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NRA Endorses McCain, Despite His Anti-2nd-Amendment Record
Does the NRA believe their members are idiots who do not remember anything beyond a few of months ago? Assuming that a vast majority of their members are capable of reading, members should not accept such a dramatic turnaround without extensive explanation (which was not given). Though the NRA is wordsmithing their statements on the “new McCain”... Does the NRA believe their members are idiots who do not remember anything beyond a few of months ago? Assuming that a vast majority o... more
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National Rifle Association endorses McCain
WASHINGTON - The National Rifle Association is endorsing Republican presidential nominee John McCain despite differences with the Arizona senator on gun-show rules and campaign finance restrictions.
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and the chairman of the NRA's political action committee planned stops Thursday in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Colorado and Nevada to talk about the move.
LaPierre said the two agree on many issues important to the group.
"He's cast more than 60 votes in the Senate in support of the Second Amendment," LaPierre said.
The NRA's Political Victory Fund has spent more than $2.3 million opposing Democratic nominee Barack Obama. The chairman of the political action committee, Chris W. Cox, says its spending in the presidential race will grow to "eight figures" by Election Day. Besides ads, encouraging battleground-state gun owners to vote will be a key focus, he said.
The PAC was running an ad Thursday in USA Today accusing Obama of waffling on gun-rights issues and challenging his statements that he supports the right to bear arms. Obama has said he respects the Second Amendment but doesn't think it precludes "some commonsense gun laws so that we don't have kids being shot on the streets of cities like Chicago."
The NRA PAC's future spending will target Obama on gun issues and start publicizing the records of McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, LaPierre said. McCain's selection of Palin was a plus, LaPierre said.
"She's a hunter, she's a Second Amendment supporter and she's a tremendous asset to the ticket," he said.
I am a staunch believer in all things Constitutional, but I do not agree with associations influencing politics. It was McCain that screamed the loudest about Obama's corporate contributions. This smacks of hypocrisy to me. I can't believe their reasoning behind their support. Palin? WASHINGTON - The National Rifle Association is endorsing Republican presidential nominee John McCain despite differences with the Ariz... more -
The Associated Press: National Rifle Association endorses McCain
The National Rifle Association is endorsing Republican presidential nominee John McCain despite differences with the Arizona senator on gun-show rules and campaign finance restrictions.
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and the chairman of the NRA's political action committee planned stops Thursday in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Colorado and Nevada to talk about the move.
LaPierre said the two agree on many issues important to the group.
"He's cast more than 60 votes in the Senate in support of the Second Amendment," LaPierre said.
The NRA's Political Victory Fund has spent more than $2.3 million opposing Democratic nominee Barack Obama. The chairman of the political action committee, Chris W. Cox, says its spending in the presidential race will grow to "eight figures" by Election Day. Besides ads, encouraging battleground-state gun owners to vote will be a key focus, he said.
The PAC was running an ad Thursday in USA Today accusing Obama of waffling on gun-rights issues and challenging his statements that he supports the right to bear arms. Obama has said he respects the Second Amendment but doesn't think it precludes "some commonsense gun laws so that we don't have kids being shot on the streets of cities like Chicago."
The NRA PAC's future spending will target Obama on gun issues and start publicizing the records of McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, LaPierre said. McCain's selection of Palin was a plus, LaPierre said.
"She's a hunter, she's a Second Amendment supporter and she's a tremendous asset to the ticket," he said.
Palin, an NRA member, received an A-plus rating from the group when she ran for governor in 2006. That compares to an NRA grade in the average range for McCain in his last Senate race. McCain isn't an NRA member.
Palin has been an NRA booster, particularly for its education and safety programs, during her career in government. As mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, she used $750 from her city campaign fund to upgrade her NRA membership.
The NRA doesn't always endorse presidential candidates. It has backed President Bush but declined to endorse Bob Dole in the 1996 race or President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
Obama has been endorsed by the American Hunters and Shooters Association, which calls itself a "mainstream group of hunters" that supports safe and responsible gun ownership. The National Rifle Association is endorsing Republican presidential nominee John McCain despite differences with the Arizona senator o... more -
W.V. coal miners stay home to protest anti-Obama NRA coercion
Coal production at a mine in Monongalia County came to a halt today when every union miner stayed home, as part of a political protest.
It was an idle day Monday at the Blacksville #2 Mine.
More than 440 workers who are members of the United Mine Workers of America took what's called a Memorial Day instead of going to work.
Union officials say they took the day to protest after a film crew from the National Rifle Assocation showed up at the Consol mine last week to interview union workers.
They say the crew tried to get union coal miners to speak out against Barak Obama.
