Chairman's Corner: April 18th, 2014
“If they’re shooting at you, you know you’re doing something right.”
-The West Wing
We've been quiet over the past few weeks, and it's been mainly by design.
During the legislative session, we're limited on some of our activities under state law, so we've been focused on our backend processes and building our fundraising capabilities.
It's been worth the time spent, and it has gone well. Very well, in fact.
Over the next few weeks, you'll see some of the results of this work. A revised website with new functionality, a continued large direct mail push & outreach to gun owners across the state, and a focus on recruiting volunteers for upcoming events - like Game Fair in Ramsey - and another large event we are finalizing soon.
Even though we've been quiet on other fronts, we haven’t been quiet about our concerns around GOP Senate candidate Michael McFadden. I have grave concerns about his inability to take a solid position, specifically his flip-flopping on the Second Amendment.
But we know we're having an impact on the US Senate race, because we are now seeing attacks on social media aimed directly at not only MNGOPAC, but also at our endorsed candidates.
Internally, Bryan and I are laughing our heads off at the sock puppet accounts and borderline libelous statements from some.
We run MNGOPAC as an open book, and are entirely transparent on our backgrounds, origin, and fundraising. There are no secrets here.
There’s one thing I want to clear up that is often an innocent point of confusion, though.
Bryan and I both worked as activists with the Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance for years. It was during the 2013 legislative sessions, when every sort of gun control legislation under the sun was being proposed, that the idea for creating a political action committee was first hatched.
For a number of reasons, MNGOPAC and GOCRA are entirely separate legal entities. GOCRA operates as the premiere gun owners civil rights lobbying organization in the state - and has done so for over 25 years.
MNGOPAC exists to fill the gap on the electioneering side for state and federal candidates.
We share complimentary goals - and while we do talk about matters of mutual interest where permitted - we're separate, independent organizations.
MNGOPAC was launched by Bryan and I in October 2013 and we made our first endorsement in late December 2013. We're feeling pretty good about that choice - even Sarah Palin agrees with us now.
We will have more coming very soon in terms of endorsements and action items. Bryan and I also have plans to start some video communications with our amazing supporters. We couldn’t do this without you, but the push starts now.
Let’s get the momentum going now so that by the time November comes we are unstoppable!
Mark Okern
Chairman
|