USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Since the Winter 2020 Board Meeting of the NRA in Tyson’s Corner, VA a few weeks ago, the question I’ve been asked most often by Members is “Who should I vote for in the Board of Directors Election?”
As a Board Member of Save the Second, an organization formed last year to represent the concerns of NRA Members and American Gun Owners in regard to the crisis at the NRA, I want to distinguish between the personal opinions and thoughts that I am about to share and any official endorsements from STS. The Board of STS has decided not to officially endorse or rebuke any candidate. Other Board Members have shared their own thoughts on this matter as well. Ron Carter and Anthony Garcia (the Founders of STS) and I did a 2-hour podcast on January 27th discussing all 38 Candidates on the Ballot and went into detail about why did or did not support them for the Board. I will be linking specific segments of that long podcast in this article.
It is important to point out that no one should blindly follow my advice, nor anyone else’s, in regard to NRA Voting. One of the reasons that NRA is in the mess it is currently in is that lack of attention being paid to the details by The Members and far too many Directors. Voting for the “Save The Second Picks” or “Rob Pincus’ Picks” is functionally no different than voting for “The Nominating Committee’s Picks”. We need a more educated Membership to hold a more engaged Board of Directors accountable. I would encourage you to spend some time with the Scribd NRA Board Voting Guide from STS, compiled primarily by Ron Carter, to get a more thorough idea of who all the candidates are. There is also a Candidate Google Doc sharing a quick overview of them, including their social media and contact info.
With all that said, let’s get on to who I am endorsing for the 2020 NRA Board Election. These picks are based primarily on the actions and communications that these people have had with (and/or on the behalf of) concerned NRA Members in regard to the need for the organization to reform in significant ways. In another year, many of the other people on the ballot might be “good NRA Directors”, but not in this time of crisis and change. My selections are in alphabetical order, I strongly encourage to follow the time-stamped linked to the video just past each name to hear me explain why I am supporting them. Remember that the more people you vote for, the less weight your vote carries (research Bullet Voting).
Anthony P. Colandro – VIDEO [ Anthony P. Colandro is Endorsed by AmmoLand News]
Anthony came out of the gate in his bid for the NRA Board as an agitator and outsider who wanted to make things better. At some point during the politics of 2019, he ended up being officially endorsed by the NRA Old Guard for the 76th seat and that dulled his attraction for many of us looking for reform. I was very critical of Anthony for accepting that endorsement. More than almost any other candidate on the ballot this year, Anthony has done the work to earn my support in this year’s election by continuing to work for a better NRA and to speak his truth with very little sycophancy to the establishment that I believe is doing the organization more harm than good at this point. I am very interested in seeing what he would do with a three year term and some possibly influential committee assignments.
Graham Hill – VIDEO [Graham Hill is Endorsed by AmmoLand News]
Graham Hill is the only member of the Executive Committee on the ballot that I can support for another term on the NRA Board of Directors. He is very well respected, articulate and passionate about gun rights and making the NRA Stronger and more Effective. He was ahead of the curve in regard to engaging concerned NRA Members and making us feel welcome and valued at the Board Meetings and he has had a very “open door policy” in regard to discussing tough issues with us. He also distinguished himself during the Winter Board Meeting by being the only Committee Chair to actively engage attending members in the meeting. These actions speak highly of his commitment to serving The Members and the cause above “the organization”.
Robert Mansell – VIDEO
Robert is relatively new to the NRA scene, just finishing his first term as a Director. He has been very engaging with Members and has demonstrated an interest in being a “beyond the minimum” Director. He attends meetings that he isn’t required to and seems to be well educated in the NRA’s current situation and how they got there. He is also a long term Firearms Industry Professional with a strong sense of how the Average American Gun Owner thinks. His fresh & grounded perspective would be an asset to the Board during this time of evolution.
Todd J. Rathner – VIDEO
Todd Rathner is one of the most active NRA Board Members. He attends events such as SHOT Show, Gun Rights Policy Conference and other community events not connected to the NRA. He is an articulate speaker and strong advocate for all gun rights and freedoms. Of all the Directors, he is the most evolved over the past year in regard to engaging and communicating those of us with a concern about the crisis inside the NRA. While he is not a “reformist”, he is a realist. He worked harder than anyone else on the ballot in response to the Member’s Petition for the establishment of an Attendance Policy for Board Members, which was voted into existence by the Board at the Winter Meeting.