Read the Rest at Link... Coal production at a mine in Monongalia County came to a halt today when every union miner stayed home, as part of a political protest... more -
What the 2nd Amendment is REALLY for...
Dr. Gratia-Hupp speaks to representatives, pulling no punches. Suzanna witnessed first-hand her parents shot dead by a "lunatic" and explains why she doesn't even blame the gunman, per se.
Who does she blame?
Watch this short clip and find out the silent gunman really is, and who Suzanna feels is ultimately responsible for the merciless death of her parents; and watch as Suzanna points out who we really need to protect ourselves from.
Spoken like a true American, and from someone who's honestly been there with something truly important to lose, as we all do.
...how does Brave'World do it? ... "PSSST! DO SOMETHING!" =) Dr. Gratia-Hupp speaks to representatives, pulling no punches. Suzanna witnessed first-hand her parents shot dead by a "lunatic... more -
We should definitely FIGHT this kinda CHANGE!
One thing that has been overlooked this election cycle is Obama’s stance on gun rights. In my opinion he has been given a free-ride by the liberal “old media” and without independent organizations the issue would pretty much a non-issue. One thing that has been overlooked this election cycle is Obama’s stance on gun rights. In my opinion he has been given a free-ride by... more
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Palin's Kuwait Gun Practice (VIDEO) & Arial Safari.
Perhaps McCain’s surprising selection of Sarah Palin as VP was motivated by the desire to appeal to a, uh, younger male demo? I thought originally it was to win over angry Hillary supporters, but after reading about Palin’s curious fascination with the brutal and controversial sport of ”Arial Safari” I’m beginning to wonder.
Here’s how it goes. You get in a plane and fly into protected wilderness. Then you shoot large animals (like wolves and bears as they attempt to run from the plane) with extremely high-powered long distance rifles, blowing your prey into pieces all over the freshly fallen snow.
Sound fun? Well Sarah Palin thinks so. Palin won a “victory” a few days ago for the small constituency that is in favor of this bloody and un-sportsmanlike sport, by funneling $400,000 of taxpayers money to a large-scale marketing campaign.
I’m not opposed to hunting, but it seems that there is usually a purpose—i.e. saving the animal to eat, or at least a trophy?? In this case the animal is left to die and that’s the whole game.
This seems in keeping with her strong affiliation with NRA and her thoroughly anti-environmental politics. Going against even the extremely conservative Bush position, she feels that science is wrong when it comes to the facts of melting sea ice, polar bear habitats and global warming.
Palin has also allegedly broken the law in order to defeat a Clean Water ballot measure this summer. It is against the law for a governor to officially advocate for or against a ballot measure. But Palin took what she calls “personal privilege” to discuss one of this year’s most contentious initiatives.
Palin also used state Department of Natural Resources resources to lobby for defeat of the Clean Water Initiative under the pretense of creating a state run website to “educate” citizens. The citizen group Alaskans for Clean Water is filing suit.
But one thing you can say. Sarah Palin knows how to handle a gun. Watch the recently circulated video which is gaining hits like mad, showing Palin at a gun practice in Kuwait.
She not only wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, but actually vowed to sue the EPA if it dared to declare polar bears an endangered species. It's hard for most people to understand this sort of hatred for the great mammal species struggling to hang on at the edges of this continent. (alternet.org) Perhaps McCain’s surprising selection of Sarah Palin as VP was motivated by the desire to appeal to a, uh, younger male demo? I thoug... more -
Gun-control groups fear activist was NRA spy
PHILADELPHIA - A gun-control activist who championed the cause for more than a decade and served on the boards of two anti-violence groups is suspected of working as a paid spy for the National Rifle Association, and now those organizations are expelling her and sweeping their offices for bugs.
The suggestion that Mary Lou McFate was a double agent is contained in a deposition filed as part of a contract dispute involving a security firm. The muckraking magazine Mother Jones, in a story last week, was the first to report on McFate's alleged dual identity.
The NRA refused to comment to the magazine and did not respond to calls Tuesday from The Associated Press. Nor did McFate.
The 62-year-old former flight attendant and sex counselor from Sarasota, Fla., is not new to the world of informants.
She infiltrated an animal-rights group in the late 1980s at the request of U.S. Surgical, and befriended an activist who was later convicted in a pipe bomb attack against the medical-supply business, U.S. Surgical acknowledged in news reports at the time. U.S. Surgical had come under fire for using dogs for research and training.
