Principle-Free America

Gun Ban Donation Seeker Works to Elect Pro-Gun Candidates

By David Codrea
codrea4@adelphia.net

November 22, 2002

I’ll say one thing about gun control supporters—they never fail to confirm my opinion of them as sheep waiting to be fleeced. Case in point, consider Handgun-Free America, a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization founded earlier this year. What a shearing operation that’s turned out to be!

Current gun control organizations are not enough, HFA proclaims,

“While we applaud the gun control community, its focus on gun safety and restrictions to gun ownership have had limited impact.”

Among the supporters for banning handguns? The usual gang of idiots. Ivory tower eggheads like “historian” and Bellesiles dupe Gary Wills. National Socialist oath-breaking politicians like Dianne Feinstein and Richard Daley. Convicted sex criminal, child molester, felon, inmate and former congressman Mel Reynolds, who demonstrably poses a greater threat with his “assault weapon” than our peaceably-owned semi-autos ever did. And self-described headcase Rosie O’Donnell, who probably hasn’t thought this through very well—because if handguns are banned, what will her bodyguards carry? 

You see, I want anti-gunners donating to Handgun-Free America. McGrath has actually done the pro-rights side a big favor.

Among HFA’s goals? Raising 100,000 members by the end of 2003. “[C]ountering the overestimated power of the NRA.” And, of course, banning handguns. (Incidentally, this link provides a valuable reference for anyone who dismisses the ultimate goal of the anti-defense clique as “paranoid conspiracy theory”.)

And how will HFA accomplish this? It remains unclear—because as a 501(c)(3) entity, their options for lobbying, promoting laws and making political recommendations are severely restricted. 

So if they don’t do that, what in the world will HFA’s Executive Director, Christopher K. McGrath do with all the tax-deductible contributions he’s trying to raise? How much can it cost to maintain his cheesy propaganda site, which consists mainly of stale, recycled anti-defense mantras that he didn’t even originate? Without any kind of stated plan for achieving his objectives, exactly what does he intend to do with the money he wants people to give him?

Funny thing about McGrath. While he’s bringing the rubes in and passing around the collection plate for his nonprofit setup, he’s got some interesting simultaneous action going down. Because this is the same Christopher K. McGrath, operating from the same business address, who is the proprietor of Internet Campaign Solutions, Inc., a web-based political consulting firm.

How he keeps the two entities separate and allocates/reports assets (for instance, both entities share the same fax number) and expenses is between him, his accountant and the IRS. What should concern the suckers dumb enough to donate to Handgun-Free America are McGrath’s activities on behalf of ICS that directly work against the goals of HFA.

Among his clients?

Team Sununu, which helped elect NRA “A” rated (i.e., a “solidly pro-gun candidate”) John Sununu to the Senate. The website Mr. McGrath proudly displays in his ICS portfolio even made a special point to link to the news article “NRA Crowd Can’t Get Enough of Heston”! 

So McGrath, wearing his political consultant hat, helped elect a pro-gun NRA-endorsed senator. So much for his stated objective (when he’s holding out his other hand for donations) of “countering the overestimated power of the NRA.”

And here’s another McGrath client, Mark Levya for US Congress, who tells us:

“I believe the 2nd Amendment gives us the right to bear arms. Because of states like Florida and Arizona who have gun carry laws, our national crime statistics have gone down dramatically. Washington D.C. doesn't allow gun rights. It has the highest crime rate in the country.”

That’s some effect McGrath is going to have on gun laws, working for politicians like these! Oh, I know, there will be some apologists who will say there is no relation between the two ventures, and I actually hope theirs are the voices that are heeded.

You see, I want anti-gunners donating to Handgun-Free America. McGrath has actually done the pro-rights side a big favor. We might even want to emulate him: Set up a site that, in essence, does nothing but pontificate and regurgitate discredited drivel, and draw resources away from other, more effective “gun control” organizations. We might even be able to finance some of our “pro-gun” activities with such proceeds. It’s so elegant a scheme, it makes me wonder if McGrath might secretly be “our man” in the gun ban camp.

So if you believe in banning private ownership of guns, let me offer a personal testimonial. Take it from me: I strongly encourage you to donate generously and frequently to Handgun-Free America. Together, we can help...uhhh...Christopher K. McGrath. And maybe, with his assistance, we can get even more “pro-gun” legislators elected.

Dig deep!

David Codrea is a co-founder and director for the national pro-rights media campaign, Citizens of America (CitizensOfAmerica.org), and an advisor and contributor for KeepAndBearArms.com. His professional writing is featured often in Guns and Ammo magazine. Additionally, he is the national coordinator for A Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment (KeepAndBearArms.com/Petition). His archives can be accessed here: KeepAndBearArms.com/Codrea.