I'll start this off by saying that nothing I'll write from here on out is to agree with, disagree with, argue with, or accept the opinions of anyone here ... but will be my opinion/conviction and mine alone. What I have to go on is the same news reports, opinion pieces, gossip and/or conjecture of everyone who has participated in this thread. I recognize that some here claim to have had access to special information, or even private meetings involving this question, but I cannot find anywhere the content of that special information or those private meetings has been divulged. Again, I neither agree nor disagree with anyone except on the fact there has been no real evidence provided: With that qualifier being said:
I am an ardent supporter of the 2nd amendment and will never accept any infringement on it to the best of my ability.
I am an ardent supporter of anyone/any organization who supports the second amendment.
I am more supportive of those people/organizations who provide the most efficient support of the second amendment than other less effective for whatever reason.
I have personally seen no evidence of wrongdoing by anyone in leadership of the most effective organization, the NRA.
Unless and until I do see actual evidence I will continue to support the organization deemed the most efficient/effective ... that being the NRA.
I agree there are other 2nd amendment supportive organizations, but none with the clout of the NRA, in fact all the others combined together do not have the clout of the NRA.
Without the NRA maintaining a strong and vocal standing, it cannot protect and defend the 2nd amendment effectively.
Membership accepting accusations as evidence and withholding membership funding is far more detrimental to NRA's effectiveness than any one man could ever be.
Continued reduction in NRA membership is the single most effective tool the anti-gun agenda has.
I truly fear the results of the fight to defend and protect the 2nd as long as the NRA is being torn apart at the roots.
I guess it all boils down to this ... as ardent a supporter as I am of the 2nd, I'm just that supportive of the premise of "Innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt".
Personally I don't know just how I feel about the individual here being condemned, but I do know, as far as I'm concerned, he deserves and gets the same "IUPQBaRD" as everyone else. And until he is proven guilty as charged, I'll continue to support the most productive pro 2nd amd political action group there ever was. I feel very apprehensive that we've virtually killing the 'goose that lays the golden egg' as far as effectiveness in supporting the 2nd for us all by finding an excuse in WLP charges to drop our membership's financial support. It's every man's/woman's personal choice and decision who/how they support any organization based on whatever criteria they choose as important and I'll support that personal choice just as I do the 2nd and the "innocent till proven guilty" ideology.
Nothing written above is intended to be accusatory nor judgemental toward anyone. Just this one man's opinion. jj