by johnharris » Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:03 pm
Tim, I am sorry to hear this but it really is not a surprise.
I work and advocate for legislation that is best for Tennessee to the extent I am capable of doing so based on my experience in this area (which includes an active law practice involving these very issues). I work as a free volunteer. In recent years, however, that has caused me to believe that the NRA's most recent lobbyist is not in Tennessee's best interests for reasons that are self-evident and which I do not need to elaborate upon.
I tried, as Matthew 18 teaches, to address that concern privately within the leadership of the NRAILA and other NRA employees but my concerns brought minimal changes other than my exclusion from involvement that I had enjoyed with 4 prior NRA lobbyists. When efforts to bring resolution to these issues amicably within the NRA failed, I felt unrestrained to candidly express my opinions that certain legislation (that had passed with, as I am told, the blessings of this NRAILA lobbyist) was bad for Tennessee.
I can't help the fact that this lobbyist refuses to speak with me about the pending legislation but it does create a very bad situation where legislators are hearing me and other TFA oppose legislation that the NRAILA lobbyist may communicate a different message upon.
What I think the Tennessee NRA members are faced with in an organization that is unresponsive and that we need to petition with our positions in equal or greater measure as we do the government because it is the NRA that is telling the government that IT speaks for US!!!!!
John Harris
Executive Director
Tennessee Firearms Association, Inc.
Attorney