In reference to this, https://www.ammoland.com/2025/05/rep-sheri-biggs-introduces-bill-to-ease-shotgun-purchases/ I must ask, why?
So we have a congresswoman, who’s trying to take short barreled shot guns off the NFA. That’s nice, I’m all for it, I’m all for repealing all gun laws. Every terrible act is already illegal, so why do we need gun laws? Yeah, I know, tyrants are going to want more and more power.
But notice who wrote the opinion piece? “NRAHQ”. And NRA-ILA supports the bill, which is good. No problem there. Though it does make me wonder if NRAHQ pays to have its opinion pieces published?
But my main question and main problem is, in 1934, the National Rifle Association supported the National Firearms Act, which was the first ever national gun control bill. Why? Well everybody from back then’s dead, and I haven’t been able to read any period pieces which give very much detail into the then NRA leadership’s thinking.
When I’ve raised the NRA’s support for control over the last 91 years on other sites, especially regarding the NFA, people often respond with “all those guys are dead, new people run the NRA”.
That’s true. But, instead of halfway measures, like the bill references above, that takes short barreled shotguns off the NFA, or other bills we’ve seen introduced lately, like removing suppressors and short barreled rifles as well, why doesn’t the NRA lobby to repeal the WHOLE National Firearms Act? Let’s not forget, President Trump is lauded by seemingly every 2A groups as the most pro gun President every. The GOP control both the House and Senate. Yes, I know, not super majorities, but still, that’s where playing hard ball comes in handy… Don’t forget Sen. Chuck Schumer voted FOR the GOP budget recently. So don’t tell me playing hardball doesn’t work.
The National Rifle Association’s Institute For Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is their lobbying arm, which was formed in 1975. That means the NRA has had a lobbying arm for 50 years… Why not use it to repeal the NFA? Or the Gun Control Act of 1968- also NRA endorsed? Or the Hughes Amendment, which was apart of the NRA endorsed, Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986? Hughes is especially interesting, as that was the first national gun control act passed after the ILA was formed.
Has the NRA-ILA gained so much access to politicians over the decades, it’s afraid to truly exploit that access as much as it could for the benefit of not only its members but for the Second Amendment? Is NRA-ILA more concerned with access, than winning? Is NRA-ILA afriad of winning, as that may lead to donations dropping? Wayne LaPierre, once he took over as EVP/ CEO, moved NRA hard into politics, because he saw that as where the major fundraising potential was, and the NRA revenue, pre scandal, shows he was right.
The current ILA boss is James Commerford, per the NRA,
“Joining NRA as an intern in 2007, John Commerford worked his way up through the ranks at the Association. As NRA-ILA’s Chief of Operations since 2019, he led the day-to-day management of the Institute. Previously, he helped oversee NRA-ILA’s State & Local Affairs Division and took charge of the political strategy for some of NRA’s most critical electoral races. Working with a limited budget for the 2024 presidential election, Commerford had one goal for NRA: maximize every penny donated by NRA members to be as effective as possible. That meant leveraging every vendor, data set, and the talents of NRA staff to execute an incredibly effective election plan.”
Source, https://www.nrafamily.org/content/meet-your-new-executive-directors-for-nra-ila-and-nra-general-operations/
Since Commerford’s been with the NRA for 18 years, does he bring anything new to ILA? Or does he have an ingrained institutional mindset, the sort of “this is how we’ve always done things so we’ll stick with it”? If he does, that won’t work. And if he doesn’t, but the board, and other officers won’t let him change direction, that still won’t work.
Today’s gun owners especially, I’d say those under 40 to 50 years old, believe in no compromise. The younger, the more hard core they seem to be in “no compromise”. No wonder Gun Owners Of America’s growing.
If the NRA leadership is serious about NRA 2.0, then they need to start pushing to repeal the major gun control laws. Stop the half way measures. They’d gain respect, membership, and donations, if they moved in that direction. Whether it’s win, lose, or draw, people like a fighter. The NRA does not fight, except amongst itself and its members. NRA, start fighting FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT! Lobby to make it the first class right it was meant to be!
And when the NRA ILA piece above, talks about Commerford and the 2024 elections, this is anecdotal of course, but, I never saw one ad either print, t.v., radio, billboard, online, mailer, anything from NRA. So Commerford’s working with a limited budget, and maximizing every penny… Maybe they didn’t have any pennies to spend?
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