McFate resurfaced in Pennsylvania and has since spent years as an unpaid board member of CeaseFirePA and an organization called States United to Prevent Gun Violence. She also twice pushed unsuccessfully to join the board of the nation's largest gun-control group, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. PHILADELPHIA - A gun-control activist who championed the cause for more than a decade and served on the boards of two anti-violence gr... more -
Disney Employees cant take Guns to Work
The controversial new law says people can take their guns to work if they keep them locked away in their cars, but Disney says it's exempt and its 62,000 employees had better keep their guns at home.
Central Florida's largest employer says it's exempt because the park has fireworks on its property. The NRA and Disney have a different take on the exemption in the law and it may end up in court. In the meantime, Disney isn't taking any chances. It sent an email to all of its workers telling them not to bring guns to work.
NOW why would anyone need a gun to work (exception of cops of course)! The controversial new law says people can take their guns to work if they keep them locked away in their cars, but Disney says it'... more -
NRA's $15 million campaign to portray Obama as threat to second amendment
The National Rifle Association plans to spend about $40 million on this year’s presidential campaign, with $15 million of that devoted to portraying Barack Obama as a threat to the Second Amendment rights upheld last week by the Supreme Court.
“Our members understand that if Barack Obama is elected president, and he has support in the Senate to confirm anti-gun Supreme Court nominees, could be taken away from us in the future,” Chris Cox, head of the NRA’s political arm, said.
The politically powerful gun rights group will split its message efforts between communicating with its 4 million members and the tens of millions more firearms owners across the country.
This fall, NRA members will get automated phone calls, mail pieces and pre-election editions of the group’s three magazines making the case against Obama. More broadly, the group will use an independent expenditure effort to hammer the Democratic nominee via TV, radio and newspaper ads in some of about 15 battleground states in the Midwest and Mountain West. The National Rifle Association plans to spend about $40 million on this year’s presidential campaign, with $15 million of that devoted... more -
NRA Gathering Ammo Against Obama
The National Rifle Association plans to spend about $40 million on this year's presidential campaign, with $15 million of that devoted to portraying Barack Obama as a threat to the Second Amendment rights upheld last week by the Supreme Court. The National Rifle Association plans to spend about $40 million on this year's presidential campaign, with $15 million of that de... more
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NRA targets San Francisco gun ban
Targeting San Francisco, the National Rifle Association is attempting to overturn the city's gun ban. The move was prompted by a recent Supreme Court decision not to grant Washington DC a handgun ban.
"The National Rifle Association sued the city of San Francisco on Friday to overturn its ban on handguns in public housing, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a handgun ban in the nation's capital.
The legal action follows a similar lawsuit against the city of Chicago over its handgun ban, filed within hours of Thursday's high court ruling.
In San Francisco, the NRA was joined by the Washington state-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and a gun owner who lives in the city's Valencia Gardens housing project.
The gun owner, who is gay, says he keeps the weapon to defend himself from "sexual orientation hate crimes." He was not identified in the complaint because he said he fears retaliation.
Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city will "vigorously fight the NRA" and defended the ban as good for public safety.
"Is there anyone out there who really believes that we need more guns in public housing?" Newsom said. "I can't for the life of me sit back and roll over on this. We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority."
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said that the Supreme Court ruling didn't address gun bans on government property and that he is "confident that our local gun control measures are on sound legal footing and will survive legal challenges"."
By Paul Elias and Associated Press staff Targeting San Francisco, the National Rifle Association is attempting to overturn the city's gun ban. The move was prompted by a... more -
NRA sues San Francisco
A day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to possess guns for self-defense, the National Rifle Association sued San Francisco and its Housing Authority for banning firearms in the authority's public housing.
The NRA filed in federal court Friday on behalf of an unidentified gay man living in Valencia Gardens Housing in the Mission District, who said he keeps a gun in his home for protection against hate crimes even though his Housing Authority lease forbids possession of guns and other weapons.
The suit said the Housing Authority policy was based on a 2007 San Francisco ordinance prohibiting guns on city property. The ordinance applies only to city-owned property such as parks and playgrounds and not to the independently managed, federally funded Housing Authority. But the authority's interim director, Mirian Saez, said the ban on guns is consistent with city policy and is similar to rules in most such agencies around the nation. A day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to possess guns for self-defense, the National Rif... more -
Supreme Court clings to guns and Constitution
For the first time in history, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a definitive ruling on the right of Americans to own guns. A five-to-four majority of the court ruled that individual citizens have the right to own firearms, and in the process it struck down a 32-year-old ban on handguns in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more on the high court's landmark ruling from Washington.
Writing for the five-member court majority, Justice Antonin Scalia said the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does protect the rights of individuals to own firearms for personal use.
Legal scholars have long debated whether the Second Amendment guaranteed the right of individuals to possess firearms, or if it merely applied to state militias.
