Even Friends Must Toe the Line or Face Wrath Debra Maggart was a member of the Tennessee House of Representative representative and leader of the Republican caucus in Tennessee. I can speak to the power of the National Rifle Association in state legislative races from my own experience this summer. The N.R.A. and their allies spent $155,000 to defeat me in my primary, beginning their assault the week early voting started. They ran 12 full-page newspaper ads featuring my picture with one of President Obama stating I was for gun control. They ran radio ads, robo calls, posted a âDefeat Maggartâ Web site, produced a YouTube video of their chief lobbyist explaining to their members why I should be defeated, and did nine mailings. They posted my photo with President Obamaâs on three of the five billboards in my Republican hometown. I was a lifetime N.R.A. member, co-sponsor of 10 gun rights bills. But when I pressed compromise on one issue, they attacked. All this, because the N.R.A. refused a compromise I supported on a bill that pitted property rights vs. gun rights. The bill would have allowed anyone keep a firearm in their car when its parked on any property.The N.R.A. did not want to let property owners opt out of it or give them immunity from a civil lawsuit in case someone got shot on their property. I am lifetime N.R.A. member. I had an A-plus rating from the group as a legislator, with a perfect voting record on gun issues. I am a handgun-permit holder, the host of skeet-shoot fundraisers, someone who had worked in a family business that sold firearms. Since 2008, I have co-sponsored and our legislature has passed 10 bills to extend the privileges of permit carry holders. But with all that, I became their No. 1 target in Tennessee. As Republican caucus chairwoman, I carried out the wishes of our caucus to defer the N.R.A.âs bill because the over-whelming majority of caucus members did not support it. I was the only House leadership member who had a primary so they targeted me. Because of N.R.A. bully tactics, legislators are not free to openly discuss the merits of gun-related legislation. This stifling of discussion does not serve the interest of the public nor of the gun owners. But the N.R.A. gets their way because they know how intimidating they are and they know that lawmakers are afraid to speak openly about what needs to be done. The N.R.A.âs agenda is more about raising money from their members by creating phantom issues instead of promoting safe, responsible gun ownership. N.R.A. members should ask about the million dollar salaries they pay their lobbyists and why they spend money to defeat proven Second Amendment defenders like me.
You would be in the minority among its members as to your views. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/25/us-usa-shooting-denver-guns-idUSBRE86O02O20120725 Once again 377OHMS can't intelligently debate the issue. I can't figure out if the "OHMS" in your handle refers to an association with electrical engineering or it is a measure of the inordinate resistance of your neural circuits.
Substitute the NRA and insert the word Gay, same sex marriage, abortion or "you name the topic" the problem is the system.
Crap, I need to renew. Thanks for the reminder. Gonna do the two years this time so it doesn't come up so quickly again.
I would suggest that the NRA become part of the discussion rather than the stonewalling I've seen during the last couple of days, because right or wrong, change is a coming. They might want to have some say in it. Here's what's coming. We're going to see people define what the right to bear arms means, specifically "arms". We're also going to see that ammo ain't arms and there will be limitations on that. So unless the NRA wants to see things go back to single bolt action rifles, 6 shooters, and shotguns, while eliminating semi-auto weapons of all types, they best step up to the negotiating table.
Now don't go around and shoot any "takers" - or your parents. Best just lock those guns up until your illness abates. Zimmerman fucked things real bad for you Floridians who had license to kill, didn't he?
No desire to shoot anyone unless they try to cause me harm. That's what law abiding citizens do, you know.
Brother Captain is a realist. Some of you narrow minded AOWM need to take some notes instead of spewing your constant dreamy bullshit on the internet.