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It has been an honor to serve as
your president for these past two years and I’m grateful for
what I’ve been able to accomplish with your help.
When I became president, I identified three priorities:
the courts, self-defense and building NRA’s financial future.
While NRA’s focus traditionally has been
elections and legislation, it is in the federal courts where the
battle over the meaning of the Second Amendment will eventually
be won or lost. Look at the recent decision in Parker v. District
of Columbia. The D.C. Circuit Court, in a 2-1 opinion, struck down
D.C.’s 31-year-old handgun ban, holding that the Second Amendment
protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, and that the
right is not limited to service in the militia.
This is a great victory for the Second Amendment
but not a final victory. The District will likely appeal. Whether
the Supreme Court takes this case, or waits for another, we are
clearly moving toward a definitive ruling on the Second Amendment
in our lifetime.
I have emphasized the process by which federal
judges are chosen because we are bound by their decisions. What
can we do to ensure that our president nominates, and our senate
confirms, jurists who will respect and protect our right to keep
and bear arms? We should demand “originalist” judges
who interpret laws in accordance with their original meaning. A
Second Amendment victory in the Supreme Court requires that at least
five of the nine justices understand and uphold the original meaning
of the Second Amendment.
Speaking of the Constitution, The George Mason
University School of Law has established a new required course entitled
“The Founders’ Constitution”, designed to educate
students (future lawyers and judges) on the political principles
underlying America’s founding document. While other law schools
are trending away from core courses and some Supreme Court justices
are invoking international law to interpret the Constitution, George
Mason is teaching what America’s founding document actually
means. Bravo to George Mason!
The Parker decision effectively affirms the right
of self-defense. The named plaintiff, Shelley Parker, lived in a
high-crime area of Washington and was constantly harassed by drug
dealers. But because of D.C.’s gun ban, she couldn’t
own a handgun in her home. Self-defense was my second area of focus
as your president.
I never thought about owning a gun until a man
tried to break into my home.
I know that many folks don’t understand the personal and societal
benefits of widespread gun ownership. That’s why I have taken
NRA’s self-defense message to women’s groups, universities,
law schools, policy groups and other non-NRA audiences with positive
results. I also appointed a special committee on Right-to-Carry,
to study the laws in every state and make recommendations to improve
the ability of ordinary Americans to avail themselves of this right.
NRA needs resources to broadcast these empowering
messages, which is why my third focus has been financial development.
I appointed a President’s Special Committee on Development,
which has been working with NRA’s new Office of Advancement
to significantly enhance NRA’s endowments to hand down our
precious rights intact for future generations. I urge you to be
a part of that.
We need your help to deal with the opportunities
and threats before us.
With the new political climate, we are in an ongoing
battle against every anti-gun scheme imaginable. The national media
is increasingly anti-gun, and it takes money to get the truth out
to the American people. We’re also continuing to fight predatory
lawsuits, big-city mayors, and U.N. efforts to abolish gun ownership
through treaties.
At the same time, there are fantastic opportunities
before us.
We are using alternative media like the Internet,
talk radio and cable news to combat the media bias against gun ownership.
We must extend more of our programs to inner cities, to women and
to minority groups. And we must take the high ground in higher education,
teaching the truth to our future leaders.
Above all, we must get ready for the political
showdown of 2008.
We must ensure the next president is committed
to upholding the Second Amendment, appointing supporters to key
positions, fostering good gun legislation and rejecting any bill
from Congress, or any treaty, contrary to the Second Amendment,
and—unconditionally—to only nominate federal judges
and justices who will be faithful to the text of the Constitution.
I know we can do these things, because as your
president I’ve come to know you and the incredible things
you can accomplish.
Before I go, there are many people to thank, people
who believed in me and believed I could make a difference for this
great Association. There are too many of you to mention individually,
but you know who you are.
Finally, I want to thank each and every NRA member.
As I’ve traveled the country, you’ve been both my inspiration
and reward. It was your spirit, enthusiasm, dedication and passion
for the Second Amendment that made my job so rewarding. I know that
NRA will always be strong and successful as long as you are on the
front lines.
The Founding Fathers had strong beliefs about
how elected officials should serve their country. They believed
that lawmakers should come from the ranks of the people, serve in
government for a limited time, and then go home, to live under the
laws they created while in office.
So thank you for allowing me to rise from the
ranks to serve as your president. While I may be going home, rest
assured that I will still be out there beside you, fighting to protect
and defend freedom for the next generation.
God bless you, and God bless the NRA.
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