Off the NC-Email list
This is one of the last letters he wrote to everyone:
5 January 2005
Dear Friends,
I’ve always made it a point to deliver the news to you straight - good
or bad. Now I’m afraid I have some unpleasant news. As you’re aware, I
have been fighting colon cancer for the past year. The doctors tell me
that my fight is almost over.
I believe in miracles. I believe in God’s healing power and eternal
life
through Jesus Christ. I know it will take nothing short of a miracle
for
me to win this battle.
Should that miracle be granted, I will rejoice; but I rejoice
nonetheless, for I’ve been blessed with a wonderful life, a great
family, work that I love, and many wonderful friends. Most of all, I
thank God for my long-suffering wife Jay Janen who not only put up with
me, but has actively supported my efforts for the Second Amendment for
nearly forty-nine years.
It’s been a great run!
I had always assumed that long life was my birthright. My father passed
away just this past fall at the age of ninety-two.
I counted on the same sort of life-span and was planning accordingly.
We’ve barely settled into that house in the country that I’ve been
promising Jay for so long. I started rebuilding her classic Mustang
convertible and have it in pieces in the basement garage. I’ve laid out
a 100- yard range next to the house, and was looking forward to having
my dear friend Ken Oehler help me set up a ballistics lab in the
basement.
Time for those projects was budgeted into the next generation of the
Firearms Coalition. The plan was to have sons, Chris and Jeff take more
prominent roles in the fight, freeing me up to do other things like
shooting and writing books. Jeff moved out here for that purpose over a
year ago but my illness sidetracked those plans.
I have long wanted to evolve the Firearms Coalition into a resource for
grassroots activists and organizations. The goals of the Coalition
would
be to provide activists with the resources, training, and technology
they need to be more effective in the fight.
Now, I hope you will help Jay and the boys as it looks like they will
be
taking on this important task without me.
There will be more details in the weeks and months to come, including a
new book that Chris, Jeff and I have been collaborating on. I regret
that I am unlikely to see it in print, but I am confident in their
ability to see it through.
I am thankful for you and the many other friends that have blessed my
life making me a truly wealthy man. There have been disagreements, even
fights, but the goal of freedom has been a unifying force.
I ask your prayers, both for me and for my family, especially for Jay
who never expected to see me go first.
I urge you to continue the fight. Continue your support of the ongoing
efforts of the Firearms Coalition and keep the grass roots growing.
Thank you for keeping me in the fight for all these years.
As always: Yours for the Second Amendment,
Neal
