enough. The man amazes me with his half truths, and out right lies (typical politician) . I am a life NRA member, a Viet Nam veteran, senior citizen trying to get by on social insecurity. Because of Mr. Reid, I am going to make room in my budget for a membership in the GOA. Politicians only tell the truth two times in their careers, “Elect me” “Reelect me” The rest of the time they don’t even know… Read more »
Mr. Reid,
You are accusing Gun Owners and NRA and all people with guns as bad.
Does this pertain in full text to the people who are carrying guns to protect you
and your family? In the same character as I am responsible to keep and protect
my family with the exception I am not using tax payers dollars and believing that
your family’s lives are more important than my family?
What do we say? What to our Founding Fathers do we say knowing we just slept our freedoms away would those in Gettysburg roll in disgust knowing the price they paid for us Or the million plus that in uniform died Seeing WE THE PEOPLE just run and hide Like Americans landing a beach or in a reservoir frozen and those in the jungles when their number was chosen To WE volunteers all in Baghdad Street fights or fighting in mountains all day into night What do we say to those whom have borne the brunt The Airmen, sailors, soldiers… Read more »
I’m a lifetime NRA member, but one conversation with one NRA telemarketer changed my whole perspective. Any money extra, given this year, has gone to GOA. NRA, I hope your listening. I’ve noticed this trend in my area. The NRA is losing ground in the part of the gun strong south, I live in. Thankfully GO’sA, and VCDL, is getting stronger
After every terrorist attack we immediately see a major push to restrict gun rights. Makes no sense, or does it? Instead of a national discussion about how and why those whose job it is to protect the nation have once again failed miserably the subject is shifted to gun ownership and the Second Amendment. And we fall for it every time! Neither the president, DHS or any one else is brought to account and asked to explain their incompetence. Not a peep from the media. No one resigns in shame. No one apologizes. Works every time it’s tried.
I’m a Life/Endowment member of the NRA and plan on joining GOA today. By the way Harry Reid was never a boxer, a myth that the left tries to perpetuate. the Nevada AAU has records of all amateur Golden Glove fighters and his name is not to be found. He never fought professionally and his name is not found in Box Rec, which keeps an accurate record of all professional fighters, their fights and won and lost record. Reid is nothing but an opportunistic scam artist and couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag!
I also joined the GOA a couple of months ago due to the NRA’s lack of progress.
All you can hope fore is Reid dies in his sleep .
I would not mind the list thing except give them an inch and they take a mile . And they can make any reason to put you on it . I can be pretty loud at times with my opinions and that’s all it takes to be a threat !!!