NRA members and gun owners in Colorado shocked the nation last month when two anti-gun state senators were successfully recalled for the first time in state history. We sent a clear message to politicians at every level of government that if they take our freedom, we’ll take their jobs.
Well, most politicians got the message.
Right on cue, gun-banners like Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz tried to save face by spinning Colorado’s homegrown, pro-freedom uprising as the result of outside influences.
There are over 100,000 dues-paying NRA members in Colorado, with more joining them day by day, and even more Coloradans who support NRA’s mission to defend the Second Amendment. And when Governor Hickenlooper signed away our freedom earlier this year, we got to work.
NRA members in Colorado lined city streets in their signature black and gold caps, urging citizens to sign recall petitions. Gun owners rallied with hand-stenciled yard signs and passed out reams of literature.
Hard-working men and women with full-time jobs and families to raise, sacrificed what precious time and money they could muster, and formed new grassroots groups like the Basic Freedom Defense Fund and Pueblo Freedom and Rights.
Friends and neighbors gathered around kitchen tables and made thousands of phone calls to turn out the vote on Election Day.
NRA members didn’t cower in the face of the media’s vicious attacks. We weren’t deterred when pollsters claimed that we couldn’t pull it off. We didn’t retreat when out-of-state meddlers, like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, dumped millions of dollars into Colorado and outspent NRA members nearly six to one.
Most importantly, the NRA’s support for this campaign came in the form of $5, $10, and $20 increments. These were Colorado dollars sent by Colorado NRA members to fight for freedom in Colorado. That’s as “inside” an effort as it gets.
Fueled by a passion for our fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms, we persevered all the way until the final ballot was cast. At the end of the day, we won an unprecedented victory for freedom.
As we’ve said for decades, NRA’s power comes from millions of patriotic men and women, of all races, creeds and backgrounds, in all 50 states.
While that might be lost on some anti-gun politicians, more and more are taking notice. When you take our freedom, we’ll take your job. Just ask NRA members in Colorado.
Chris W. Cox is the Executive Director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and serves as the organization’s chief lobbyist.