Notes from the Resistance
Update: Dell’Aquila et al vs NRA (11-14-15) [More]
Good summary on the case here:
Specifically, he alleges that the Defendants used donations to pay for exorbitant legal and advertising fees as well as luxurious fringe benefits for NRA executives.
NRA 2.0 notwithstanding, I’m still hearing “Not another dime.”
Sounds like the judge is pressuring for settlement and is saying if they don’t he will.
I watched the NRA webinar.
Grassroots Field Coordinator David Conte gave an overview of all the different operations and then outlined the various ways members can get involved as volunteers, including with elections.
He also commented on how NRA members are reliable voters but many gun owners are not, something readers here are well aware of.
He’s got his work cut out for him trying to herd cats, and mistrust of NRA and Profiles in Apathy were in full display by the numbers in attendance, only 37 after all of the members reached via emails and social media.
I have no idea how to change that. What I do know is, unless gun owners get involved, organize and actually do something politically constructive, whether with NRA or through some other means, Democrats are going to continue to drag everything into the abyss.
Join us for “NRA and You,” a virtual session designed to help you better understand the history, structure, and mission of the National Rifle Association. This webinar will highlight key victories, ongoing efforts to protect the Second Amendment, and how the NRA operates at both the national and local levels. You’ll also learn how to get more involved, whether as a volunteer, advocate, or future leader in your community. A live Q&A and a special membership discount will be included for all attendees. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and take action! [More]
Tomorrow, 7 – 8 pm Eastern…
How they’re going to fit “A live Q&A”into a one-hour presentation that already looks pretty full is something we’ll need to find out. I registered and it looks like they don’t require you to be a member.
After Supreme Court Win, NRA Is Back Challenging ‘Qualified Immunity’ for Ex-NY Regulator [More]
The plaintiff, the NRA, claimed that defendant Maria Vullo, while serving as the superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Service (DFS), encouraged insurance companies to discontinue their relationship with the NRA in an effort to retaliate against and chill the NRA’s gun rights advocacy.
Holding her accountable for her sleazy, partisan abuse of power could be the greatest lesson she teaches Fordham students.
Several members of the media were on the call. It was to talk to the media. [More]
As NRA 2.0 Takes Control, Big Changes and a Shakeup in Operations Ahead [More]
John Petrolino notes some belt-tightening and re-prioritizing.
Here’s what the Association has to say, and clicking on that will open the thread:
Some may say this explains the reluctance to go all in for Winsome Sears, that they just don’t have the resources. I’d argue admitting weakness in the face of circling enemies is questionable survival strategy, and the long term costs of a Spanberger win will far exceed an investment now. Think of it as deflecting an asteroid instead of waiting for it to hit.
And in any case, much of that burden would fall to the NRA Foundation, which is a separate entity and has released its own announcement:
Regardless, there is a question gun owners need to ask themselves and then answer, especially the ones who say NRA will never get another dime from them:
Do you want the NRA to continue?
If the answer is “Yes,” what are you personally willing to do about that?
It would be interesting to see a chart of sorts to determine what gaps there will be if NRA folds, things they do that competitor groups do not.
UPDATE
Email from NRA Foundation:
NRA Foundation Clarifies Independence Amid NRA Restructuring
FAIRFAX, VA – Amid recent news about the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) restructuring announcement, the NRA Foundation today reaffirmed its independence, stability, and continued focus on its charitable mission.
“The NRA Foundation is an independent, nonprofit public charity with its own staff leadership, legal structure, board of trustees, and mission,” said Tom King, President of the NRA Foundation. “While the NRA undergoes its internal restructuring, the Foundation’s work continues uninterrupted. We remain focused on preserving America’s shooting and hunting traditions for future generations.”
The NRA Foundation is not part of the NRA’s organizational or financial structure. Its role is educational, charitable, and safety-focused – not political or advocacy-driven.*
Importantly, the current State Fund and Friends of NRA grant cycle will proceed without interruption. Applications, reviews, and disbursements are continuing on schedule, ensuring that local programs, ranges, and organizations receive the support they rely on each year.
