What Senator Tom Coburn Thinks Of The NRA

[Glocktogo]

Folks,
A man I used to work for got this letter from Senator Coburn yesterday. He's given me permission to post it and I'm posting my reply to him (which I'm sending to my entire email distribution list).

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 3:07 PM
To: ________.net
Subject: Correspondence from Senator Coburn

July 7, 2010

Mr. ________



Dear Mr. ________,


Thank you for writing to express your support for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009 (S.941). I am always glad to hear from fellow Oklahomans who are looking closely at Second Amendment issues.


My stand for Second Amendment rights remains firm and strong. Our Constitution prohibits the government from infringing upon the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms, and I will continue to oppose every attempt to weaken those rights. During the current Congressional session, I sponsored a bill repealing a federal gun ban in national parks and refuges (an area totaling more than 170 million acres). This bill was implemented as law on February 22, 2010. I was also a strong supporter of an amendment which would have allowed citizens with concealed carry permits to carry concealed firearms in other states that grant such permits. Although the amendment received only fifty-eight of the sixty votes needed for passage, you can be sure I will continue to work toward its implementation.


I am currently a co-sponsor of the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act (S. 669), which protects veterans from having their Second Amendment rights unfairly taken by Veterans Affairs bureaucrats. Previously, I co-sponsored the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields gun manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits, and I voted to repeal the Clinton assault weapons gun ban. I voted for an amendment to repeal the District of Columbia's Unconstitutional gun laws. If you want to know more about my efforts to protect our Second Amendment rights, please see my website, <a href="http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/secondamendment">http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/secondamendment</a>.


I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss S.941 with you. While I am not opposed to this bill, I am concerned that the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, in this case and in the past, endorsed legislation it is not serious about passing. They have spent membership dues to promote this bill, but they have refused to demand Congress hold a hearing in its regard. They certainly have not pushed Congress toward a vote. Additionally, I do not understand why the NRA would endorse a bill that seeks to merely reform the gun-regulating component of the ATF, rather than abolish it.


The recent behavior of the NRA has given me concern with the general direction of its leadership. Only a few weeks ago, the NRA withdrew their opposition to a bill that threatens to seriously limit our First Amendment rights. Please allow me to explain.


Earlier this year, the Supreme Court moved to protect the First Amendment rights of corporations and interest organizations by lifting restrictions against certain political contributions made by these groups. In response, House Democrats drafted legislation to impose questionable and burdensome mandates on these groups, including publication of their membership lists. This bill is known as the DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175). It appeared, until recently, to have insufficient support for passage, in large part due to the NRA's appropriate opposition.


However, in a major compromise with Democrat leaders, the NRA agreed to drop its opposition in exchange for self-exemption from DISCLOSE. This move left less-powerful groups, including other pro-Second Amendment groups, completely vulnerable to the bill's restrictive and costly provisions.


I appreciated the NRA's initial opposition to DISCLOSE, and I am shocked at their willingness to undermine our First Amendment right to free speech. An institution committed to the protection of one constitutional right should know that limiting one right weakens all others.


Thank you again for your interest in Second Amendment rights. You can be sure I will continue to promote any proposal that truly strengthens those rights, and I believe the NRA should do the same for its four million members. I welcome any additional thoughts you may have, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincerely, Tom A. Coburn, M.D.
United States Senator

TC: jdw


My reply:

Gene,

Senator Coburn's dismay with the current NRA leadership is shared by many. Did you know that the NRA has decided to endorse Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's reelection bid? Rather than sweep this utterly reprehensible excuse for a leader out with the trash, they're hedging their bets against the continued Democratic majority and the possibility that Chuck Schumer might become Senate Majority Leader in his place. Rather than taking the fight to the enemy, they're letting the enemy dictate the terms of the battle. Sort of like they did in 1968, 1986, 1994 and quite possibly again in 2013 if the Democrats retain the majority and Obama wins his reelection bid.

In abandoning opposition to the DISCLOSE Act, the NRA is setting a disturbing precedent. In pretending to push for certain legislation, while in fact hoping it dies on the vine and failing to support it behind closed doors, they further erode the credibility of the NRA. By failing to support state level pro-gun legislation such as the open carry bill in Oklahoma, and waiting until the 11th hour to support legal cases such as Heller vs. DC, they've all but abandoned one of their primary missions. Instead, they've become a political power broker and apparently, a for profit fundraising machine. Their tactics are beginning to resemble those of the Chicago political bosses and Northeast corridor labor unions. Dare I say that ensuring the continued battle against anti-gun groups and politicians is good for business?

The NRA is still the 800 pound gorilla in the gun rights fight. But they seem bent on squandering any credibility they might have once had with these shenannigans. Just as Congress needs an enema, so does the NRA. It's past time to put an end to the power hungry, concessionist reign of Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox. If you're a voting member of the NRA, please remember this come election time.

May I have permission to share your letter with the Oklahoma Shooters Association forum group? I'm sure their 3000+ members would like to hear what Senator Coburn has to say.

Sincerely,

Jerry Biggs

 

[reddog1]

I wonder if its all in the plan to defame the NRA.

 

[Glocktogo]

I wonder if its all in the plan to defame the NRA.

What do you mean? I don't think they need anyone's help right now. They're doing a pretty good job of it themselves.

 

[Shadowrider]

Do you think they actually wanted the member lists revealed as a ploy to out their competition? I.E. Gun Owners of America and such? If so, purely a despicable act.

 

[angsniper]

I got the same form letter from him on Tuesday.

 

[Glocktogo]

Do you think they actually wanted the member lists revealed as a ploy to out their competition? I.E. Gun Owners of America and such? If so, purely a despicable act.

No, I just think they didn't care anymore once they carved out their exemption.

 

[POSITIVE DISCONTENT]

They are lobbyist doing what they do best.....

 

[m.rehme]

I got my letter from the Senator today.
I am a Life member of the NRA and I am pretty put out with them at this time.

 

[Daryl Licht]

I've been struggling with the question of whether to renew my NRA membership when it comes up in a couple of months. In the meantime, I have bought life memberships in both the GOA and the Second Amendment Foundation. These two organizations get poo-pooed by the hardcore NRA members a lot, but instead of running them down, why not join up and make them as large as the NRA?

The NRA in some respects has become as much a business as it is a shooting organization. I have to question whether I still want to patronize them.

 

[Shadowrider]

No, I just think they didn't care anymore once they carved out their exemption.

Surely they had at least some underlying logic for publicly dropping their opposition. I ain't buying if they are just selling "we are a 2A only organization". They should really think about publicly explaining how they can just wipe their hands of the 1A getting trampled and walking away. I for one want to know what kind of deal making went down.