Has the NRA abandoned California?

Josey1

Has the NRA abandoned California? Ralph Weller CalNRA.org20 February, 2002 - The last two gun shows I attended I heard someone outside the gate yelling, "Join the so-and-so gun rights group and get into the gun show free. The NRA has abandoned California." Huh? The NRA abandoned California? When did that happen? Did LaPierre make some kind of announcement that I missed somewhere? Look, I'm no apologist for the NRA, but sometimes you just got to set the record straight. The NRA hasn't abandoned California. I know things have been bleak on the left coast, but there are good things going on despite what the mainstream media wants you to believe. If anything, the only group that has abandoned California has been gun owners who don't believe voting will do anything! We go through this nonsense every election cycle. We plead, beg, and implore conservatives, and more importantly gun owners, to get out and vote. And after every election we sit around and scratch our unmentionables wondering how the liberal gun grabbers took more territory again. The recent run-off elections in Los Angeles where former city councilman and notorious gun grabber Mike Feuer as well as David Roberti, yes, as in Roberti-Roos fame, went down in defeat may indicate things are turning. Considering how close the races were, gun owners made a difference in a city that in recent history has turned very unfriendly to to gun owners. L.A. gun owners made a difference! I don't think anyone could have predicted such an outcome, particularly in Los Angeles. At the state level, the mandate from California voters has been to put gun-grabbing liberals in office. And a fine job they have done indeed. They march into Sacramento every two years and launch their gun-grabbing bills which are embraced by the media and ignored by the majority of gun owners until it's too late. Meanwhile, until Californians either come to their senses or all guns are banned, the NRA's California organization, the California Rifle and Pistol Association, is blasting away in court and in the legislature. The CRPA is attacking the problems with notable success in the courts. You see, despite the fact that the legislature is decidedly anti-gun, California presents a rich environment to test gun laws in the court system. It is highly possible that from all the court action underway, a California case could end up at the U.S. Supreme Court. Why not? There aren't many lawsuits except in those states where gun rights have been curtailed. There isn't huge amounts of litigation funds being expended in Arizona, Texas or any other state where gun rights are protected by a pro-gun majority in their state legislatures. California is where it's happening on the litigation front. So, for you folks who think nothing is being done in California to protect our rights, here's the short list of what's REALLY going on that you won't see in the L.A. Times or San Francisco Chronicle. I'll tell you where to get the long list shortly. Lobbying The CRPA maintains an office in Sacramento with a seasoned lobbyist who pounds relentlessly at California legislators. He can't stop the "will of the people" but he certainly can and does stop some of the more evil bills or portions of bills that come up each year. Not only does the CRPA maintain full time operations in Sacramento, the NRA maintains an office, staff and lobbyists as well. It amounts to a formidable force that is not matched in any other state. Lawsuits By last count, the CRPA and NRA have a minimum of 11 lawsuits underway as either the primary litigant or engaged in providing legal support in terms of funds or legal counsel in the California court system. They range from multiple lawsuits over the recently enacted assault weapons ban, to handgun testing, to challenging city's gun control measures and everything in between. City/County Efforts Cities and counties have become notorious for implementing gun laws despite state laws limiting their actions. The CRPA's attorneys challenge the cities and counties immediately. They provide legal advice on the error of their ways and how their actions could bring costly litigation to their communities. It is critical that California not become a patch-work quilt of gun laws. It would not be unlike each city and county implementing their own motor vehicle or criminal code. Activities legal in one city or county would be illegal and subject to criminal offenses in others simply by traveling through their communities. That's not a legal system. It's akin to the warlord system where citizens are in constant jeopardy of arrest based on vague and capricious lawmaking based on where they travel. CRPA attorneys actively engage in defending gun ranges when local or state ordinances threaten to shut them down. For instance, the CRPA is currently involved in fighting to keep the Modesto Junior College gun range open which is threatened by an anti-gun Chancellor. Not only do lawsuits take time, it takes huge amounts of money to litigate in California. No longer can the individual citizen file lawsuits because of prohibitive costs to defend one's rights. That's why belonging to a pro-gun organization is critically important to achieving results. Your membership fees pay for all this activity. That's why it is particularly irksome to know that there are approximately 76 million gun owners in this country and only 6 to 7 million or so of them belong to any pro-gun organization whatsoever. If half the gun owners belonged to any gun organization, the financial and political clout of the gun lobby would be formidable if not unstoppable, even in California. More importantly, if all gun owners in California voted, this state could be turned around. But unfortunately, most California gun owners are relegated to standing on the sidelines grousing about how California is lost. There is no excuse for doing nothing...evidence the Los Angeles elections. The next time you hear nonsense such as "the NRA has abandoned California" smile and ask what how many active lawsuits their organization has going on in California. Ask them if they maintain full time lobbyists and offices in Sacramento. Don't be surprised if you get blank stares. They can't match the seven-figure annual investment in lobbying and litigation the NRA and CRPA spend in California. Having now disparaged other pro-gun groups only slightly, I must say that my wife or I belong to just about every pro-gun organization out there. The truth of the matter is, a lot of NRA members belong to other pro-gun organizations as well. They all play a role in defending our Second Amendment rights and we know our membership dues go to a noble cause. My wife and I are admittedly, pro-gun group junkies. Say that fast three times! But, being a pro-gun group junkie has its benefits. We know who stands out in the crowd and the California Rifle and Pistol Association stands head and shoulders above all others. The CRPA is kind of like the television commercials for that "quiet life insurance company" that no one has heard about. They quietly go about their work toiling for our rights and no one gives them credit for their efforts. Well that ends today because I'm making a personal commitment to toot their horn on this site every time they have a success. So, stand by. Let me make a recommendation based on my experience and much depleted bank account. Join the California Rifle and Pistol Association. For $18.00 a year, it's one of the best investments you can make in protecting your Second Amendment rights. If there is one organization that aggressively pursues litigation in conjunction with the NRA, it's the CRPA. Every month you'll get their publication that outlines in detail the status of lawsuits, anti-gun and yes, even pro-gun bills currently considered by the California legislature. Additionally, they have a complete listing of successes in litigation and in Sacramento that you'll never hear about in the mainstream media. Those folks at the Times and Chronicle just don't want you or anyone in California to know what's really going on in this state. $18.00 may seem a minor amount but it's worth a lot to this organization and they make every dollar count. If I've whupped you up in a frenzy and you want to join the CRPA for a year or more, you can join right here. The CRPA is working on getting their on-line membership system up and running, but until then, just print their form and mail it off to them in Fullerton, California. I can't emphasize enough the quality and quantity of information you will receive each month from them. It frankly puts every other pro-gun rights group to shame. They just need more support and finances and if there is anyone out there that will do it, it will be you folks who visit this site regularly. You're the hard-core group so I'm counting on you to do two things within the next thirty days. First, join the CRPA and secondly, make sure you're registered to vote. If you can do those two things and get two friends to do the same, we can make a difference. Let's quit grousing about what should've or could've been and kick their anti-gun, liberal butts out of office this year. Drop me a line and let me know that you've joined the CRPA. We'll keep a numeric tally of how many people have made a wise decision and report on our progress. If you don't want to join the CRPA, tell me why as well. I want to know what is keeping you from joining. If you're worried about phone calls or endless mailings soliciting money, forget about it. That's not the CRPA's style. Any member can verify that as fact. If you have more questions about them, drop me a line and ask. I'll do my best to answer it and if I don't know the answer, I'll call them and get it for you. http://www.calnra.org/nracalifornia.html