Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

NRA Letter To The Editor Of The <i>Los Angeles Times</i>

Thursday, August 9, 2001

Below is a letter by James J. Baker to the Los Angeles Times responding to commentary by flack-for-hire Scott Reed. The LA Times chose not to provide the NRA an opportunity to respond to Reed`s anti-NRA views by refusing to print Mr. Baker`s brief but succint response.

LOS ANGELES TIMES Gun Shows and Politics by James Jay Baker August 2, 2001 Dear Editor: Scott Reed’s packaged rhetoric offering the Republican Party advice on “how to win back women” [commentary, August 2], by supporting new gun control measures merits response if only to disclose one salient fact: Scott Reed is a hired gun (pardon the pun) of billionaire Andrew McKelvey’s gun-control group, Americans for Gun Safety (AGS). This fact helps divulge why an ex-GOP campaign operative, who once unabashedly solicited money and support from the National Rifle Association (NRA) would suddenly have a new viewpoint on this issue. But his willingness to flack-for-cash on this issue also fulfills a belief that is widely held in Washington ever since campaign manager Reed coaxed a reluctant Bob Dole into bungling the gun issue in Dole’s ill-fated 1996 presidential campaign - that Reed simply doesn’t “get” the politics of Second Amendment freedoms Basic review will reveal that there is no gun show “loophole.” All federal and state laws governing who can buy and sell firearms apply at gun shows. With little regard to this fact, Mr. Reed’s bankroller and some in Congress are proposing a waiting period for gun show transfers of up to five days nationwide. Rudimentary math can show that imposing a five-day waiting period on a two-day event will abrogate transactions and put gun shows permanently out-of-business. The NRA supported a bill in Congress that would have provided for an instant background check of no longer than 24 hours through the National Instant Check System on every gun sold at a gun show. Nonetheless, the Democratic leadership in the House killed that proposal. Some pundits, at that time, speculated Democrats did this to make gun control the centerpiece of the 2000 presidential election. Even more pundits today say that this tactic cost Al Gore the presidency. Mr. Reed would also lead one to believe that most criminals obtain their weapons at gun shows. A National Institute of Justice survey found that less than 2% of criminals’ firearms came from gun shows. The core of Mr. Reed’s assertion is that backing his billionaire boss’s pet legislation will help the GOP woo women voters. But, women are the fastest growing segment of gun owners and NRA members. And, what motivates these daughters, mothers and grandmothers to purchase firearms? The answer is elementary; keeping themselves and their loved ones safe. In closing, here’s one final point. AGS, with a billionaire backer and poll-tested moniker, has zero Americans for members and nothing to do with gun safety. In contrast, the NRA has 4.4 million law-abiding Americans living in every congressional district of this nation and a 130 year old legacy of teaching and investing in gun safety. James Jay Baker Executive Director NRA Institute for Legislative Action Fairfax, VA
Read Scott Reed`s article here For more information see: The Gun Show "Loophole:" More Gun Control Disguised as Crime Control Lieberman-McCain Gun Show Bill Sen. Jack Reed`s S. 767 The 1999 Lautenberg "Gun Show" Bill With a New Sponsor The Truth about Gun Shows Gun Shows Under Attack!
TRENDING NOW
Michigan: Final Push to Limit Gun Rights as Session Clock Runs Down

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Michigan: Final Push to Limit Gun Rights as Session Clock Runs Down

With only a few days left in the session, anti-gun legislators are doing everything they can to pass additional legislation restricting the Second Amendment rights of Michigan citizens. The legislation below could be taken up ...

Concealed Carry Permit, Gun Sale Numbers Stay Strong in 2024

News  

Monday, December 16, 2024

Concealed Carry Permit, Gun Sale Numbers Stay Strong in 2024

The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) has released the latest in its series of annual reports on trends in concealed carry permits in America.

Here We Go Again: Anti-gun States Simultaneously Sue Law-Abiding Gunmaker

News  

Friday, December 13, 2024

Here We Go Again: Anti-gun States Simultaneously Sue Law-Abiding Gunmaker

Last week, the anti-gun attorneys general of Minnesota and New Jersey filed nearly simultaneous lawsuits against firearm maker Glock, essentially claiming the company was violating the laws of those states by making guns that are too easy to illegally ...

Maine: Prepare for Progressives to Attack Your Hunting Rights

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Maine: Prepare for Progressives to Attack Your Hunting Rights

While 2024 may be winding down now, the 2025 legislative session is about to heat up, and radical anti-gun progressive politicians are already planning new ways to strip you of your fundamental rights.  

Gun Control Activists Cite “Loopholes” in CEO’s Murder, Ignore Facts and Law

News  

Monday, December 16, 2024

Gun Control Activists Cite “Loopholes” in CEO’s Murder, Ignore Facts and Law

Predictably, gun control activists are citing the cold-blooded Manhattan murder of health insurance executive Brian Thompson to call for more gun control, particularly in the hot-button areas of “ghost guns” and “3D printed firearms.” 

NYC Subway More Dangerous Than the Gridiron?

News  

Monday, December 16, 2024

NYC Subway More Dangerous Than the Gridiron?

Violent crime in New York City has been a growing concern over the last few years.  

Michigan: Take Action Against Anti-Gun Legislation TODAY!

Friday, December 13, 2024

Michigan: Take Action Against Anti-Gun Legislation TODAY!

With lame duck session in full swing, Michigan Democrats are doing everything they can to pass additional anti-gun legislation. Last night, the Senate passed, among other things, legislation that would restrict home-built firearms and ban ...

Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon

News  

Monday, December 9, 2024

Canada Announces New Gun Bans, More Gun Control on the Horizon

On December 5, at a late afternoon press conference in Ottawa, Canada’s federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced that 324 additional makes and variants of rifles would be added to the 2020 list of ...

Hunter Biden Pardon Makes a Fitting Mockery of Federal Gun Control

News  

Monday, December 9, 2024

Hunter Biden Pardon Makes a Fitting Mockery of Federal Gun Control

NRA-ILA routinely points out that it is more informative to watch anti-gun politicians and officials’ behavior than to listen to the platitudes they spew about enacting gun control to protect the public. 

Michigan: Anti-Gun Legislation Passed in the Middle of the Night Heads To Governor’s Desk

Friday, December 20, 2024

Michigan: Anti-Gun Legislation Passed in the Middle of the Night Heads To Governor’s Desk

With the sun setting on the 2023-2024 legislative session, yesterday the Michigan Senate held a marathon session lasting over 24 hours. While citizens were sleeping, anti-gun lawmakers were able to pass two pieces of legislation, ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.