While things did not turn out entirely as we would have liked on Election Day, 2008, we have much to be proud of.

You have changed the face of gun politics in the United States of America.  It wasn’t too long ago that politicians proudly campaigned on their support for additional gun control laws.  And thanks to your activism, there was a name for such politicians-LOSERS.

Fast forward to 2008, where you would be hard pressed to find a politician running for any office anywhere in America who doesn’t claim to support the Second Amendment, or who publicly supports more gun control restrictions during campaign stump speeches.  Again, the reason for that is YOU.  The 2008 elections were not a rejection of our message.  Quite the contrary; it was an embrace of our message--albeit at times by candidates whose records did not match their pro-freedom rhetoric!  Make no mistake, we will hold these elected officials, and all others, accountable for their votes. 

While NRA and its legions of members and volunteers always work tirelessly to educate the electorate about candidates’ positions on the Second Amendment, in the 2008 elections, other issues rose to the surface in voters’ minds.

This does not lessen the fact that NRA members and gun owners were actively engaged this election season, as we are every election cycle.  We had tens of thousands of volunteers, in every pocket of the country, registering new pro-gun voters; talking to their family, friends, and fellow firearm owners; writing letters to the editors; recruiting volunteers; distributing yard signs bumper stickers, and literature; making phone calls; working at candidates’ campaign headquarters; and turning out the vote and working the polls on Election Day.

Each and every one of you has earned our thanks and recognition for your tireless commitment to our noble cause of freedom.  You are the tip of our grassroots arrow, and none of our accomplishments would be remotely possible without you.

Now is the time for a brief respite, some reflection, and then regrouping as we move forward. We will evaluate our efforts and perfect and expand what we did well. We will also determine what we may have done better and work to improve in those areas.

We have a chance in the 2009 elections to elect pro-gun lawmakers to office and set the stage accordingly for the 2010 midterm congressional elections.  Make no mistake, we will face a determined opposition, so it is more important than ever that we dig our heels in and re-double our efforts!

All of us here at NRA-ILA are honored to wage our noble battle, in the trenches, alongside all of you.

We wish you all the blessings to you and your family as our season of thanks approaches.  You have our eternal thanks and gratitude.