Since its founding in 1990, the NRA Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in grants in support of local shooting ranges, youth programs, law enforcement training, firearm safety education, and conservation efforts nationwide.
“The Foundation remains financially sound, mission-focused, and committed to transparency and accountability in everything we do,” added King. “We deeply appreciate the continued trust and support of our donors, partners, and grant recipients who see firsthand the impact of our charitable work in communities across America.”
* Just to clarify, the Sears plan accounts for what both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations can lawfully do, so I’m sensing some redirection going on.
But as shown, the Government’s efforts to defend the panel’s decision are all unpersuasive. And the starkness of the Seventh Circuit’s departure from this Court’s precedent— combined with the peculiar and anomalous nature of the restrictions on short-barreled rifles at issue—in fact make this case a particularly suitable vehicle for resolving one or more of these fundamental methodological questions. [More]
So, why is “pro-gun” Pam Bondi’s Justice Department arguing otherwise?
Not that I expect any of the gun groups to resolve these things at a round table that doesn’t exist and they won’t ask for…
[Via Jess]
Show an enemy committed to your destruction you’re not willing to fight to the hilt and don’t expect that to do anything but embolden them. [More]
With a slow fist coming, you’d think more effort would be put into stopping it.
As some of you have noted before, this site occasionally doesn’t process comments and I have to go into the Trash file and manually fix things. That was the case on a comment submitted on the 19th that just showed up today on the post about a comment Jeff Knox made on X.com about TPUSA and the Virginia governor’s race. Rather than bury it there, it merits a standalone post:
For the record, I have had in-depth discussions with Dennis Fussaro about his plan, and supported it from the beginning. I’ve also discussed it with NRA-ILA Director John Commerford and other staff at NRA, as well as with fellow members of the Grassroots and Legislative Policy committees.
NRA has not been, and is not being, “silent” in this election, but I do think we could have done better at rolling out a more comprehensive plan and activating more people.
I’ve been in the trenches of political campaigns for well over 20 years. I’ve run for state office and helped numerous others in their campaigns, both as a volunteer and as a paid consultant.
Dennis’s plan is solid, well-thought-out, and workable, but it comes with a pretty high price tag.
I think it could have worked and been fully funded, if it had been presented and adopted much earlier, but that didn’t happen. Instead, I think NRA looked at the bank account and built their plan on what they reasonably thought they could afford, rather than putting together a plan like Dennis’s and then working to raise the money and implement as much of it as possible.
Dennis and I will continue pushing for this sort of shift in approach.
I threw out the idea of TPUSA getting more involved because they are currently the most prominent players in the political space, not as a way to shuffle off responsibility. I’ve done some work with TPUSA in the past, and I also understand that a whole lot of their folks are very interested in snagging prominent roles in the 2026 mid-terms. I’ve been talking with them and other “young Republican” groups about getting involved in Virginia and New Jersey as good politics and a way for their folks to bolster their resume’s. I’ve also been hoping to see them join with NRA on our political goals.
Please remember that NRA is under new leadership, with many new folks in staff, and a whole lot of new people on the board. We’re just getting our feet under us after a long and ugly internal conflagration. Many people want to move forward with caution, while Dennis and I would prefer to see bold, aggressive action. The comparison of NRA to an aircraft carrier is pretty spot-on. We’ve pretty much gotten the thing turned around, and now some of us are pushing hard to gain speed. It’s a process. What it definitely is not is “same as it ever was.”
Jeff Knox, NRA Board of Directors since April, 2024.
[More]
Too bad, because it’s a knee-jerk assessment on a great comment I agree with, and represents the kind of self-motivated activism I wish more readers would take on themselves to engage in. Otherwise what’s the point of reading the article?