Steven C. Schreiner – VIDEO
Steve Schreiner has served the NRA for many years and is a close ally of Lt. Col. Robert Brown, who has been one of the most vocal critics of the current NRA Leadership and the obvious problems that they created or allowed. While Mr. Schreiner has not been an agitator in regard to reform, his work towards a better NRA has been demonstrated through action and many conversations with concerned members.
Frank C. Tait – VIDEO
Frank Tait was THE Reform Candidate on the ballot this year. He was the Member who submitted and read the Resolution calling for a position of no confidence in Wayne LaPierre at last year’s NRAAM Members’ Meeting. He is the only candidate who has expressly supported all Five Tenets of Reform proposed by Save The Second. He and I sat down to talk about his run for the NRA Board and his position on Reform after the Fall Board Meeting. A couple of weeks ago, I challenged Frank’s evolution in regard to the urgency many of us have in regard to Wayne LaPierre stepping down immediately from the leadership of the NRA. He explained his position, which is well thought out and I understand it. I still disagree with him on that issue, but that doesn’t eclipse the fact that we agree on 90% of the issues facing the NRA at this point. Frank has extensive business experience and insight combined with his passion for fixing the NRA.
James L. Wallace – VIDEO
Wallace is the Executive Director of the Gun Owners’ Action League. I have worked with GOAL, the leading Gun Rights Organization in Massachusetts, for over a decade and watched him and his team make real progress in that very un-gun-friendly Commonwealth. I have also watch Wallace and GOAL deal with controversy & criticism and push through it to the best they could for gun owners and gun rights. He is a very active member of the gun community, spending time at local events in MA and national events such as Gun Rights Policy Conference. He has also coordinated efforts with other State Leaders across the country. I believe he is committed to helping bring about reform so that the NRA is stronger and more effective in the future.
Those are the seven candidates that I will be voting for this year. If you have a specific question about my position or thoughts on other candidates I encourage you to review my thoughts in the aforementioned STS Video.
Save the Second’s Guide…
About Rob Pincus
Rob Pincus has been educating people about defensive shooting and related personal defense topics for over two decades. He is the Executive Director of Personal Defense Network and the owner of I.C.E. Training Company. He has authored several books, produced over 100 training DVDs, appeared on several TV & Radio shows and trained military, law enforcement and armed individuals around the world. His advice focuses on efficiency and practicality based on his own experiences and continuing research of both real-world events and cutting edge training practices. www.icetraining.us
My first criteria for an NRA candidate is that they be nominated by petition of the members. This is to avoid a corrupt NRA nominating committee candidate. Only two candidates meet this criteria: Cushman and Tait.
Only by bullet voting for only these two can a voter avoid adding more Fat Wayne the boss candidates to an already corrupt board.
Voting in an NRA election is like punching a brick wall. The outcome is predetermined — the masses will vote the way the Nominating Committee tells them to vote, and the voters who actually pay attention will be swamped into insignificance.
Sad to say, the average NRA member votes for directors about as intelligently as that Iowa caucus voter who was astounded and repulsed to learn — only AFTER casting her vote for him — that Pete Buttigeig has a husband.
I’ve been an NRA member for years and in fact, I’m a lifetime member. I have seen very little value in that membership of late in that the NRA seems to compromise my rights away too easily and doesn’t fight hard enough against the flurry of legislation. I do however receive a ton of mail from the NRA wanting me to donate even more money or to join yet another much more expensive level of membership. All this while my rights are disappearing before my eyes. I know a couple of current board members now and when I approach them,… Read more »
NRA’s 76 clowns get a minimum of 4 paid junkets a year, and some get a lot more than that. Free hunting trips, sweetheart “consulting” contracts etc.
“LaPierre Bad” does not equal “Pincus Good”. 1. Save The Second pushes a lame, weak Rodney King line: “Infighting bad”. If infighting is bad, what’s the point of STS? STS is so mealy-mouthed it refuses to “endorse or rebuke candidates” while vampires pocket $1 million of member cash every 2-3 years. Weakness won’t Save the 2nd. 2. Pincus is into the kind of Cult of Personality PR that Mercury/AcMac did for Lucky LaPierre. Glamour shots etc. Bad sign. Makes me suspect STS is managed phony oppo, wants in on the grift, or both. 3. Pincus pushes single-issue “strategy”, chides those… Read more »
Correction: “STS is so mealy-mouthed it refuses to “endorse or rebuke candidates” while vampires pocket $1 BILLION of member cash every 2-3 years.”
