Tom Coburn on the NRA

A friend of a friend received an email back from Sen. Tom Coburn that has some good tidbits on how Coburn feels about the NRA (edited for length, innocent names redacted, and emphasis mine).

From: Senator_Coburn@coburn.senate.gov [mailto:Senator_Coburn@coburn.senate.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 3:07 PM
To: ________.net
Subject: Correspondence from Senator Coburn

July 7, 2010

Mr. ________

 

Dear Mr. ________,

...

I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss S.941 with you. While I am not opposed to this bill, I am concerned that the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, in this case and in the past, endorsed legislation it is not serious about passing. They have spent membership dues to promote this bill, but they have refused to demand Congress hold a hearing in its regard. They certainly have not pushed Congress toward a vote. Additionally, I do not understand why the NRA would endorse a bill that seeks to merely reform the gun-regulating component of the ATF, rather than abolish it. 

The recent behavior of the NRA has given me concern with the general direction of its leadership. Only a few weeks ago, the NRA withdrew their opposition to a bill that threatens to seriously limit our First Amendment rights. Please allow me to explain.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court moved to protect the First Amendment rights of corporations and interest organizations by lifting restrictions against certain political contributions made by these groups. In response, House Democrats drafted legislation to impose questionable and burdensome mandates on these groups, including publication of their membership lists. This bill is known as the DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175). It appeared, until recently, to have insufficient support for passage, in large part due to the NRA's appropriate opposition.

However, in a major compromise with Democrat leaders, the NRA agreed to drop its opposition in exchange for self-exemption from DISCLOSE. This move left less-powerful groups, including other pro-Second Amendment groups, completely vulnerable to the bill's restrictive and costly provisions. 

I appreciated the NRA's initial opposition to DISCLOSE, and I am shocked at their willingness to undermine our First Amendment right to free speech. An institution committed to the protection of one constitutional right should know that limiting one right weakens all others. 

...

Sincerely, Tom A. Coburn, M.D.
United States Senator 

While I don't agree with Senator Coburn on every issue, he does score a few points with affirming that the NRA is not what it makes itself out to be and is squandering its own credibility.