Attorney Alan Gura says the high court's historic ruling makes it clear that individuals do have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Gura represented a Washington, D.C. resident who wanted the city's 32-year-old ban on handguns struck down.
"People do have an individual right to keep and bear arms, that is very important to remember. That means that the government cannot ban handguns, it cannot regulate guns out of existence. We feel today is a fantastic day for liberty once again," Gura said.
Gura represented security guard Dick Heller. Heller lives in a high-crime section of Washington and challenged the city's handgun ban so he could defend himself.
Among those welcoming the high court's decision was President Bush. The White House issued a statement saying the president strongly agrees with the court's majority opinion.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain also praised the decision as a landmark victory for freedom in the United States.
Democratic candidate Barack Obama issued a statement that said the court decision will provide guidance to local communities trying to balance the rights of gun owners with the need to protect citizens in high crime areas of the country.
Gun control advocates were disappointed but not surprised by the Supreme Court ruling. 'We are obviously disappointed and disagree with the majority opinion. This takes off the idea that you can have a near total ban on guns, especially guns for self-defense,' said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence. But Helmke noted that in his majority opinion, Justice Scalia said that although the court recognizes an individual right to bear arms, that right is not unlimited.
In his opinion, Scalia said the ruling should not be used to cast doubt on existing gun control laws that keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals and the mentally ill, and prevent weapons from being carried into schools and government buildings.
The high court last took up the issue of the Second Amendment and gun ownership in 1939, but legal scholars say the court at that time did not directly settle the question of whether individual citizens have a right to bear arms. For the first time in history, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a definitive ruling on the right of Americans to own guns. A five-to-... more -
Grace Potter's Politics
Grace Potter gives the Daily Fix her explanation of her band's latest single "Ah Mary" off her new album.
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McCain tells NRA Obama and Clinton threaten gun rights
ohn McCain, working to mend a frayed relationship with some of the Republican Party's most dedicated foot soldiers, went to the National Rifle Assn.'s annual conference here Friday to assure wary members he is a friend of the 2nd Amendment.
McCain, who asked to speak to the group despite past battles with the organization over restrictions on gun shows, drew a warm reception for his attacks on Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Many gun rights advocates are still enraged that McCain supports efforts to close the so-called gun show loophole, which allows people who buy guns from unlicensed dealers at gun shows to avoid criminal background checks required during gun sales from licensed dealers. In 2000, when Oregon and Colorado voters were considering ballot measures on the issue, McCain appeared in a television ad, saying the loophole allowed felons to buy guns later used in crimes. ohn McCain, working to mend a frayed relationship with some of the Republican Party's most dedicated foot soldiers, went to the N... more -
Mike Huckabee's hilarious joke about assassinating Barack Obama
If you can't get a laugh from telling a "someone is going to shoot Barack Obama" joke in a talk at the NRA then your delivery needs work, we say. If you can't get a laugh from telling a "someone is going to shoot Barack Obama" joke in a talk at the NRA then your de... more
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Huckabee Jokes About a Cowardly Obama During NRA Speech
Republican Mike Huckabee responded to an offstage noise during his speech to the National Rifle Association by suggesting it was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him.
Hearing a loud noise and interrupting his speech, Huckabee said: "That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He's getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he — he dove for the floor."
There were only a few murmurs in the crowd after the remark.
The Obama campaign had no comment.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Republican Mike Huckabee responded to an offstage noise during his speech to the National Rifle Association by suggesting it was Barac... more -
New Gun Law Sparks Controversy In Florida
Governor Charlie Crist signed a controversial bill into law Tuesday allowing Floridians to keep guns locked in their car while at work. Governor Charlie Crist signed a controversial bill into law Tuesday allowing Floridians to keep guns locked in their car while at work... more
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S.F. handgun ban "shot down"
"The state Supreme Court dealt a final blow Wednesday to San Francisco's voter-approved ban on handguns, rejecting the city's appeal of a lower-court ruling that sharply limited the ability of localities to regulate firearms.
The court's unanimous order was a victory for the National Rifle Association, which sued on behalf of gun owners, advocates and dealers a day after the measure passed with 58 percent of the vote in November 2005. The initiative has never taken effect.
The ordinance, Proposition H, would have forbidden San Francisco residents to possess handguns, exempting only law enforcement officers and others who needed guns for professional purposes. It would have also prohibited the manufacture, sale or distribution of any type of firearms or ammunition in San Francisco."
[more in the actual article] "The state Supreme Court dealt a final blow Wednesday to San Francisco's voter-approved ban on handguns, rejecting the city&... more
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