This message was from WAYNE STEINARD to ALL
originally in conference firearms on TENFORWD (Ten Forward)
and was forwarded to you by DAVID HANNON
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I am suppressing anger in order to be objective in presenting the
following information.
My Name is Wayne C. Steinard and I am a certified candidate for Florida
House District 64 Representative. I am a registered voter affiliated to
the Republican party for access to the primary poll (Florida is a
closed primary State). I am however, running as an Independent for this
office. This decision being made in order to, for the first time in Dist
64 history, swear no other loyalty except to our Constitutions and the
people of the district. A lot of patriotic people worked very hard to
make this candidacy possible, even in light of the nearly three times
greater requirements for office than that of the two "sanctioned party"
requirements.
With the preliminary tasks completed we move on to the serious campaign
stage and where the real story begins. After filling out multitudes
of questionnaires and rejecting the many PAC offers of assistance, I
called the NRA-ILA for information regarding their position of this NRA
life member (JJC7659M). I spoke with persons from the GrassRoots Division
on Aug. 21, 1996 and was informed that I had no access to the NRA
preference recommendations to be mailed out. Only the two party
candidates would be listed and graded!
Never mind that neither, in much of any way have any record of more than
passing support for "regulated" firearms rights. Never mind that I have
a 30 year history of fighting for firearms freedoms without compromise,
including trips to Washington, DC. and Tallahassee Florida. Never mind
that many of those who made it possible to place an Independent on a
ballot were also dedicated protectors of our firearms rights. Never mind
that people across the country have backlashed in the past to the NRA's
pandering to the big "Party" names while while the NRA cried foul
because of the beating we were taking from the very people NRA pandered
to.
Last year, I bought a number of memberships for people and gave as
gifts. At the height of the backlash against NRA policies due to their
alleged sellout to the two political parties, I defended them as still
being the most powerful lobbying organization available to gun owners
and to please help change and not destroy this long time institution.
To this end, I am again seeking the same course of action. The NRA, with
this policy of exclusion, tantamount to ballot access suppression, needs
to be changed. A pro-freedom candidate is a pro-freedom candidate, no
matter what his/her party affiliation is or isn't. The NRA recognizes
the "grassroots" power of the people yet suppresses their efforts
through exclusionary practices. By so doing also diminishes the
effectiveness of the funding received for these purposes. How well does
it reflect on peoples contributions if for instance a Chas. Schumer and
a Diane Feinstein are listed on your NRA mail out with some kind of grade
assigned and you do not know about a "real" alternative? Most folks may
again wind up voting for the lesser of the two horrible evils!
I you feel as strongly as I do about these issues, I urge you to contact
the NRA/ILA Grass Roots Division and express your concerns through the
following avenues:  1-800-392-8683 ext 1170 , 1-703-267-3918(fax)
                    groots@nra.org(Internet)
I wish to thank you and for you to thank yourself if you choose to lend
support for better access to fair and more complete assessments of your
candidates for the many public offices that affect your freedoms.
Wayne C. Steinard, Candidate for Florida House Dist. 64 (I)
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