The vamps who control NRA pocket BILLIONS, not millions. Virtually every member of the 76-clown BoD is culpable for grifting or gross negligence. But we MUSTN’T rebuke anyone! Heavens NO! That wouldn’t wouldn’t be collegial.
You clearly haven’t had discussions with us, listened to what we’ve said or read what we’ve written. Your legs must be tired from jumping to conclusions. 🙂
Come on, man.
Evasion is unbecoming.
Rob Princus and the rest of the leadership team at savethe2a.org have infinitely far more authority to speak and advise NRA members, voting or otherwise, than the hordes of do nothing, cry baby Wusses who shoot their defeatist mouths off daily on this board. I’m sick and tired unto death of the whining over Wayne Lapierre, especially the inflated egos of pontificating prophets of doom, fatalism & lamentations regarding the NRA. Action is the name of the game. DOING SOMETHING! is the Order of the Day. Not deserting, defecting and running away, which are the acts of weaklings, cowards and… Read more »
I’m a Life member. Where do I find my ballot?
You should be receiving one of the NRA magazines like American Rifleman in the mail. The ballot is in the center section of the magazine. Your life membership entitles you to vote. If you’re not receiving one of these magazines you can call them at 1-800-672-3888.
This hits the “who cares” button.
Thanks for your opinion Rob.
Rob has invested a ton of effort and resources trying to straighten out the mess at the top of the NRA foodchain. The Save the Second organization is trying to undo the WLP good old boys club and put it back the way it belongs. It is far better to fix a broken leg than to cut it off!
Terry,
You. Are. Spot. On.
Thank you.
Wayne LaPierre is the NRA’s “Bernie Madoff”. He and his BOD co-conspirators have stolen and/or wasted tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars from membership funds. Any BOD member who is not publicly outspoken against Wayne and his cronies is at the very least complaisant to their fraud and embezzlement. I’ve never seen or known of any organization where the executive staff “employees” have authority over and complete control of the BOD. It’s all window dressing designed to camouflage the pyramid scheme built by LaPierre and his accomplices to launder membership cash, and divert it into their own pockets… Read more »
NRA’s budget is $1 BILLION every 2-3 years. That’s the order of magnitude of the grift, waste, sweetheart contracts, boondoggles, junkets, subversion and stupidity. Had it been spent wisely to elect hard core conservatives who want to secure our borders and limit immigration, not pocketed and spent to help “cheap labor” RINOs defeat real Rs, gun rights, other liberties, our quality of life, and our sovereignty would be secure today.
https://waronguns.blogspot.com/2020/02/take-your-pick.html
“Why not mention Rob Pincus backing Virginia Democrat Jorge Amselle who helped turn the state blue?”
Really? Way to go “single-issue” geniuses!
I don’t know what some people posting expect to happen. STS is trying in a methodical and civilized way to straighten out a mess that has been years in the making. It will not be fixed in a day. Some of you remind me of an old Frankenstein movie where the villagers are running around in circles with pitchforks and torches. The liberal/progressives are laughing their collective asses off. Bitching and moaning and doing nothing else is not helping. Destruction of a gun rights organization that’s almost 150 years old will not help our cause. Yes, support the GOA and… Read more »
@TLS, Destruction of a gun rights organization? What the hell are you talking about? NRA has compromised away our rights, a little at a time, while syphoning off funds that should have gone to lean mean Gun Rights Organizations.
Fat Wayne the boss is smart enough to know that if we actually won the battle for our Second Amendment Civil Rights, then there would be no reason for the NRA, and donations would cease, and he would be out of a job. So Fat Wayne made sure that we never won!
Wild Bill, I agree with you. But, you aren’t going any further in your thought process. What choice do we have? I see only two.
1. We reform the structure that made LaPierre and compromising our rights away, so that it never happens again… or
2. We sit back and watch the largest gun rights organization on the planet continue what they’ve done and have been doing.
That’s what Terry is referring to. You can be apart of the solution or you can be apart of the (years old) complainers that merely complain and will continue to complain.
