Here is it is, the Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms (wow, LONG name), says former NRA president and director Marion Hammer is a “Second Amendment Champion”.
That’s funny given her terrible record. She might even be worse than Wayne LaPierre.
Then there’s more that’s strange. I knew Alan Gottlieb was EVP of SAF, but he’s also, chairman of CCRKBA. https://saf.org/board-of-trustees/ and https://ccrkba.org/about/#team Look who two of the CCRKBA directors are…
Once upon a time, Cam Edwards did a lot of media work for the NRA, remember ‘Cam & Co.’? But curiously he wasn’t an NRA employee…
And also,
John Petrolino has done many, what I’d call friendly pieces on the NRA, just look some here, https://bearingarms.com/author/john-petrolino
And guess what? In one of Petrolino’s pieces it says Cam Edwards is on the NRA’s nominatting committee… https://bearingarms.com/john-petrolino/2025/04/30/a-closer-look-at-the-2025-nra-officers-election-n1228468
That seemed strange to me. Since Cam Edwards is not a NRA director. Nor is Robben Love, nor Susan Springhorn. But after looking at my copy of the NRA bylaws, amended January 7, 2023, Article VIII Sec. 1 (b) says, “The Nominating Committee shall be composed of nine members entitled to vote, no more than six of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors or Executive Council. Nominations for election to the Nominating Committee shall be made from the floor.” That’s on pages 26 and 27.
Now I couldn’t find anything on Robben Love, but Susan Springhorn is a member and co chair of the NRA WLF which has had some serious allegations raised against it, and a lawsuit filed, see here, https://www.nrawlf.org/our-members/susan-springhorn/ and here, https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-springhorn-ba1a7a2a8 and here https://nraindanger.wordpress.com/2024/09/10/major-new-lawsuit-filed/ (I wonder what’s happened with Fogel’s lawsuit?…)
So, especially in regards to Cam Edwards, who, while it appeared he worked for NRA, he actually worked for Ackerman McQueen, which was a vendor, providing media content for NRA, which NRA has had many back and forth lawsuits with over the years, and is now currently suing… AGAIN. Look here, https://onlygunsandmoney.com/?p=83
And here, https://nraindanger.wordpress.com/2025/04/03/brewer-firms-legacy-still-drains-nra-finances/
Now it appears to be kosher, according to my reading of the NRA bylaws, but it just seems strange that a former employee for a former vendor, which is now being sued by NRA, and current director for another Second Amendment group can be on the NRA’s nominating committee. But, to be fair, Jeff Knox is head of the Firearms Coalition, yet is also an NRA director. But I don’t like the idea of people being in leadership positions of more than one Second Amendment group at a time. There’s too much room in my view for potential conflicts. For instance, if Cam Edwards thinks CCRKBA is the right group, then what’s he doing at NRA? Same goes for Jeff Knox and the Firearms Coalition. By “conflicts” I’m not talking financial corruption, more like divided loyalties and differing views on strategies and things. Being a director’s a busy job, and at least in NRA’s case is an un-paid position, so which organization will you devote more time to? And how do you manage your un-paid job with your day job? That sort of thing. I don’t know if CCKRBA directors are paid or un-paid but I’d assume they’re equally busy.
For Petrolino, I think it’s unprofessional that when he writes about the NRA, he doesn’t disclose he’s a director of CCRKBA. Once again, I’m not saying financial corruption. But, a lack of journalistic integrity. Particularly when a co director sat on the NRA’s nominating committee. Potential conflicts should be disclosed. Just look here, https://bearingarms.com/john-petrolino/2025/04/30/a-closer-look-at-the-2025-nra-officers-election-n1228468
Now we all know, about Marion Hammer, and her being the opposite of a “Second Amendment champion”, but what about Alan Gottlieb? He plead guilty to cheating on his taxes… Look here, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/05/31/Conservative-fund-raiser-gets-prison-for-tax-evasion/9880454824000/
And apparently Gottlieb spent a lot of time on environmental issues while being president and founder, of what appears to be the now defunct Center For The Defense Of Free Enterprise, look here, https://www.desmog.com/center-defense-free-enterprise/ Looks like a lot of money…
And this is the CDFE’s website, which looks like it’s no longer being managed, https://www.cdfe.org/ and look here, it says Gottlieb’s president, https://www.cdfe.org/about-us/staff-and-advisors/
This says Gottlieb owns Merril Press, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Gottlieb
This is the best I could do with finding Merril Press, https://www.openfos.com/supply/4370559-MERRIL-ASSOCIATES-in-Bellevue-WA/
And then of course, there’s the real whopper, why did Gottlieb support universal background checks, aka national gun registration? He appears to think from the video, that if “we” write it, our rights won’t be compromised… Didn’t I read somewhere “shall not be infringed”? Also didn’t I read somewhere that the ATF has a 1billion record national gun registry- which somehow the Second Amendment Task Force hasn’t yet destroyed?
Here’s Gottlieb on video advocating for infringements, https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/safs-alan-gottleib-on-background-checks-lets-make-a-deal/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oRWMxfTcfs
Update, it appears that video no longer exists. Why? Below is the same video but from NAGR on Youtube,
More on Gottlieb’s compromises on the Second Amendment, https://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177507489/guns-rights-activist-endorses-expanded-background-checks
And more, https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/147593-gun-lobbyist-brags-lawmakers-have-stepped-into-our-trap-on-background-checks/
And more, https://www.ammoland.com/2013/04/ccrkba-endorses-manchin-toomey-background-check-deal/
And this is what Alan Gottlieb supported? https://www.politifact.com/article/2013/apr/30/summary-manchin-toomey-gun-proposal/ see the quote below,
Now that’s what he wanted? Gottlieb wanted to expand background checks? Again, “shall not be infringed”… Why is it so hard for 2A groups, to stand their ground and NOT compromise? Is there anyone of them we can trust? Do any understand what the Second Amendment’s use of the term “arms” really means? “Arms” is all the terrible implements of the soldier… That means firearms of all kinds and EVERYTHING else. They should all read up on Tench Coxe.
Is there any “2A” group we can trust? I’m starting to think not. It’s looking more and more like it’s all about the Benjamin’s.
Equip, train, pray and never disarm.
Update,
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