Opinion
Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- The Nov. 5th election may be the most consequential ever for our Second Amendment rights in the Commonwealth. That’s because every seat in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate is up for grabs and gun control advocates, bankrolled by an out of state New York billionaire, are trying to buy the election. In contrast, the NRA is focused on our tried and true grassroots model of educating our supporters on candidates’ positions on the Second Amendment, and working to ensure they turn out to vote on Election Day.
For a behind-the-scenes look at how the NRA is fighting for you in Virginia, we sat down with Glen Caroline, head of NRA’s Grassroots Programs and Campaign Field Operations Division.
Q. How does our Virginia grassroots operation compare with what we’ve seen in the past from the NRA?
A. Without a doubt, this has been among our most robust campaign efforts ever. We have made tens of thousands of targeted contacts to our supporters using phones, texting, at events, and showing up on their doorsteps. Our Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs) have been working tirelessly to ramp up their efforts as we prepare for a massive Get Out The Vote operation in the closing weeks of the election cycle.
Q. What are we up against from our opponents this year?
A. We are facing the most well-organized and well-funded gun control lobby in our country’s history. It really is unprecedented. The various Bloomberg-backed gun control groups have committed to spending $5 million dollars to win this election, apparently focusing primarily on expensive and misleading television ads and digital efforts.
Q. What do you take from that?
A. We fully expect to be outspent by the control groups, but they will never outwork us. No organization in the country has members as informed and as passionate as the NRA. They are the reason we win elections. I’ve been at this for nearly 30 years, and throughout my entire career beginning in the early 90's, I’ve seen time and again our voters can swing key elections. I am aware of all the money our opponents are spending, but I’m not intimidated. As we often say in Grassroots, dollar bills don’t vote, but NRA members do!
Q. What’s the message to voters?
A. If Bloomberg’s gun control politicians win in November, it’s goodbye to our gun rights in Virginia! It’s really that simple. These anti-gun politicians want to ban our rifles, criminalize virtually all private firearm transfers, reinstate the failed one-gun-a-month law, and expand gun-free zones. We don’t have to guess what will happen, as they tipped their hand earlier this year by pushing this aggressive gun control agenda in a special legislative session.
Q. How can our members get involved?
A. First, you must vote on Election Day. Your vote is your voice, and if you don’t exercise your right to vote, you will lose your right to keep and bear arms. Second, get actively involved with our on-the-ground CFR efforts or contact the NRA-PVF endorsed campaign in your area to volunteer to help. You can amplify your voice by educating other pro-Second Amendment voters in Virginia as to what’s at stake, and making sure they turn out to vote. If a few hours of your time between now and Election Day aren’t worth preserving your freedom, what is?
For more information on NRA’s grassroots efforts in Virginia and how you can help, call (800) 392-VOTE (8683). If you are unable to personally volunteer with our grassroots efforts, but wish to help support them, please click here.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
Hopefully the NRA can help Virginians keep their Second Amendment REAFFIRMED RIGHTS. Virginians might want to look in GOA – Gun Owners of America.
Does the NRA have time and the money to fight this due to the lawsuits they have filed or are being sued against. I wouldn’t hinge my freedoms on them.
@tomcat,join GOA ! They do what the former NRA,never did and never would !
@Will, Right on, and I bet he already has, much like the rest of us!
@Wild Bill
Tomcat has talked about that in the past. I think he was a later convert, but each man must paddle his own canoe. As for me, my money does go to the GOA
@ Rev., Wild Bill and Will Most assuredly. I am hurt though because NRA doesn’t bug me for money anymore and I don’t get their magazine. I do miss that because I read it while getting my three hours of IV meds.
@Tomcat
Hunting or Rifleman?
They have probably stopped because they may have finally learned trying to milk an udder that gives no milk isn’t doing anything but work against them.
I understand what you are going through somewhat, as I had to care for a grandfather many years ago as he went in for Dialysis treatments.
@Tomcat
Reason I ask which one you were getting is if you are hard up at the moment, I’ll try and work out something with you and I can buy you a year’s subscription to Gun’s magazine, Outdoor Life, Hunting Magazine, or Shooting Times.
Let me know.
@ Rev. I just stumbled on your offer today. I really appreciate your offer to help. I have been blessed over the years with enough income to get me through these times, so I am ok and with good medicare insurance it takes the bite out of the cost for care. I really do appreciate your offer to help. God Bless.
@Tomcat
I’m sorry I missed your reply. It’s been a very hectic past week for me.
I’m glad you saw it though, even if you don’t need it now. Honestly just glad you’re still with us, and hopefully getting some knowledge through to those younger ones who need some guidance.
One of the biggest problems we face here in Virginia is the Virginia State GOP are NOT supporting our reliable Conservatives. They are throwing their money behind, so called, “electable “ candidates that end up being not so electable. They are edging Left.
No breathless begging for more money (to fund La Pierre’s life style)?
@Oldvet,you’re right. They have gone from about one a month,now almost one weekly.
I wish that they would stop referring to the NRA as the promoter, instead use the NRA supporters. They make an easy target and make it sound as if they are buying votes.
Oh no. The democrats are taking over Virginia. Quick. Get the private jet. Wayne needs to fly to California for a new suit. That’ll show ’em.
It sadly is nothing to joke about. The Democrats have made it clear that they will pass all the gun control they can think of if/when they get into power. Ridiculously, they readily admit that none of their “gun control” laws would have prevented any of the tragedies they mention in their push for “gun control”. Sadly, the ignorant masses that have no knowledge about firearms and our rights agree with these “gun control” messages because it makes them “feel” better. This is why we need to do more to educate those willing to learn. This is why I became… Read more »