It’s disappointing but hardly surprising. Grudges and squabbles appear to take precedence over unity in purpose and shoulders to the wheel, and that’s got to be encouraging to the antis.
It’s fair to wonder how many of the down-voters — who would be big potential beneficiaries if they helped instead of harassed — spent even so much as the second it took them to click a thumbs down on promoting the Earle-Sears campaign and telling NRA and Trump to get off the stick.
And that’s why I don’t think Trump finally-kinda-sorta coming on board was due to “2A supporters tagging him on X about Virginia.” Nobody has been writing about this but me, and I can tell you from the lack of comments and shares I’ve seen, this has been one of the biggest echo chamber pieces I’ve ever written.
(And yeah, I see comment links don’t scroll you to the exact one and nothin’ I can do about that, but the ones I’m citing are easy enough to find.)
Deserving gun owners now want better of President Trump, and it’s not hyperbole to conclude that if he—and NRA—don’t do a lot more, and quickly, Virginia could be lost to the Democrats. [More]
NRA: You owe it to your members to allocate the necessary manpower and funding resources to follow the comprehensive plan you’ve been given. President Trump:You owe it to the gun-owning voters who elected you to put your personal resentments aside and endorse her.
Sure, TPUSA could be a big factor, but you can’t offload NRA’s responsibilities to mobilize its members on them. Why there has been silence on this from NRA “reform” directors is a question only you guys can answer.
And do it in more than a one-liner on X.com. Analyze Fusaro’s proposal and strategy, and if there are specific areas where you can offer improvements, do so.
Because the economy plan isn’t going to work and is going to end up exposing that nothing in Fairfax has really changed despite all the noise.
What issues should be tackled first on day one? [More]
That’s assuming there’s going to be a Day One.
And too bad there’s no inclusive “2A Task Force” to impress their expectations on a president who’s showing deliberate indifference.
Via Henry Bowman, who sent this:
NRA Files Another Lawsuit Challenging the National Firearms Act [More]
Terrific. It’s also comparatively easy.
Now when are we going to see them putting the necessary resources into an even more pressing and existential issue affecting all of their members in Virginia?
[Via Jess]
Federal Judge: Biden ATF Rule on Firearms Sales Cannot Be Used Against NRA Members [More]
Speaking as Life Member who is now covered, let me just say that equal protection should demand it apply to everyone else, as well.
Note the difference in that attitude, and the attitude of “Only Ones” benefiting from LEOSA but unwilling to invite those of us on the outside in.
[Via bondmen]
GOP Chances of Winning Virginia Governor Election Get Major Boost: Poll [More]
What better time than give it everything we’ve got?
Strike while the iron is hot.
Keep putting it off and it will soon be too late.
Join us next weekend at the Green Top Outdoor Expo in Ashland, Virginia, where NRA grassroots activists will be spearheading GOTV initiatives for pro-gun candidates. [More]
Or they could just, you know, get serious…
Rep Tom Tiffany said, ‘I’ll preserve our Wisconsin values, just like my mom does with her pickles’ [More]
NRA says he’ll preserve more than that:
Let’s hope so. Because retiring Tony Evers was a disaster, as will be whomever the Democrats choose.
If fellow Republican contestant Josh Schoemann has any “proven reforms” on 2A, he doesn’t appear to feel they’re worth mentioning.
Another GOP contender, former Navy SEAL Bill Barrien says he’ll support permitless carry. I do wish though, that he and other gun owners would do away with the “Second Amendment is my permit” meme.
It’s not, never was, and the contention itself is dangerous.
Email To NRA HQ/Foundation About Fusaro’s VA Plan [More]
I understand some are none too pleased with me for this.
Why anyone would let personal animosities block necessary actions is something only they can answer, but nonetheless fair for speculation as to why. Especially when they know the threat and have the manpower resources but are allocating them elsewhere.
Related UPDATE
The money they’re paying Paige King Johnson and urging members to fork over to attend would be a nice start…
Be nice to know what she really understands and advocates for…
