The GOA is saying that because the NRA is not explicitly opposing, and shouting from the rooftops their opposition, every provision and the mere existence, of a bill that hasn't even made it out of committee; that somehow they are in an evil pact with the democrats to sell out gun owners etc... etc...
Bullshit, as usual, from the GOA... whose chief concern and activity has for years been, and now seems to be; telling gun owners how awful everyone else is, so they will send more money to the GOA.
Let me be VERY CLEAR ONCE AGAIN here:
The NRA is ALWAYS AND ONLY about guns and hunting.
Any other issue, they don't care about.
They don't give a damn about any other freedom or liberty, unless it helps them advance their mission about guns and hunting.
AND THATS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.
The NRA is a single issue organization.
There are other organizations to fight for free speech. There are other groups to support conservative values. There are other groups to support conservative candidates.
That is NOT the NRAs job.
The NRA has one job (politically speaking), fighting for gun and hunting rights.
Opposing legislation completely unrelated to gun rights; so long as their mission to protect gun rights is not hurt by said legislation; is not in their interests, or the interests of the gun rights fight.
The NRA does not take a position on things that do not directly effect them, or their fight for gun rights.
That is the ONLY logical way for a political action group to exist.
Here is the official statement from the NRA:
STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION ON H.R. 5175, THE DISCLOSE ACT
The National Rifle Association believes that any restrictions on the political speech of Americans are unconstitutional.
In the past, through the courts and in Congress, the NRA has opposed any effort to restrict the rights of its four million members to speak and have their voices heard on behalf of gun owners nationwide.
The NRA’s opposition to restrictions on political speech includes its May 26, 2010 letter to Members of Congress expressing strong concerns about H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act. As it stood at the time of that letter, the measure would have undermined or obliterated virtually all of the NRA’s right to free political speech and, therefore, jeopardized the Second Amendment rights of every law-abiding American.
The most potent defense of the Second Amendment requires the most adamant exercise of the First Amendment. The NRA stands absolutely obligated to its members to ensure maximum access to the First Amendment, in order to protect and preserve the freedom of the Second Amendment.
The NRA must preserve its ability to speak. It cannot risk a strategy that would deny its rights, for the Second Amendment cannot be defended without them.
Thus, the NRA’s first obligation must be to its members and to its most ardent defense of firearms freedom for America’s lawful gun owners.
On June 14, 2010, Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives pledged that H.R. 5175 would be amended to exempt groups like the NRA, that meet certain criteria, from its onerous restrictions on political speech. As a result, and as long as that remains the case, the NRA will not be involved in final consideration of the House bill.
The NRA cannot defend the Second Amendment from the attacks we face in the local, state, federal, international and judicial arenas without the ability to speak. We will not allow ourselves to be silenced while the national news media, politicians and others are allowed to attack us freely.
The NRA will continue to fight for its right to speak out in defense of the Second Amendment. Any efforts to silence the political speech of NRA members will, as has been the case in the past, be met with strong opposition.
If you think there is any other position the NRA should take, you are not only wrong, you are a fool.