@RC, The choice that we have is to support a gun rights organization that litigates rather than compromises our Civil Rights away, a little at a time. We can stop desperately needed funds from going into the pockets of the corporate officers, and insure the funds go to more litigation. Fat Wayne the Boss has everyone convinced that the NRA can not be replaced. That way donations keep flowing into his pockets. I am part of the solution. I now send all of my donations to GOA, CCRKBA, and JPFO. And finally, I am a Benefactor Life Member. I think… Read more »
The NRA Deep State has constructed a “machine” that renders it impossible to reform. Balloting is ineffective, and whenever it threatens to be effective, the Deep State has no compunction against violating its own bylaws at will to ensure the result they want, even when ordered to the contrary by a judge. As JFK noted, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.” If the only remaining way to reform the NRA is to sit back and watch Letitia destroy it, so be it — and it’s all on Team Wayne. How DARE you blame me and the… Read more »
Bill; I hate to disagree with you on this but, hear me out. The NRA did no such thing. ‘Lil’ Wayne Pierre and his band of merry men did this – not the NRA. Neil Knox Had this ship on the way to be righted in 1977. The toadies ousted him in 1997 after years of backstabbing bullshit. I have spent years of trying to find out who the hell made WLP god Emporer of the known universe. If the USS Constitution had been taken over by a bunch of mutineers, would you drag the bastards off the ship and… Read more »
Terry: But here is the actual truth of your analogy. In the case of the NRA, The mutineers are STILL at the helm, still in control of their stolen ship, and also running it at flank speed in random directions, trying to keep command, while busily throwing any on board who won’t comply with Capt. LaTrine’s whims overboard. As an uncontrolled vessel at the mercy of criminals, it is extremely dangerous, and if it takes sinking the ship in order to stop that, then so be it. Unless YOU have a good idea to get rid of LaTrine? If so,… Read more »
No, I would not Knute. My rant was to those who would belittle Rob and others who are trying to correct the problem. By any and all means? STS is engaged in exactly that. What do you propose? Drag Him out in the streets and frog march him to the gallows? My lord man, STS IS trying to do something. I KNOW that it is still SNAFU but I don’t think it is FUBAR!
So what if the stolen ship was bearing directly down on a helpless becalmed sailboat? Even then you can’t sink the stolen ship run by criminals? What if YOU were on the sailboat? What then?
As I was trained to do, many years ago. “If you are surrounded by an overwhelming enemy force and were out of ammunition and alone what would you do?” “I would kill them, sir, I would kill them all!”
@TLS, Well … get WLP replaced by Neil Knox and I will resume donating again.
As would I Bill. That’s not an option. I had high hopes for Jeff Knox, but, he chooses another path. I am a Benefactor Life Member. I have questioned WLP’s status for many years (long before this crap started). I cannot think that the NRA is beyond redemption with the right people in charge.
@TLS, Ok … well … get the right people in charge, rather than the RICO LaPierre, and I will resume donating to the NRA.
Once again, as will I Bill! Rob and the others are trying to do just that. Failing that, maybe a march on NRA headquarters could be the next Virginia action.
Will
I disagree (respectfully) re Colandro. However, whether or not WLP is guilty as charged – if he had any affection for the organization that has made him a multi-millionaire he would resign sine die. His actions bespeak his character. Whether or not (again) he is guilty as charged, his credibility is destroyed. If he fails to resign it is indicative of having no honor whatsoever.
Neal was an obvious slip, we all miss him.
Wayne LaPierre and his fellow vampires and toadies destroyed the NRA, with help from the Rodney King, can’t we all just get along crowd. Get it through your head.
This crap is getting me very cynical about the prospect of saving our nra. Maybe it needs to be destroyed to be saved! As a endowment life member and husband of a life member i control 2 votes. I thought sts was the answer and pincus said good stuff on aar! Maybe its word salad.
