NRA Support Suspended

Posted July 8, 2019, 12:25 p.m.

For many years I have been a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA). I am currently a permanent “Patron Member” of the organization.

The NRA is a venerable civil rights association that supports marksmanship skills, shooting sports, self defense rights, and firearm safety. In addition, it has lobbying and political action arms that advocate for candidates and legislation that support the individual human right to keep and bear arms. It has typically been quite effective, and I have been happy to support its efforts. I have made numerous donations to its gun safety programs, as well as to its political action committee.

Unfortunately, the NRA is now embroiled in a major internal crisis. There are claims of malfeasance, self-dealing, and other violations of the members’ trust. The association has failed to credibly respond to these claims. Until it cleans house, I cannot in good conscience continue to support the organization.

I will maintain my “Patron Member” status, which allows me the right to vote in NRA board elections, but I am suspending all other support until I am satisfied that the corrupt leaders have been removed and the other controversies have been resolved. Funds in support of the right to keep and bear arms will be directed to other organizations, including the Second Amendment Foundation and Gun Owners of America.

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.

Quotes

Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Whoever hates reproof walks in the steps of the sinner, but he that fears the Lord will repent in his heart.

Watering down or burying biblical truth on sexuality for the sake of keeping Millennials won’t work. Mainline Protestant churches have tried this strategy, and they remain in demographic collapse.

When men are uniform in their opinions, it affords evidence that they are sincere. When they are shifting, it gives reason to believe, they do not change from conviction.

The more numerous an assembly may be, of whatever characters composed, the greater is known to be the ascendency of passion over reason.

Nature’s imagination is always richer than ours.

Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.

Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish.

Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worrying is pointless. God is merciful and he will hear your prayer.

He is no fool that gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Trust between people who are not naive is a form of courage, because betrayal is always a possibility, and because this is consciously understood.

All pagan religions begin with the teachings of adults, but Christianity begins with the birth of a child.

There’s an old saying in Tennessee . . . I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee . . . that says, fool me once, shame on . . . shame on you. Fool me . . . you can’t get fooled again.

The restless busy nature of the world, this I declare is at the root of pain.

The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. . . .

An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous.

God therefore neither wills evil to be done, nor wills it not to be done, but wills to permit evil to be done; and this is a good.

News is what somebody does not want you to print. All the rest is advertising.

The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men—from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms.

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.