Second Amendment Activist

 

"The right of the People ... shall not be infringed"

Legislative Hall - Dover, Delaware

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My Opening Thoughts

             Although these thoughts are certainly not unique to me, I firmly and steadfastly believe that "Freedom is not free" and that "The price of Freedom is everlasting vigilance."

            Just as the Second Amendment protects the First Amendment, the First Amendment also protects the Second Amendment - and that is where "We, the People" come in.

            Just as we go to the range to exercise the Right to Keep and Bear Arms as a way of keeping it free and vibrant, we must actively exercise our First Amendment's rights as well - the right of assembly, free speech, the freedom of association, and the right to petition our government for the redress of perceived wrongs.

            And do not forget the right of a "free press," for without that right we could not publish our newsletters and magazines or distribute our pamphlets and flyers in support of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and those who support us, and against those who would impose their tyranny upon us.

            NRA's strength and influence as the penultimate defender of firearm freedom in America resides in the activism of its members. Each of us have a sacred duty to do whatever we can, whenever can, and wherever we can to make our voices heard and to spread the gospel of Freedom.

            I often ask myself and other NRA members, "If not me, then who?" And, "If not now, then when?"

            To the extent that NRA's status and influence has been weakened in recent years, we are duty-bound to restore that strength and influence, and to expand that strength and influence far into the future. Freedom demands it, our members demand it, and our country needs it.

             My record as a Second Amendment Activist speaks for itself. It is a record of lifelong devotion to the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment, and the cause of individual freedom originally envisioned by our Founding Fathers.

            I learned my love for the Constitution and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms at my father's knee, as many other loyal NRA members of my generation did. The greatest lesson my father taught to me was that each of us, as loyal and patriotic American citizens, have a solemn duty to protect the freedoms given to us by the Founders and to pass those freedoms along to the next generation.

            I have devoted much of my life to obeying my father's command, living up to his expectations, and performing the patriotic duties expected of each and every American citizen.

Serving the NRA and supporting NRA-ILA are an integral part of my efforts to protect and defend the Constitution and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

 

If our American Republic is to survive and American Freedom is to be saved for future generations, we MUST rebuild and grow the NRA, we MUST strengthen the NRA-ILA, and we MUST do everything within our power to protect and defend the Second Amendment and our beloved Constitution of the United States of America.

 

MY RECORD AS A GRASSROOTS SECOND AMENDMENT ACTIVIST

 

The Early Years as a Fledgling Pro-Gun Grassroots Activist:

            My penchant for grassroots pro-gun activism began unplanned and without conscious effort - it just sort of happened.

            I was a competitive shooter and a police officer. Shooters talk, exchange ideas, express mutual concerns and support one another. Our sport was the basis for our eventual growth into fully engaged Second Amendment Freedom advocates.

            As an officer, I was legally barred from overt political activity, but that did not mean that I could not express my opinion, and I did so freely, openly and frequently, resisting the efforts of others to force compliance with the "politically correct" anti-gun posture of the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

            Joe Biden was an up-and-coming senator from Delaware and the Delaware FOP was dominated by the Democrats. At the time, "Joe" was pushing bans on so-called "Saturday Night Specials" and "Cop-Killer Bullets," and he was using the FOP for his own anti-gun purposes. I pushed back, stood up to the FOP and as a result was labeled "a gun nut."

I suppose I was. I was already an NRA Life member.

            At the same time, I co-founded the Delaware Law Enforcement Marksmanship Association, an all-NRA club, to participate in the NRA's Governors Twenty Program. As its president, I was invited to join the Board of Directors of the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association (DSSA), NRA's official state affiliate in Delaware - and thus began my career as a Second Amendment grassroots activist.

Pro- Bono 2A Lobbyist:

            Upon retiring from law enforcement, I was finally free to actively engage in pro-Second Amendment political activities - and I did, volunteering my time as a pro bono lobbyist for our NRA State Association, DSSA.

            I have testified as a pro-Second Amendment witness before both the Delaware House and Senate many times. The first time I testified before the House Public Safety Committee almost cost me both my job as a Police Captain, and my pension. (See the endorsement letter from The Honorable Charles W. Welch III for details).

            Our State Association president and chief lobbyist was a Democrat. I was a Republican. He and I made a good team, and we lobbied together for many years until his untimely death after which I lobbied alone.

            During my thirty years as an active registered pro bono (volunteer) lobbyist for DSSA we passed many important bills pro-gun and defeated many anti-gun bills. I had the privilege to write (or at least draft) most of that pro-gun legislation.

 

 

On-Offense - Other Bills I Have Written:

            I drafted all of the bills listed above as having passed while I was DSSA's registered lobbyist. I also wrote all of the following bills, some of which I lobbied for and others after I was no longer the registered lobbyist. All were written on a pro bono (volunteer) basis:

 

 

 

On Defense - Amendments Written "Behind Enemy Lines":

            Delaware is a "Blue State." We are home to the most anti-gun President the United States has ever seen - and he was just as bad during his forty-plus years as a United States Senator. As you might expect, his anti-gun bias permeates the Democrats who dominate our General Assembly. And, to make matters worse, "The Brady's" live(d) in Delaware.

