ILA Grassroots Rallies Faithful For Election ’06!

This morning, nearly 200 enthusiastic NRA members convened at NRA-ILA’s Grassroots Workshop in Milwaukee to learn what more they can do in their local communities to elect pro-gun lawmakers to office this November.

As usual, the Grassroots Workshop featured remarks from NRA’s national officers—Sandra Froman (President), John Sigler (First Vice President), Ron Schmeits (Second Vice President), Wayne LaPierre (Executive Vice President), and Chris Cox (NRA-ILA Executive Director).  One after the other, NRA’s officers thanked the volunteers for their dedication and hard work in the trenches, imploring them to continue their grassroots efforts to help ensure the electoral momentum gun owners have enjoyed in previous election cycles continues this year.

In addition to the rousing remarks given by NRA’s officers, there were also a number of other notable guest speakers.  Following her remarks, President Froman recognized Colonel Jairo Paes de Lira, spokesman for the “Campaign of NO” group that opposed Brazil’s failed handgun ban.  In his remarks, Col. de Lira lauded NRA and its grassroots programs as models for gun owners everywhere.  Later in the program, attendees heard from Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, who told the crowd that “no organization, on any issue, anywhere, is more important and effective than NRA…[that] preserves all our other freedoms.”  Next, members heard from NRA-ILA’s Federal Affairs Director Chuck Cunningham and ILA State Liaison Darren LaSorte, who discussed ILA’s pro-gun federal and state legislative priorities.

Following the Workshop, scores of Wisconsin NRA members signed up to play an active role with various pro-gun candidates for office in the Badger State, pledging to begin practicing what had been preached during the seminar.

While most of those in attendance are already doing their fair share in support of pro-freedom candidates, NRA-ILA’s Grassroots staff provided additional information and training to bolster their existing efforts and to ensure they act as our ambassadors throughout the pro-gun community, encouraging other Second Amendment supporters to actively engage themselves in the political process, and help grow our formidable corps of grassroots volunteers. 

(Editor’s Note: Look for a complete report on NRA’s Annual Meetings in Milwaukee in next week’s Grassroots Alert.)