Colorado Rifle Association?

[keylay31]

This afternoon on the way home from work, I was thinking about how the RMGO isn't very effective in Colorado for gun owners. In my experience, they do a better job of turning people off of gun rights than turning people on. I've got the itch to start an NRA but just for Colorado. You could call it the Colorado Rifle Association (CRA) or the Gun Owners of Colorado (GOC). This wouldn't be a replacement for RMGO, but rather an additional organization for gun rights just like the NRA and GOA and others. We would focus on a) lobbying moderate Democrats b) supporting gun rights advocates in elections, and eventually with growth c) informing the population (even if we have to convince them with emotions).

I believe I would have to register as a lobbying organization if I were to pull in more than $3000/quarter. Ideally I'd want to have several full time lobbyists and researchers and a bunch of volunteers. I make good money as an engineer but I'm serious in saying I'd be willing to make a switch to ensure gun rights in Colorado.

So... question time:
1) Who here would support such an organization?
2) Does anyone have any lobbying or political experience?
3) Does anyone have any contacts within journalism and the local media?
4) Would anyone be seriously interested in joining me?
5) Does anyone have any advice?
6) Are there any wealthier forum members who'd be interested in jump starting and guiding such an organization?

Thanks everyone!


EDIT: If you need reason for a creating a different, level-headed approach to lobbying in Colorado, see this article already mentioned in two other threads: http://www.9news.com/news/article/317265/339/Pro-gun-lobbyist-kicked-out-after-alleged-threat. We don't need the only major organization in Colorado fighting for our rights making threats and being accused of ethics violations.

[Great-Kazoo]

CSSA. been around many a year

http://www.cssa.org/news.php

[keylay31]

CSSA. been around many a year

http://www.cssa.org/news.php

Interesting... I've never heard of them. Have I been living under a rock or are they not very active? I like the fact that they are the NRA state association. They appear to be focused on shooting sports more than gun rights? Does anyone have any experience with them on the lobbying side?

[mb504]

Interesting... I've never heard of them. Have I been living under a rock or are they not very active? I like the fact that they are the NRA state association. They appear to be focused on shooting sports more than gun rights? Does anyone have any experience with them on the lobbying side?

I think the CSSA is lacking in keeping up to date. It's hard to support an organization when it looks like the website has parts that haven't been updated in many years.

[Great-Kazoo]

I think the CSSA is lacking in keeping up to date. It's hard to support an organization when it looks like the website has parts that haven't been updated in many years.

Contact them and make them aware of it.
It's not easy maintaining a web site when it's staffed by volunteers. You should see my gun clubs web page. they have items listed for sale that were sold back in 2011.


Here are your latest news items . . .

Friday 15 February 2013
http://www.cssa.org/e107_images/icons/icon5.png (http://www.cssa.org/news.php?cat.1) CSSA PRESIDENT TONY FABIAN ADDRESSES THE COLORADO GUN CONTROL AGENDA SUNDAY ON FOX31’S “ZAPPOLO’S PEOPLE”

CSSA President Tony Fabian will be the guest on Sunday’s segment of Fox31’s “Zappolo’s People” hosted by KDVR anchor Ron Zappolo. The topic, of course, will be the slate of gun control bills currently being debated in the Colorado General Assembly. The show will air this Sunday, Feb. 17, at 10:35 PM.

webmaster (http://www.cssa.org/user.php?id.1)onFriday 15 February 2013 - 10:16:41

[MarkCO]

There were numerous members of the CSSA at the state house over the past week. Dave Gill and Tony Fabian were both there, as was I, Jim Winchester and several others. Maybe more effort on exposure to the gun owners, but there is probably more good doen at the state and local level by members of CSSA than any other organization. Just not a lot of them are chest thumpers or grenade throwers.

Many of the people most involved with shooting competitions in Colorado were there too. You saw them, they were heard, they met with legislators and testified. Some could not go because of their jobs in the .gov or .mil and that is fine. Those that did knew they were supporting the efforts.

[keylay31]

There were numerous members of the CSSA at the state house over the past week. Dave Gill and Tony Fabian were both there, as was I, Jim Winchester and several others. Maybe more effort on exposure to the gun owners, but there is probably more good doen at the state and local level by members of CSSA than any other organization. Just not a lot of them are chest thumpers or grenade throwers.

There's always a fine line between chest thumpers and ineffective. I'm a member of the GOA and the NRA, and I'd be a member of a statewide organization if I trusted the RMGO or the CSSA. Maybe all the CSSA needs is exposure, I'm not sure. At a time like this, they should be raking in the donations. I doubt they are though.

