Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

A Clarion Call For Action

Friday, July 29, 2016

A Clarion Call For Action

This feature appears in the August ’16 issue of the NRA official journals.

The NRA held its 2016 Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Louisville, Ky., May 20-22. More than 80,000 NRA members attended, and it was an outstanding event on all levels.

One of the highlights was our 10th annual ILA Leadership Forum, where some of the leading voices in the nation spoke to thousands of NRA members about the importance of our fundamental Second Amendment-protected rights. I’d like to share part of the message I delivered that day here in my column for members who were unable to attend or view online.

Friends, this past year has been crazy. 

I’ve traveled all over America, and gun owners know that there’s far more at stake in this election than just left vs. right. There’s a growing belief that this is a do-or-die fight for the soul of our country. 

Because after eight years of dishonesty, corruption and failure, the America we know is becoming unrecognizable. Everything we believe in—everything we’ve always known to be good, right and true—has been twisted, perverted and repackaged to our kids as wrong, backward and abnormal.

NRA is now one of the toughest, best-organized and most-respected defenders of American values. And tens of millions of our fellow Americans look to us for leadership.

They’re realizing what we’ve known for years—that dishonesty, corruption and contempt for ordinary Americans hits a breaking point. And that breaking point is now. If we don’t show up at the polls in force this November, we will witness the end—the end of individual freedom in this country. 

That’s not hyperbole. It’s the truth.… after eight years of dishonesty, corruption and failure, the America we know is becoming unrecognizable.

But first, we’ve got to get together. It’s time to unite.

If your preferred candidate dropped out of the race, it’s time to get over it.

Now, were there differences between the candidates for the nomination? Of course. 

Were there valid arguments in favor of some over others? Sure. 

Will any of it matter if Hillary Clinton wins in November? Not one bit. 

Let me ask you a simple question: If you’re at home and someone kicks in your door and tries to murder you and your family, should you have the right to defend yourself with a firearm? 

Friends, that question will be answered for all of us this November. Because the next president’s first decision will be who to nominate as Justice [Antonin] Scalia’s replacement on the U.S. Supreme Court. His [Scalia’s] majority opinion in the Heller case set legal precedent for what we have always known—of course we have an individual right to own and use a firearm to protect ourselves in our own homes. 

And in case you don’t know where Hillary Clinton stands, here is what she said: 

“And here again, the Supreme Court is wrong on the Second Amendment. And I am going to make that case every chance I get, so I will need your help on that.”

Think about that for a second.

So challenge every gun owner you know. If they haven’t joined the NRA, they need to join now. If they don’t know what’s at stake, they need to know now.The Supreme Court said you have the right to protect your life against a murderer, in your own home, and Hillary Clinton says that’s wrong. That’s how little she values our freedom and how little she values our lives. Here’s what will happen if she’s elected. She’ll put a radical, anti-gun activist in Scalia’s seat as soon as she can.

Friends, let me say this clearly. Hillary Clinton has a legitimate chance to be the next president as long as people like us stay home. And she is dedicated to eliminating our rights, [saying]: 

“I am here to tell you, I will use every single minute of every day, if I am so fortunate enough to be your president, looking for ways that we can save lives, that we can change gun culture.” 

We love our country and the freedoms that make us great. And we’re going to fight for the America we believe in. 

Friends, that fight is already on. If we wait until November, we will lose everything. So challenge every gun owner you know. If they haven’t joined the nra, they need to join now. If they don’t know what’s at stake, they need to know now. 

This is a fight for our freedom! And if we stand united, we can be the key to denying Hillary Clinton the opportunity to destroy those freedoms.

TRENDING NOW
Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes General Assembly and Semi-Auto Ban Temporarily Removed from Calendar

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Colorado: Mandatory Storage Bill Passes General Assembly and Semi-Auto Ban Temporarily Removed from Calendar

In a temporary reprieve for Colorado gun owners, the semi-auto ban HB24-1292 has been removed from the calendar. But we cannot let our guard down as gun control advocates can bring it up for a vote at ...

The U.S. Supreme Court Looks at Government “Blacklists”

News  

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

The U.S. Supreme Court Looks at Government “Blacklists”

Much of the attention this past week in the United States Supreme Court was the oral arguments in National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, No. 22-842, a First Amendment case on whether government officials ...

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes Committee and Sensitive Places Bill Hearing Rescheduled for Today!

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Passes Committee and Sensitive Places Bill Hearing Rescheduled for Today!

Yesterday the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 24-1292, the semi-auto ban, that lasted over 12 hours where hundreds of patriotic Coloradans overloaded the committee with opposition testimony. The hearing concluded with an ...

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Antonyuk v. James

News  

Second Amendment  

Monday, March 25, 2024

NRA Files Amicus Brief Asking Supreme Court to Hear Antonyuk v. James

In response to the NRA’s victory in Bruen, which secured every American’s right to carry arms, NY passed the “Concealed Carry Improvement Act,” severely restricting carry throughout the state. The 2nd Circuit upheld many of ...

25 years and one PLCAA Later, Chicago is Still Harassing Gunmakers

News  

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

25 years and one PLCAA Later, Chicago is Still Harassing Gunmakers

On March 19, the city of Chicago filed suit against handgun manufacturer Glock. Seeking to shift responsibility for the city’s woeful governance, Chicago’s lawsuit blames the popular firearm manufacturer for the third-party criminal misuse of ...

Washington: Governor Signs Anti-Gun Legislation

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Washington: Governor Signs Anti-Gun Legislation

Today, Governor Inslee signed five anti-gun bills into law that were recently passed by the Washington State Legislature. The bills include:

Anti-gun Democrats Seek to Undermine Law Passed to Protect Veterans’ Rights

News  

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Anti-gun Democrats Seek to Undermine Law Passed to Protect Veterans’ Rights

Last week we reported on a major breakthrough on behalf of veterans who risked losing their Second Amendment rights because of a long-running scheme by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report certain beneficiaries ...

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Scheduled for Floor Vote Today!

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Colorado: Semi-Auto Ban Scheduled for Floor Vote Today!

Today, the House is scheduled to vote on HB24-1292, the ban on semi-automatic firearms. Please contact your legislators today by using the button below and urge them to OPPOSE HB24-1292!

Louisiana: Firearms Bills on the Move - Take Action Now!

Monday, March 25, 2024

Louisiana: Firearms Bills on the Move - Take Action Now!

A number of firearm-related bills, including enhanced preemption, are moving in the Louisiana Legislature. It's critical that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters get involved to keep the momentum going!

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee Passes Full Inclusion Sunday Hunting

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Pennsylvania: Senate Committee Passes Full Inclusion Sunday Hunting

On Wednesday, the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee voted 7-4 to pass Senate Bill 67 to the Senate floor for a vote. 

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.