Pennsylvania Problems & Gun owner activists

[WhiteFeather]

Got this email, from my personal experience in Harrisburg Jeff Knox got the problem nailed down, except for one added fact, it creates a divide that it turns off the sportsman and gun owners from getting involved because no one likes to have to fight on two fronts, one from your enemies and one from your friends. The long and short of it is that it is just bad policy!

> On August 8, Jeff Knox wrote in Shotgun News:
>
> Pennsylvania Problems
>
> In spite of the fact that the state of Pennsylvania has -- along
> with a broad hunting tradition -- some of the most dedicated, well
> organized, and effective grassroots firearms rights activists in the
> country, the National Rifle Association seems to prefer working around
> those activists rather than working with them. Even the official NRA
> affiliate in the state is often left out of NRA legislative plans at the
> State House.>

> Recent news reports of NRA holding private meetings with
> vociferously anti-gun members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black
> Caucus have raised concerns among activists that an unnecessary and
> potentially harmful deal might be in the works. Experienced activists
> understand that NRA can not hold a grassroots conference each time they
> wish to meet with legislators, but NRA taking unilateral action --
> undermining the work and effectiveness of local groups and thereby
> hurting the cause -- is a valid and longstanding complaint from activists
> in the states.
>
> NRA's attitude toward local activists is the single most damaging
> factor in the fight for liberty. Their top-down approach, consistent
> disregard for any initiative which was not generated at NRA
> Headquarters, and penchant for speaking disparagingly about other
> organizations and individuals working for the cause, guarantees a
> permanent and widening rift between NRA HQ and the activists in the
> states who actually do the day-to-day work of keeping their legislature
> in line.
>
> It is natural and expected that strong willed people will approach
> issues differently and reach different conclusions about strategy and
> tactics, but a final decision is always better if numerous ideas are
> offered and argued. True leadership nurtures this diversity of opinion
> and uses it to advantage. It's not always pretty and is often very
> difficult, but it can generate astounding results.>

> In this day of instant communication, it is inexcusable for NRA to
> take unilateral action in a legislative body without even touching base
> with the activists that work that legislature on a daily basis. For
> them to make disparaging remarks about those activists in an intentional
> effort to weaken the activist's influence and increase their own -- as
> NRA staff is notorious for doing -- does nothing but harm.
>
> The problems in Pennsylvania -- and most of the states -- can be
> overcome, but it requires a joint effort and contrary to what NRA has
> long believed, unity and cooperation are not synonymous with obediently
> following NRA's lead.

[KeithPA]

Yes, the NRA is a sell-out orgainization, whats new? lol

[RoyJackson]

Does Jeff have a phone number for the NRA lobbyist?

[Sebastian]

Pennsylvania's NRA state liaison is John Hohenwarter. I can't seem to find a public contact info for him, but if you have something to say, I could pass along some concerns to my contacts at ILA, and see if it can get to him.

[WhiteFeather]

Here is John Hohenwarter <Jhohenwarter@nrahq.org> public email address.

Trouble is John Hohenwarter is also the NRA state liaison for six other states beside PA, John used to have five, now John has seven states total.

So John Hohenwarter has to divide his time between all seven of them, so.......... guess what happens to PA when he is somewhere else?

People still wonder why these PA based organizations are leading the fight in PA and not following the NRA. If the NRA-ILA was doing the job they claim to they do to its members, these other PA based groups would not have been created.

As another state example of what Jeff Knoxx was talking about.
Ohio GUN RIGHT activists had their own concealed carry bill, and the NRA came in and pushed their bill aside and offered their own version with mandatory training, business can deny entry and prosecute you criminally version. Its all the reason we can not get reciprocity with Ohio, anyone wanting to verify the above has to talk with Jim Ramm former NRA board director and Ohio police officer and executive director of the group that crafted legislation that was pushed aside be the NRA
..

[Azzy]

It's things liek these that make me wonder about the NRA, and think that they are in the whole shebang against us with the government.

Until I see them fight for the second amendment and our rights (not as sportsman, hunters or other PC BS, but as AMERICANS that have the right to arm against a tyrannical state).. they will not see any of my money, no matter how many hats or range bags they offer to send.

[Jup06]

Out of all the activist groups, these people seem to be doing a great job in PA. http://www.foac-pac.org/

Any other groups you can think of that are worth donating to?

[edstephan]

Remember, It is in the best interest of the NRA to keep the 2nd Amendment argument alive and well. This is due to the fact they will be relegated to promoting training only and will loose a large portion of their fat cat income.
The NRA can not afford the debate on the 2nd Amendment to be over. It all comes down to very big $$$$$.

In order to keep their coffers full they will sell their mothers down the road because they have no ethics.
So can anyone tell me the difference between the Bureaucrats, politicians and the NRA?
I can not find any reason to keep supporting them except the Friends of NRA which works with education.

Our membership dollars are supporting Lawyers, Lobbyists, and Fat A$$ Bureaucrats that can’t get a real job.
What have they done except sell U.S. down the river?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Ed

[Sebastian]

The issue is never going to be over. I've never met anyone in the NRA who is worried that they are all going to lose their jobs because they might be too successful at settling the issue of gun control. If anything, the opposite.

[RoyJackson]

I'm not trying to excuse the NRA in this instance. I would definitely like to know more about it.

IMHO, the NRA should always (with no exception) keep the local organizations informed of any work they're doing in a given state (as, apparently, they did not as told in Whitefeather's post). They should always have at least one representative of a that state's grassroots organization at any meeting with any public official.
Maybe this would be a good thing to add to the NRA's bylaws.

However, the NRA must take a nationwide view. They may see working with the negro caucus in the PA legislature to aid in work in other states and at the federal level.
Or, the lobbyist in this case might be an arrogant asshole we just don't need or want in the NRA.