[funkymonkey1111]

there was a meeting last Friday night with the JPFO trying to plant a seed to start a Colorado Citizen's Defense League, modeled after Arizona's. Folks from the Colorado Coalition were there, too.

[VDW]

EDIT: If you need reason for a creating a different, level-headed approach to lobbying in Colorado, see this article already mentioned in two other threads: http://www.9news.com/news/article/317265/339/Pro-gun-lobbyist-kicked-out-after-alleged-threat. We don't need the only major organization in Colorado fighting for our rights making threats and being accused of ethics violations.

Not to get into an argument about the effective/ineffectiveness of RMGO, but just for clarification if you don't take the time to read the article mentioned...The "threats" were promised negative political ads if the particular politician voted for any of the proposed measures. The RMGO lobbyist made absolutely no physical threats whatsoever. Here is the quote from the actual article:

"Rep. Cheri Gerou (R-Evergreen) accuses the lobbyist of threatening her with political attack ads through a mail campaign after a heated exchange about upcoming votes on gun issues, which would violate ethics rules."

Somehow this apparently violates some of the Colorado legislature's ethics "rules". I find that odd, since I believe that is EXACTLY the type of free speech that was meant to be protected above all else in the 1st ammendment by the founding fathers (not so much pornography, etc.).

[USAFGopherMike]

The problem with starting yet another organization is that you're fragmenting the movement. The more organizations you get, the harder it is to organize. The ones we have need to come together and mobilize collectively.

[spleify]

I'm in, let me know how I can help

[keylay31]

I'm in, let me know how I can help

I appreciate it. I think I'll be calling the CSSA to get more information about their levels of activity and see where I can help. I've also been emailing back and forth with Chris Holbert, my district's rep in the house today. He has introduced me to a couple contacts so we'll see where that goes.

[pickenup]

Let us know what you find out.

[ruffian]

+1 for JPFO.....I talked with them on the 8th....I believe they had a general all concerned meet that evening. Wanted to go but strep, and business comittments dictated otherwise. Joined last week. They seem to have gotten results in other states- they have the experiance to organize which is critical right now. We are in dire need of a point group rfn on this issue to focus efforts. The levels of individual comittment coming from thin air are amazing. However, divided we will fall. I'm finding myself throwing time and money too many different places in a panic response to this pre planned rat attack on citizens rights. They are all good, but right now we are hitting the usurpers with a million twigs when we need a single baseball bat.

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

[aryntha]

The problem with starting yet another organization is that you're fragmenting the movement. The more organizations you get, the harder it is to organize. The ones we have need to come together and mobilize collectively.

Uhm, perhaps, but RMGO seems to be more concentrated right now on boosting an author and asking for donations than viewing the current issues at hand as 'emergent'. No, RMGO - More donations are not going to help you now; THIS is the time where we expect "output" from you, from donations we've given in the past. Not more cash and a book club meet-up.

Sorry, but there's just no excuse for the urgent nature of , for example, the posts we've been making, not being on the absolute front page and headline of the RMGO site. They're even taking their sweet time on updating the bills' status. AFAIK, RMGO is just an 'installation' of a national organization anyhow -- I think Dudley Brown is ... pretty much it. Correct me if I'm wrong.

CSSA is better, but they're also not really reacting quite as well as they should. Living in Virginia for a while, and where my brother still is, the VCDL there apparently sends out hourly updates on status in email, and on their website.

I think the issue is, most gun orgs in Colorado aren't used to there being a threat, and they don't really know how to deal with it. Maybe that'll change now, but its probably also too late.

[Dlesh123]

+1 for JPFO.....I talked with them on the 8th....I believe they had a general all concerned meet that evening. Wanted to go but strep, and business comittments dictated otherwise. Joined last week. They seem to have gotten results in other states- they have the experiance to organize which is critical right now. We are in dire need of a point group rfn on this issue to focus efforts. The levels of individual comittment coming from thin air are amazing. However, divided we will fall. I'm finding myself throwing time and money too many different places in a panic response to this pre planned rat attack on citizens rights. They are all good, but right now we are hitting the usurpers with a million twigs when we need a single baseball bat. 2

I agree, supporting 4 organizations and not seeing the help when we need it.. Today in the Colorado Springs Gazette there was a full page color add putting Rep Tony Exum on the spot. It was done by Colorado Citizens Protecting Our Constitution. What we need is this type of media campaign highlighting all of the anti gun people. Has anyone heard of this group? From what I saw today, maybe this is a group to join forces with?