Law Enforcement: When Front Range Training contacted me about helping turn folks out to hear Lt. Col. Grossman, whoever called me (could have been the poster below, ColoCCW) started off by eagerly telling me how this event would be attended by all of the federal law enforcement in the area.
When I asked if that included BATFE, his response was "of course". He had clearly lived his entire life unaware that there are some conflicting interests here.
Put simply: I want to legislatively disband the BATFE. I don't want to buy them new furniture for their offices, nor curry their favor. I believe their regs (and very existence) is unconstitutional. And though I will follow the laws on the books, I would like to change them.
The Front Range Training fellow who contacted me (and ColoCCW, below) don't have to go to the State Capitol to hear gun control being supported by the FOP, the PPA, DPD, and the Colo. Association of Chiefs of Police on a daily basis.
This is my 17th year as a gun lobbyist, and I do not remember one single gun control proposal in that time that was not supported by a majority of the above listed agencies.
Does that mean all law enforcement are "bad guys"? Nope. It doesn't mean even a majority are. ColoCCW should be careful not to quote me unless he has it spot-on, which he doesn't.
Renewals are sent out starting in December, in a rapid series, to get as many to renew as quickly as possible so we can spend our time on the legislative session (which started on Jan. 13th). Sometimes a person will send in a renewal between the first and second letter, and the two cross in the mail.
Other times, someone who joined RMGO in June will get the renewal at the end of that year/beginning of the next, and pro-rate their renewal (sending in, for instance, half, since they paid from June 09/May 10.
The simple fact is that we don't remove you from the list, or stop sending you our newsletter, unless requested. Though we need money to operate, we're much more interested in activism.
As for what RMGO does, I suggest this of anyone who wants to know how deeply RMGO is involved in the political side of things (we're not a shooting club, and don't pretend to be, as the political side is what we do):
Call up a few of the most pro-gun legislators in Colorado: Brophy, Harvey, Renfroe, Kopp, Schultheis, Scheffel, Cory Gardner, BJ Nikkel, etc. Ask him/her what they think of us.
In many circumstances, that legislator was a member of RMGO long before running for office. In some cases, we recruited him/her to run for office, or helped them significantly in their race.
Some of RMGO's closest friends and advisors say we don't brag enough about what we do, and therefore many people don't know, especially those (like many on this list, I suspect) who are busy living their lives, paying their bills, working their jobs. So at the risk of sounding self-promoting, we think we're the only statewide gun group worth a hill of beans.
We take a long-term approach, for a very simple reason: the gun control issue isn't going away anytime soon.
But, anyone is welcome to call up and ask questions. Assuming I'm not in a meeting, you'll talk directly to me, not some telemarketer or a voicemail tree.
970-482-7646 or 888-874-3006.