Originally Posted By: Jim Legg
The various Johnny-come-lately gun owners' organizations do not now, nor will they ever, have the political muscle the NRA does. What is the total membership of
all of them added together? It is my belief that many, if not all of them, were started by ex-NRA members who figure to cash in the money being spent to fight the anti-gun crowd.


Again, you can't resist pi$$ing on anyone who isn't in your club. Do you really think that helps unify gun owners? Sometimes a little less "muscle" and a lot more brain is useful. Belligerent chest-thumping has already hurt the NRA in the public's mind - why keep doing it?

Originally Posted By: Jim Legg
BTW, I looked at the IWL website. Not a word was mentioned about gun owners' rights, anywhere.


From the IWLA website, their official policy statement on firearms:

Firearms Rights

1) The League supports the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms.

2) The League opposes legislation or other action that would require the general registration of firearms.

3) The League objects to gun control proposals that do not address the problems of violent crime or safety; rather we support vigorous enforcement of existing firearms-related laws.

4) The League supports efforts to prevent firearms sales to or possession by felons, people found by a court of law to be mentally incompetent or insane, and people under the age of 18.

5) The League supports laws establishing severe and mandatory penalties for the use of firearms in the commission of any crime and severe penalties for flagrant misuse of firearms in any way. We oppose attempts to classify criminal activities as health care issues.

6) The League opposes federal controls on commerce in firearms and related equipment that restrict the lawful activities of private gun collectors, part-time dealers, gunsmiths, hobbyists, or black-powder users. The League opposes taxing firearms to pay for any problems other than sound conservation programs and related research.

7) Although millions of semiautomatic firearms are used legally and routinely for recreation, some legislative proposals fail to distinguish “assault weapons” from other semiautomatic firearms and would ban or restrict the legitimate use of semiautomatic sporting arms. The League calls on Congress and other legislatures to reject such proposals restricting the possession and use of semiautomatic firearms.

And this is policy from one of America's oldest and most respected outdoor organizations - policy that is consistently represented by IWLA lobbyists who work regularly with legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Legislation is not created by show-trial committee hearings where everyone poses, nor by blustering threats or press releases. It is shaped off-camera in quiet dialogue with members and their legislative aides. The Ikes are able to reach minds that are closed to the NRA.

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