The endorsements are here, the endorsements are here

For me, as a voter, I don't give a hind's end about endorsements, but others might.

NRA endorsements for Iowa (and I see that Kent Sorenson in District 37 gets the endorsement over Staci (vote on one gun bill) Appel.

Gun Owners of America has a slightly different take on Iowa

Thanks to David Codrea of pointing these resources out.
Gun Owners of America releases 2010 candidate grades
And
NRA ratings

Will they or won't they?

In state senate District 37, which is it?

NRA endorses Staci Appel?

NRA endorses Kent Sorenson?

Earlier this year, Sorenson talks about being threatened by the NRA for attempting to attach stronger rights amendments to the various bills at the statehouse.

I wrote at What should be the end of the NRA in Iowa

The NRA told one of the most vigorous and loyal 2nd Amendment politicians in the state that they would back his opponent in the 2010 election if he wouldn't sit down, shut up and quit offering stronger pro-gun-rights amendments to their pet bill. Yeah, that's politics.

Listen to an interview between Steve Deace of WHO radio and Rep. Sorenson

Based on that interview, it wouldn't surprise me if the NRA endorsed Appel.

With politics beings a dirty sport, and because of the bad blood between gun rights groups and the NRA, it also wouldn't surprise me that this "endorsement" was leaked knowing that it would be jumped upon, with the result of making us look like gullible rubes.

But that's the cynic side of me again.

And that brings me to the ridiculous part of the whole thing: Who gives a rat's behind who some conglomerate lobbying organization or some celebrity politician (Palin) endorses anyway?

I'll support who I want to and vote my conscience.

And I will continue to vote the bums out:

NRA search again

Is it ironic that you have a spelling fail while searching for a fail?



I don't know what they're looking for but it's nice that google helps them out with their second visit.

See earlier post "iowa gun owners fail"

And speaking of google:

"iowa gun owners fail"

I don't know if the NRA is gloating as in Iowa Gun Owners "fail" or that the gun owners who live in Iowa "fail".

I hope they spent enough time to read what I really think of them.

What should be the end of the NRA in Iowa

If the following be true (and I have no reason to believe otherwise), any bit of respect for the "largest 2nd Amendment group" is gone. From an Iowa Gun Owners 3/26/10 alert:

Our bill sponsor, Representative Kent Sorenson is now being threatened, politically, by those very people in the Capitol who are pushing compromised and watered down carry language - and you are not going to believe where this threat came from.

Rep. Sorensen, one of the staunchest supporters we have in the statehouse, was told regarding the current carry bill HF2528,

either help us [NRA] with our bill (and we will make you a hero in Iowa) or we will help your opponent in the upcoming election.

The common perception is that the reference is to Sen. Stacy Appel (for more background of Appel and her husband, go to: Staci Appel Is Costing Taxpayers A Lot Of Money Appel is one of the most liberal POS politicians in the state, second to Gronstal (the only politician whom the NRA gave money to). Neither of the pukes are friends of gun owners.

The NRA told one of the most vigorous and loyal 2nd Amendment politicians in the state that they would back his opponent in the 2010 election if he wouldn't sit down, shut up and quit offering stronger pro-gun-rights amendments to their pet bill. Yeah, that's politics.

That's right, an NRA lobbyist said that he was going to try to defeat a pro-gun Representative like Sorenson because he's too.............pro-gun.

And, the opponent that Sorenson has in his upcoming election is a notorious anti-gunner!!!

So the NRA is willing to support an anti-gunner over pro-gun Representative Kent Sorenson just because he does not like the details of the NRA bill.

Listen to an interview between Steve Deace of WHO radio and Rep. Sorenson

That's why the NRA should be kicked out of Iowa

More at The case against the NRA

The case against the NRA

Their meddling in Wisconsin: Why NRA is nuts to expand background checks

Their lying:

(Speaking about Wisconsin, again, but can apply anywhere) The NRA is second to no one in wanting to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals, but the NRA can't support new restrictions on lawful firearms owners and retailers at gun shows across the state. Anti-gun politicians trying to save face by offering a "compromise" won't find a receptive audience among NRA members. The gun-banners were wrong to block Right-to-Carry in the legislature, and they're wrong to say their lukewarm support for Right-to-Carry is contingent on new gun-control laws being passed as well. - Wayne LaPierre
NRA: Final 2 States Without Right-to-Carry Gun Laws Will Fall

This is the claim, but they helped write and pushed for compromise laws that expand gun control in Iowa and takes rights away from citizens. They "compromise" all the time.

Find more examples at NRAwol.net

Find more Wayne LaPierre lunacy at: Gun Owners Alliance for a No-Compromise NRA

My day with the NRA

It was more like a couple of hours.

Number One Son and I spent some time at a NRA's grassroots workshop that was held in Cedar Rapids on the 6th. Advertised as:

At these FREE Workshops, NRA-ILA Staff will discuss how you can take on an even more active role in your community in our fight to advance and protect our freedoms in this very busy year! We will provide you with the materials and strategies needed to educate, empower, and engage your fellow gun owners as well.

It was a basic course on contacting your representatives in government and then morphed into recruiting volunteers to put on a face for the NRA in the state. There was nothing new for me.

They also spoke about the NRA/IowaCarry bill and some in the audience didn't seem to have a clue that there was any new legislation introduced at the statehouse.

What struck me was Brent Gartner(sp?) from the NRA kept stating that the bill would restore the "right to carry" by requiring a citizen to get a permit to carry. "Right"? I think he's confused.

But featured speaker, Iowa's Senator Chuck Grassley, managed to embarrass himself with a clumsy, rambling speech thanking the NRA for his initial election to the Senate in 1980. I thought it was gracious of him to thank the organization, but I expected more from someone who's been in the senate for almost 30 years and in politics for years more. I thought it sad, really.