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Republican National Convention Opens With Ammunition Against NRA

By Nancy Bailey
Published on: 07:07 PST, Jul 19, 2016

The Republican National Convention was preceded by a letter sent en masse by a group which asked for a $25 donation to fact check talking points by the NRA.

The group, “Everytown for Gun Safety,” specifically blasted away at Donald Trump’s running mate, Governor Mike Pence, whose NRA worldview they described as “radical.” The group asked for money for support at the Republican National Convention, which began in Cleveland on Monday.

It accused Donald Trump of “parroting the NRA’s dangerous agenda.”

“Keeping America safe from gun violence and standing for common-sense gun laws should be an issue that crosses party lines, as it was in past elections.”

Captioned, “The NRA’s Dream Ticket” and signed by Chief Strategy Officer Brina Milikowsky, the letter cited the New York Times from March 29, 1991. In an article titled, “Why I’m For The Brady Bill,” President Ronald Reagan supported background checks for gun sales.

In the post, Reagan recounted the assassination attempt on his life, in an attack which nearly killed press secretary James Brady and rendered him paralyzed.

“Named for Jim Brady, this legislation would establish a national seven-day waiting period before a handgun purchaser could take delivery. It would allow local law enforcement officials to do background checks for criminal records or known histories of mental disturbances. Those with such records would be prohibited from buying the handguns.”

Milikowsky referred to the New York Times again from May 3, 1995, wherein George H.W. Bush sent a letter of resignation to the Rifle Association.

But Pence, Milikowsky claimed, has received tens of thousands of dollars from the NRA throughout his career. In exchange, Pence has given, “blanket immunity to gun manufacturers.”

The group recalled an article by Stephanie Wang in the Indie Star, March 26, 2014: “Governor Mike Pence Signs Bill To Allow Guns In School Parking Lots.”

“… Instead of bucking the NRA’s extremist worldview, the Trump campaign has doubled down. Adding Governor Pence to the ticket has made that all the more clear.”

Milikowsky added that this election and the dangerous rhetoric at this week’s Republican National Convention offers a “very stark choice” in the type of nation we want to live in.

“We don’t want to live in the NRA’s future, where every American should be armed to the teeth in order to go to the grocery store.”

The letter closed with asking for $25 to help monitor the NRA’s talking points.

It remains to be seen how the NRA’s agenda will fare at the Convention. But according to an article in the Boston Globe, Hillary Clinton was targeted by many speakers.

Anti-Trump delegates were “shot down” when they tried to move for a roll call vote on a measure.

The vote would have allowed individual delegates to ignore the primary results in their home states, instead voting with their conscience.

But the belligerent request was refused, as the Boston Globe put it, “likely the last gasp of a Never Trump movement, and paved the way for the coronation of Trump as the GOP nominee this week.”

According to Mercury News, Tuesday is NRA day at the Convention.

Chris Cox, the top lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, takes the stage during this time of great unrest over the recent shootings involving police officers.

“Expect Trump’s supporters to voice overwhelming support for police officers and overwhelming opposition to stricter gun control measures, in line with the NRA. Yet that full-throated call will come just as Trump is working to expand his appeal to Democrats and Clinton supporters who by and large want to see new gun laws in the wake of mass shootings like the recent one in Orlando, Florida.”

[Photo by Evan Vucci/AP]

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