Romney Makes Gun Owners Squirm Regardless...

[twyacht]

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/romney-should-make-conservatives-squirm?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Romney SHOULD make ‘conservatives squirm’
David Codrea
, Gun Rights Examiner
January 11, 2012 -

“Romney secures front-runner status with New Hampshire win, looks to take momentum into South Carolina,” Fox News reports.  This follows the former Massachusetts governor’s win in Iowa.

Not escaping media notice is a new meme: “Conservatives squirm.”

The thing is, they’re right—and no one is squirming more than gun owners.  That’s because, in spite of trying to clean up his image with the help of the NRA, they will never forget his words and deeds when he had the political power to make a difference:
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    “Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts,” Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony on July 1 with legislators, sportsmen’s groups and gun safety advocates. “These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.”

He has never apologized, said he was wrong, asked for forgiveness, articulated his understanding of the right to keep and bear arms or sworn to never again betray freedom.

No matter. If his momentum holds, we’ll no doubt see a move to bestow “favorite son” status on him once more.  As a way to celebrate “American Values,” NRA Leadership-style…

“But if we don’t vote for Mitt, Obama will win!” we’ll no doubt be told.

“We’re one Supreme Court vote away from a reversal of Heller!” we’ll be warned.  “We’ll lose our Second Amendment rights!”

A couple things—if Republicans realized we are in a cold civil war against ideological enemies and stopped acting like…nah, no use even going there.  For the most part, they are, always have been and always will be the party of negotiable "principles." Still, there’s nothing that says a Senate with guts couldn’t just block any unacceptable Supreme Court nominees indefinitely.  The weak point is the “guts” part.

Also, they’re not “Second Amendment rights.”  No one can take them from you unless you surrender them.  Some of us will not.

Really.

And here’s another thing: A Romney candidacy will play right into the hands of the Democrats, who believe his advancement is “good news” because they consider him “the weakest candidate” against their man, which will then bring about that which his apologists tell us we should most fear. Besides, you know when MTV throws out a puff piece, the talking points have been passed out and the complicit media fix is in.

It’s not like he isn’t falling for it, pledging back how he can be the biggest compromiser.

The late Republican strategist Lee Atwater is reputed to have said about gun owners something to the effect of “Who else are they going to vote for?”  They relied on taking our votes for granted and for the most part, they've been proven right.  And we’ve seen the disastrous results of swallowing principles and voting for the likes of Bob Dole and John McCain.

Here’s a reality for those who would dismiss everything I’ve written so far and come back with the conclusion that if we don’t hold our noses and vote for Romney, Obama will retain the presidency. Forget everything else and focus on this:

What coach inspires his team to the championship with a plea for them to not suck too bad?

Can you really expect to win if you can’t galvanize and motivate your base? Will those who might grudgingly and ashamedly vote for the RINO be enthusiastic enough to donate money to the campaign, work for it, put up signs, volunteer for phone trees and poll watching, write persuasive letters to the editor, or do any of the innumerable things needed for victory?

Can it be done without a critical mass of true believers who have fire in their bellies and a message to inspire their friends and neighbors?

How?

****

I'm not voting for Mitt,...in the FL primary,....If he is the "presumptive nominee" I will vote for him to spare another 4 years of BHO.. (God Willing)...

But I will not support the NRA any longer, I don;t need them to secure my 2nd Amendment Rights....

Enough of the games,..

"If someone is so fearful that, that they're going to start using their weapons to protect their rights, it makes me very nervous that these people have these weapons at all."
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)

Spoken from a true anti-gun-assclown,...and mirrored by our Presumptive Nominee.....

Sorry,....nothing about Mass...gives me warm and fuzzies...

[tombogan03884]

I beg all forum members to vote for any body but that POS Romney in your state primaries.
But get used to the idea of voting for him in Nov or else get used to the idea of for more years of BO.

[JLawson]

But I will not support the NRA any longer, I don;t need them to secure my 2nd Amendment Rights....

That's a shame.

While no one agrees with everything any organization does, I think we would have lost our 2A rights long ago if it had not been for the NRA.  And the NRA serves many roles other than the legislative and political roles.  The training and educational programs reach millions of folks... just think of one - the Eddie Eagle program.  Firearm related accidents and deaths are at an all-time low and I believe the NRA deserves some of the credit for that.  The kids' camps and NRA-sponsored competitions are responsible for introducing thousands of new shooters to the shooting sports.  These are all good things.

There are things I wish the NRA would do differently but I will continue to support them just as I have for many years.

[tombogan03884]

It wasn't NRA behind either the Heller or McDonald cases.
Those were both the Second Amendment Foundation.
The NRA urged not rocking the boat.

[fightingquaker13]

The ILA folks piss me off on a regular basis, but even if the NRA got out of the politics business altogether (and I hope they don't), I'd still support the NRA, as without the firearms safety classes and the like we'd have a lot fewer new members in the community.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[santahog]

The ILA folks piss me off on a regular basis, but even if the NRA got out of the politics business altogether (and I hope they don't), I'd still support the NRA, as without the firearms safety classes and the like we'd have a lot fewer new members in the community.
FQ13

Every time the ILA tries to pull some business like it (tried) in 08 with Harry Reid, I lose more "faith" in the whole organization.. I don't see it not waiting and endorsing Romney rather than going ahead and supporting Perry now, (beause Perry really is the best friend the gun owner has in this race), because ILA tends to want to curry favor with the winner rather than standing up to try to win, itself, in the front end..
I'm still pissed about Reid.. It takes me a loooong time to forget..

[Pathfinder]

It wasn't NRA behind either the Heller or McDonald cases.
Those were both the Second Amendment Foundation.
The NRA urged not rocking the boat.

Actually, although the NRA was not involved in the planning or filing of the Heller case, it was the NRA brief that seemed to move the SCOTUS more than Gura's arguments. Still, right on, the NRA was a Johnnie come lately to the party. Guess if the .gov rolls over and stops trying to do anything against our guns, ol' Wayne will have to take a huge cut in pay.

[MikeBjerum]

If you don't like NRAILA and the political side of NRA don't give to it!

NRA has three main branches, and while membership provides most of the staffing dollars for all three it is donations to NRAILA that funds the politics.  To dump NRA means a devastating blow to education, safety, and recreational shooting, competitive shooting, carry permit certification and hunting in this nation.

The way to fix NRA is the same as fixing government - get involved.

[tombogan03884]

NRA is like any other " mature" organization.
They are more concerned with maintaining the status quo and perpetuating their jobs and revenue than they are with actually being effective.
It's why they will endorse Romney, he can be used to perpetuate the fear, thereby justifying continued calls for donations.

[saltydogbk]

I live in a state with an assault weapon ban, New York.  I will NOT be able to vote for Romney.  If it's him or BHO, I will not vote.  That or third party.  IF Romney wants the gun owners vote, he needs to address his past, and make a pledge for the future.  I emailed his office not once, but three times asking his 2A stance, and have yet to get an answer.