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Alabama NewsAlabama Politics
Gun Owners Irate with Congressman Cramer
By Brad Taylor
Posted on: February 21, 2002
Note: This article has been updated to include comments from the NRA-ILA regarding their "A" rating for Cramer in 1996 following his vote for Clinton's crime bill in 1993.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform bill. The bill drafted by Shays, a Republican, and Meehan, a Democrat, passed the house vote after two attempts to replace the bill failed.
Since the passage of the bill, many organizations have voiced concerns because the bill infringes on the freedom of speech for individuals and for issue-oriented organizations. Basically, this bill outlaws anybody that may say something against an incumbent Congressman just prior to an election. The National Rifle Association is one of many issue-oriented groups worried about this bill.
"Why are the First Amendment rights of the media more important than those of American citizens?" asked the NRA. "Where in the Constitution does it allow politicians to subvert the First Amendment?"
NRA Chief Executive Officer Wayne LaPierre stated, "Shays-Meehan attacks the very heart of the First Amendment. We will fight this infringement right up to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of all Americans. Fairness and free speech cannot be victims of politics."
In North Alabama, gun owners are once again irate with 5th Congressional District Representative Bud Cramer. Cramer aligned himself with his fellow Democrats in voting to pass the so-called Campaign Finance Reform measure. Now, Cramer is trouble with his constituents--again.
 Cramer narrowly won re-election in 1994, because gun owners were angry that he voted for President Clinton's gun ban (part of the 1993 "Crime Bill") that became law. Normally, Cramer should have suffered in his NRA rating, a scale of "A" to "F" on how each congressman votes on 2nd Amendment issues. However, Cramer swore that he would "never" vote against the NRA again if he could only keep his rating. Unfortunately, the NRA dropped their "A" rating to only a "B" rating for Cramer, over the protests of this author and many other gun owners.
The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) responded to inquiries from this author. Anthony Roulette from the ILA responded that Cramer indeed regained his "A" rating and NRA endorsement in 1996, because he "showed he truly was opposed to the ban [that he voted for in 1993] by voting for its repeal" in the following Congress. The House of Representatives defeated the bill repeal the gun ban.
Roulette also stated the Shays-Meehan vote on "campaign finance 'reform' will be taken into careful consideration, as will his good vote on the Pickering Amendment" before the ILA gives Cramer a grade or makes a decision "regarding endorsements in the race for his seat."
Cramer shouldn't expect another second chance from gun owners in North Alabama. A friend of mine wrote, "I and many others felt that [Rep. Cramer] was telling the truth, but he has chosen to stab the people of Madison County and the NRA membership in the back. I can assure him that this time he will not be allowed to get off so easy." Some are gun owners remain cynical, saying Cramer has become so "powerful" that he doesn't believe he has any concerns about re-election.
This time, Cramer may have lost the support of the few gun owners willing to overlook his first transgression (banning guns). This time, there is passion among the voters who love their freedom and believe in the 2nd Amendment. My friend probably expressed the sentiment best, " [Cramer] is worse than a viper in the children's bedroom. You never know when he might strike, but you can bet that it will be deadly when he does."
If you would like to contact the NRA regarding Congressman Cramer, send your letters to:
NRA-ILA
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Or use the contact form at: NRA Contact Form
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