Time to check jeff knox
Who decides when it is destroyed? It isn’t you, I or anyone that we know. That’s the problem. We can walk away but the problems aren’t going anywhere (outside of an incredible move by the NYAG). Jeff Knox is a friend and I agree with him a whole lot. He’s a great guy. I have nothing but love and support for him and he has been so incredibly helpful and amazing. Still, there isn’t one person that will fix these problems. The answer to fixing the NRA isn’t an easy one. The leadership has made sure of that! Still, at… Read more »
I am disturbed that Patiently false information about me and my candidacy for the NRA Board has been posted on this website. It would be sincerely appreciated if we could work to rectify the situation. The references to me here were published after the NRA magazine was published. The much abbreviated Bio states the following. Hon. Phillip B. Journey, Wichita, Kansas Nominated by the Nominating Committee. District Judge in Kansas’ largest city. In 2003 Phil was appointed to the Kansas Senate and elected in 2004. He authored over 30 enacted bills including statewide preemption voiding anti-gun ordinances, RTC overriding the… Read more »
Now you want NRA Members to know who you are?
Respectfully objected,
Ron Carter
Hon. Phillip B. Journey, will you work to fire Wayne LaPierre?
Crickets Chirping, Phil! Chirp chirp chirp!
Like the last 25 years.
Mr. Journey, I appreciate your concerns about the few factual details that we got wrong on the podcast. Updates have been made to the Voters Guide and clarifications posted under the video at Youtube, as we have become aware of them. Unfortunately, nothing you have pointed out is significantly compelling to change my opinion on your candidacy. It seems, by your own admission, that you have had a very low profile on the 2A Scene for a decade or more. My concern remains that the Nominating Committee has attempted to “stack the deck” with loyalists. Can you clearly state which… Read more »
What have you done to fire corrupt Lucky LaPierre and shrug off the vampires who pocket $1 BILLION of member money every 2-3 years? NOTHING. The 76-clown board is a dishonorable disgrace.
“Will you work to fire Wayne LaPierre?”
Moreover, what have you DONE in the last 25 years to fire Wayne LaPierre and stop the theft of many BILLIONS of dollars in member funding? Did you vote to keep him? Did you vote for his ridiculous salary? Did you oppose it?
Crickets Chirping, Phil! Chirp chirp chirp! Chirp chirp chirp!
Yet another recommendation for members from someone who completely avoids the “Elephant in the Room”, LaPierre. Either these people making the recommendations are afraid of LaPierre, or are part of his “posse”, benefiting from LaPierre’s corruption and abuses.
I don’t think you’re aware of who we are or what we believe. The reform that we’re talking about is LaPierre and his cronies gone (in a nutshell) along with any other corruption or malfeasance. Look at our five goals! If it isn’t that obvious, please allow me to elaborate.
Have you met me, JPM?
I was the guy who stood at the microphone at the Member’s Meeting last year and directly called WLP out on the hypocrisy of decrying the NY AG’s attempts to stifle the voice of the NRA while he and his regime attempt to stifle the voices of concerned members. The only thing I worry about when it comes to WLP is that he’ll bump into something while he stares at the floor whenever I’m I the same room with him.
Please do a little research.
I was endorsed by Jeff Knox in the NRA BOD election. Jeff has known me for decades. While Mr. Pincus can’t understand my successful navigation of the Nominating Committee. I deeply resent their baseless insinuations that I promised anyone anything about Wayne. I have gotten permission to send a submission to Ammoland and hope to finish it soon. Pincus appears to be sunshine patriot. He may train LEO’s But I will bet he never walked for a block or worked in a campaign. He might have been on the Daily show I sat across a table from Sarah Brady. He… Read more »
Excuse me, Phil. Rob isn’t the only person criticizing you. My name is Ron Carter and perhaps you should respond to my concerns. Hell, perhaps you should address the issues in the NRA instead of attacking Rob.
I am glad you’ve been a judge, I’m glad you have taught 4-H’ers, I’m glad you do anything to promote second amendment rights. What are you going to do to fix the problems and failures of leadership in the NRA?
@Phil I’m with Ron on this one. I’m one of the many former NRA members who left because of the corruption present in the NRA leadership and Wayne’s leadership specifically. Whether or not you are elected means nothing to the thousands to hundreds of thousands of us who have left for those reasons and are convincing more NRA members to drop their support every month. We must have answers, we must have accountability. If you will not work to, much less offer a promise we can hold you accountable for, end the corruption and betrayals within the NRA leadership then… Read more »
It’s a great Catch-Phrase… but, I don’t know what it means. GOA isn’t recommending that members refuse to follow existing gun laws… so what do you really think “no compromise” is in reference too?