In a stunning election upset, and thanks in large part to the efforts of gun owners throughout California, on May 19, 2009 NRA-Political Victory Fund endorsed candidate Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich won election to the office of Los Angeles City Attorney. Trutanich is the law partner of Chuck Michel, NRA and CRPA's chief legal counsel in California, through their Long Beach law firm: Trutanich-Michel, LLP.
This is a tremendous victory for the Second Amendment, because Trutanich's opponent, rabidly anti-gun- owner Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss, works closely with the gun ban lobby to advance its agenda. Weiss had promised to work with other anti-gun-owner cities and the Obama Administration to pass ill-conceived gun bans and to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling confirming your Second Amendment rights.
Weiss was backed prominently by unions, the democratic party machine, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As a result, Weiss and was widely presumed by political insiders to be a shoe-in for the office.
Even though Trutanich has never personally represented the NRA, Weiss thought NRA affiliation through Michel and the law firm would be the kiss of death for Trutanich. Weiss spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on mailers and TV ads smearing Trutanich with the NRA connection. The tactic backfired, and every ad Weiss ran against the NRA became a rallying cry for gun owners to vote against him. Meanwhile, Weiss didn't gain many votes based on the NRA angle, because those people would have voted for Weiss anyway, or not voted at all.
Trutanich's landslide victory margin, he captured 55% of the vote, was completely unanticipated. So a big lesson to other politicians from this campaign: NRA is not the political wedge issue they thought it was. If demonizing a candidate for an NRA affiliation didn't work in urban Los Angeles, it won't work anywhere.
NRA and CRPA put in a lot of effort on this election, facilitating member communications to get gun owners to volunteer, donate, and get those who live in LA out to vote against Weiss. NRA made it clear that this was a local election with national consequences. Reps went to gun shows, gun ranges, and gun stores, to hand out literature and get people involved. Several people also worked on anti-Weiss internet chatter on the gun-rights boards, making people recognize that if Weiss won it would be terrible for gun owners not just in Los Angeles but throughout California.
*** CRPA ***
The California Rifle and Pistol Association "CRPA," founded in 1875, is dedicated to defending the rights of law-abiding citizens to responsibly use firearms for self-defense and the defense of their loved ones, for sport, and for all other legal activities. CRPA is the official state association of the National Rifle Association. A California non-profit association, CRPA is independently directed by its own Board of Directors. CRPA's members include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, professionals, firearm experts, the general public, and loving parents. CRPA has always worked to reduce the criminal misuse of firearms and firearms accidents, while actively promoting and organizing the competitive shooting sports and Olympic training programs in California. We are proud to say that many CRPA competitors are among the best in the world.
The California Rifle and Pistol Association "CRPA," founded in 1875, is dedicated to defending the rights of law-abiding citizens to responsibly use firearms for self-defense and the defense of their loved ones, for sport, and for all other legal activities. CRPA is the official state association of the National Rifle Association. A California non-profit association, CRPA is independently directed by its own Board of Directors. CRPA's members include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, professionals, firearm experts, the general public, and loving parents. CRPA has always worked to reduce the criminal misuse of firearms and firearms accidents, while actively promoting and organizing the competitive shooting sports and Olympic training programs in California. We are proud to say that many CRPA competitors are among the best in the world.
Yes, a lot of folks in LA were surprised at the strength of the Trutanich win. Weiss played the NRA card more than anything else, but it seems that the voters hated Weiss so much that it made no difference.
ReplyDeleteIn his final days in power as councilman, Weiss passed a bunch of really lame anti-gun laws - outlawing the sale of .50cal ammo etc. I have yet to see one reported crime involving these expensive guns. It was just a political ploy. Weiss is too limp to do anything about gang bangers with guns - like having the cops raid all the know locs where the gang bangers hang. So instead he passes laws. The idiot doesn't realize that criminals don't obey laws, so what's the use of his law? If you own a .50cal firearm, you go to neighboring cities to by ammo, or you get it over the internet.
I'm just glad the NRA fights for my right to lawfully own a weapon to defend myself and my family. We cannot rely on lame politicians to defend us.
It was a good day for the good guys when the threw Weiss and his phony baloney cronies out.