I plan to attend The Boulder County Republican Assembly on March 24. The purpose of my attending will be to hopefully influence the criteria by which the precinct delegates and alternates will select candidates for open offices.
One criteria which I will offer for consideration is that selected candidates will not accept the endorsement of the NRA nor accept campaign funds from them.
I believe that the decision by the Colorado Republican Party(state party chairman Jeff Hays) to move the multi-county assembly from the Longmont Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel and Convention Center to the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, "citing concerns about the hotel chain's lack of support for the National Rifle Association," was a fatal strategic move. It reinforced, without question, the general public's belief that the Republican Party and its representatives are so beholden to the NRA that they are unwilling to legislate for the benefit of the people as opposed to the interests of the gun industry, for whom they are lobbying.
In order to insure that Republican Party candidates succeed in future elections, I believe it is incumbent upon all Republican delegates to demonstrate a willingness to decouple the party and candidates from the NRA influence.
I have nothing against the NRA and its support of the Second Amendment, except for the debilitating effect they have on those that they endorse and contribute to (in other countries the contributions would be considered punishable bribes). Whether you call it "contributions" or "bribes," it results in the same human reaction by receivers — legislate for the interests of the donor instead of one's constituency.
In the interest of ongoing public safety from mass shootings,we cannot afford to elect one more "Cory Gardner" to represent us.
David D. Pratt
registered Republican
Lafayette
