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NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT: Vol. 19, No. 38 09/21/2012

DOJ "Fast and Furious" Report Hits Hard--But Pulls Punches on Holder

The Department of Justice Inspector General's report on the "Fast and Furious" scandal was released this week, and while it found 14 officials from the department and its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives responsible for the reckless program, it failed, unfortunately, to hold Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. responsible for the actions of those under his supervision.

The report provides a valuable account of the operation and the department's response, concluding that the operation "quickly grew into an investigation that lacked realistic objectives, did not have appropriate supervision within ATF or the U.S. Attorney's Office, and failed to adequately assess the public safety consequences" of letting guns flow freely into Mexico.

Even the New York Times, one of the leading media supporters of President Obama and an avid opponent of gun owners' rights, said in an editorial that "The recklessness of federal officials in their harebrained scheme to assist in illegal gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels was laid bare in a scathing report by the Justice Department's inspector general. ...Something as half baked as Operation Fast and Furious should never have been concocted in the name of law enforcement."

But the report also begs the question of who is actually in charge at the Department of Justice if such a program can be conducted for more a year, supposedly without the knowledge or approval of senior officials and the Attorney General himself.

Rumor Control: U.N. ATT and POA, Bad but Different

The latest rumor making its way through the darker corners of the internet is an inaccurate spin on the U.N.'s never-ending mission to disarm the American people. The rumors vary, but some have wrongly claimed that the U.S. has secretly adopted a U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, subjecting Americans to the schemes of U.N. gun controllers.

The confusion stems from a misunderstanding of the differences between July's month-long U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the Second Review Conference for the U.N. Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (POA) that took place August 27 through September 7. The ATT and POA, while having many of the same anti-gun supporters and objectives, are two distinct U.N. initiatives.

Watch the Latest Grassroots News Minute

As If Anyone Needed Another Reason to Vote This Year . . .

The Obama administration has been trying to spin all manner of news like a centrifuge recently, so the latest shenanigan of the president's spinner-in-chief at the Department of Justice, Tracy Schmaler, could easily have been lost in the shuffle. But it didn't escape the attention of everyone in the media.

This is one of those stories that has a background, and it is one that is well known. Last year, we learned that the Obama administration lied when it told Congress that it didn't know that its "Operation Fast and Furious" had deliberately allowed hundreds of guns to be smuggled from the United States to Mexico, without the knowledge of Mexican officials.

Then, we learned that Obama administration officials supported the smuggling, expecting that the resulting drug cartel crimes could be exploited to impose gun control in the United States.

Hunters and Anglers Have Huge, Positive Impact on Economy

There are many groups in our country these days that would love to see America's great traditions of hunting and fishing go by the wayside--the sooner the better. However, sportsmen and women who participate in these activities are determined not to let that happen.

Among the many benefits the hunting and fishing industries provide to our great nation are their contributions to the country's financial bottom line. In these uncertain economic times, many people are not aware that expenditures made by hunters and fishermen pump a lot of money--a whole lot of money--into the country's economy. How much? Well, according to a recent press release by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (the trade association for the firearms industry), $90 billion--yes billion--per year. That's serious money!

Call to Action for "National Call Day"

NRA members and pro-gun supporters will be making phone calls this Saturday, September 22, as part of our "National Call Day". Currently NRA-ILA has 25 Campaign Field Representatives (CFRs) in targeted states across the county. These CFRs are organizing events for "National Call Day" this Saturday. To participate today, click "Read More" below to see if there is a NRA-ILA CFR in your area and contact him or her to assist!

Preparing Today for Success on Election Day!

The engine that drives the NRA machine is you…and your fellow tens of millions of Second Amendment supporters. The one factor in any campaign that is critical is TIME. Every day we are not working to increase our volunteer ranks is a day lost that we will never get back. As the calendar turns and we get closer to Election Day, things only get more hectic. That is why RIGHT NOW is a great time to ensure you maximize your effectiveness in those crazy days and weeks leading up to Election Day. What should you be doing TODAY to ensure success on November 6? We have some suggestions.

Put Your Support on Display. Order Your NRA-ILA Yard Signs Today!

It has been estimated that well-placed campaign signs can account for four percentage points on Election Day. Think back to the 2000 presidential election, where 537 votes in Florida separated George W. Bush from Al Gore, and four percentage points seems like a landslide!

While you are focused like a laser beam on the November 6 election, some gun owners may not be aware of what's at stake for the future of the Second Amendment on Election Day.

Go All In! Work Locally with Your NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative

Your NRA-ILA Campaign Field Representative (CFR) is an NRA-ILA staff person who will be living in your area, coordinating our volunteer activities with one goal in mind--ensuring pro-Second Amendment voters turn out to "Vote Freedom First!" on Election Day. Your CFR will be recruiting volunteers to: register voters, make phone calls, knock on doors, generate letters to the editor, distribute candidate information, attend events and turn out the pro-gun vote on Election Day. Please contact your CFR today to find out how you can assist in ensuring pro-freedom lawmakers are elected to office.