            This means that much of our work as pro-gun lobbyists in Delaware is devoted to defense rather than offense, amending bills brought by the other side. Delaware has the so-called "mirror image rule," meaning that both Houses must exactly the same measure. That means if we can amend it in one house it must go back to the other house for consideration. Thus, a game of "legislative ping pong" is possible, and, of course, we are constantly playing that game, when we can.

            I write the vast majority of those pro-gun amendments, sometimes as many as ten or twelve at a time for a single bill. Every once in a while, we are successful in attaching an amendment to a bill that literally guts the bill. In one case we amended the bill so that it was totally unenforceable, and no arrest has ever been made using that law for the last twenty (20) years.

            One Speaker of the House labeled me as "The King of the Killer Amendment." I like that title - I wear it proudly.

Board Member and President of DSSA

            I have had the honor, privilege, and pleasure of serving, first on the Board of Directors, and then as the President of the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association (DSSA). DSSA is NRA's official "state association" in Delaware.

            Founded in 1968 specifically to fight for the rights of hunters, competitors, and gun owners in the First State, DSSA has always worked in close alliance with and supported the efforts of NRA and NRA-ILA.

            In that role I have recruited, educated, and helped to elect numerous pro-gun candidates for office over the years.

NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator:

            Some years ago, NRA-ILA's Grassroots Division conducted a program in which volunteers were recruited to serve as "Election Volunteer Coordinators" whose jobs were to recruit and connect NRA grassroots volunteers to political campaigns for pro-gun candidates that needed assistance.

            I was Delaware's NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator for ten (10) years, five (5) consecutive election cycles. This volunteer "job" fit perfectly with my activities as a volunteer lobbyist and with my activities as a political strategist for the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association.

Partisan 2A Activity:

            I am a life-long Republican. Republicans have not always been defenders of or even friendly to the Second Amendment.

            I learned early in life that the best way to change an organization is to be an activist on the inside. I did that with Delaware's Republican Party, standing tall for the Second Amendment against a rabidly anti-gun RINO governor, preaching "The Gospel of Individual Freedom," recruiting and educating others in the Second Amendment cause along the way.

            At various times I have held the following Republican Party offices:

Member of the Republican National Committee (RNC)

Member, 2012 Republican National Platform Committee

Member, RNC Conservative Caucus

Chairman, RNC Conservative Steering Committee

Chairman, Delaware Republican State Committee

At-Large Member, Delaware Republican State Committee

Chairman, Kent County Republican Committee

Chairman, 34^th District Republican Committee

 

            As a member of the 2012 Republican National Platform Committee, I helped to draft and pass the strongest pro-Second Amendment plank ever adopted by a major national party as part of its National Platform.

 

Second Amendment Political Strategist and Operative:

 

            For many years I served as the unofficial political strategist for NRA's state association in Delaware. I have recruited candidates, educated candidates, and helped elect pro-gun candidates for many years.

 

            I served as campaign manager for two US Senate campaigns, one US House campaign, and in several different roles, including Treasurer, in a number of other Delaware House and Senate campaigns. Additionally, I served as the Second Amendment Policy Advisor for several campaigns, including one gubernatorial campaign.

 

            I also ran, unsuccessfully, for Kent County Levy Court in 2016 against a rabidly anti-gun and anti-NRA incumbent.

 

 

Pro-Second Amendment Lawyer:

 

            In addition to writing and analyzing legislation, I also co-founded the Delaware Association of Second Amendment Lawyers and founded the highly successful Annual Delaware Firearms Law Seminar.

 

            I currently serve as the Chairman of DSSA's Legal Affairs Committee and as their chief litigation strategist. The Delaware State Sportsmen's Association (DSSA) has successfully sued the State of Delaware four (4) times in defense of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

 

DSSA is also currently challenging four (4) other constitutionally invalid laws: The governor's ban on semi-auto rifles, pistols and shotguns, the ban on standard capacity magazines, the ban on possession and ownership of firearms by adults under the age of 21 years, and Delaware's new "Permit-to-Purchase Scheme." These matters are all currently pending in both state and federal courts.

 

In Defense of the "Big Fifties":

 

            There was a time in the past (late 1990's and early 2000's) when NRA and NRA-ILA were hesitant to forcefully and publicly fight for the .50 caliber target rifles used by the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association (FCSA) in competition. In fairness, there were other, bigger battles being fought at the time and the then- "powers that be" were afraid of the unfair negative publicity then associated with and surrounding "The Big Fifties."

 

            I disagreed. I became a member of the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association and eventually served on its Board of Directors. I also served on the Board of the Fifty Caliber Institute which is FCSA's political arm. I eventually became the President of the Fifty Caliber Institute.

 

            Ultimately, we were successful in convincing both NRA and NRA-ILA to take a more active role in defending "The Big Fifties."

 

Thank you, NRA-ILA, for defending and helping to save "The Big Fifties."

 

Membership in Other Grassroots Organizations:

 

Texas State Rifle Association

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Oklahoma Rifle Association

Ohio Gun Collectors

Missouri Valley Arms Collectors

Bridgeville Rifle & Pistol Club