No NRA apparel if you want to vote

[Frosty Dave]

On election day in Oklahoma no electioneering is allowed within 300 ft. of the ballot box. IIRC, "electioneering" is defined as any promotion of a candidate or issue that is on the ballot.

Georgia... let's see, that's where "The Walking Dead" takes place. Sounds like a zombie has already eaten the poll worker's brains.

 

[akarguy]

Someone needs to wear an "I support Planned Parenthood" T-shirt along with an NRA hat to the polls. Inform news crews ahead of time and let's see what happens.

And for those saying "no electioneering blah blah blah... . I'm sorry, I'm not aware of the 2nd Amendment being on the ballot anywhere.

Remind the antis its racist not to support the NRA. The NRA was formed so freed and runaway slaves could learn to defend themselves when southern Democrat slaveowners came looking for them

 

[Midwest]

Here it is different. A Federal Judge in Covington KY ruled that Kentucky's 300 ft signage law violates free speech.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/new...-sign-rule-violates-free-speech-now/17303779/

"Federal District Judge William Bertelsman Tuesday ruled unconstitutional Kentucky's electioneering law that prohibited signs within 300 feet of a polling location."

However the Attorney with represented the county filed an emergency stay until after November 4. The problem with KY's law is that it "doesn't specify public or private property in the 300 foot ban of any political signs near a polling location".

The lawsuit started because the signs were on private property and with in 300 ft and that is where the free speech issue comes into play. They were trying to regulate what signs one can put up on private property.


Anyway ...I don't have a NRA hat... But if I had a "Moms Demand NRA" T-Shirt, I would probably wear it.
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[enine]

Hmm, where can I get an NRA hat before next Tuesday.
I'm sure I saw several "Change" shirts in the voting area of the last presidential election.

 

[shotgunjoel]

I've been an election judge in Illinois for six or so years. As a previous poster has said, Illinois has a 100 foot "bubble" around polling places restricting "electioneering". We are not allowed to have a radio on, or a newspaper out at the polls. I have told multiple people to hide their political shirts or buttons. Either they zip up their coat, or go and turn their shirt inside-out. No one is barred from voting for wearing anything, but they are not allowed to be within 100 feet of the polling place so dressed. I've also had to hush people from talking about parties and candidates as they've waited in line. As I take being an impartial judge seriously, I'd probably tell an NRA member to put their hat in their coat pocket, just like I'd tell someone with a NOW or union PETA button to remove it. I mean seriously, nobody is really looking at their buttons anyway, and I probably wouldn't bother with someone who looks like they'd cause us trouble over it, but I do think that it shows the person that voting is both serious and that the polls should be a neutral site.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Sounds like First Amendment violations all around...

 

[Sol]

One would think that free speech in a voting area would be paramount to our freedoms.
Then again, many, if not all polling places around here are also 2A free-zones.

Anyways, if I had to guess it is probably an isolated incident with some poll worker with hurt feelings.

 

[atomd]

You mean like maybe WORKING at the polls wearing a hat with a candidates name on it? Nawwww....no problem there!

 

[hso]

I believe I'd have to point out the individual was incorrect and that the NRA supports candidates from either party that are the most pro 2A in an election.

 

[medalguy]

After reading these posts, I need to go dig out my "Molon Labe" shirt and wear that to vote tomorrow. I already have my hat ready to go.

 

[oneounceload]

Excellent, except most of the folks from the other party will have NO idea what that means.........sorts a passive-aggressive thing......

 

[Warp]

Excellent, except most of the folks from the other party will have NO idea what that means.........sorts a passive-aggressive thing......

See, now we've gone and started a political discussion on THR.

The "other party" (Republicans) probably have their share of individuals who will associate molon labe with arms/firearms.

 

[pockets]

you can't wear political apparel while voting

Meh.
Not a big deal.
I voted in my underwear from the comfort of my recliner....two weeks ago.


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[Speedo66]

I've been an election judge in Illinois for six or so years. As I take being an impartial judge seriously, I'd probably tell an NRA member to put their hat in their coat pocket, just like I'd tell someone with a NOW or union PETA button to remove it.

I mean seriously, nobody is really looking at their buttons anyway, and I probably wouldn't bother with someone who looks like they'd cause us trouble over it, ...

Unless those issues were currently on the ballet, how do you justify telling them they can't wear them?

What kind of uniform policy is that where you don't tell people who might cause you trouble? Basically what you're saying is you only prey on the weak!

 

[Ryanxia]

I believe I'd have to point out the individual was incorrect and that the NRA supports candidates from either party that are the most pro 2A in an election.

Isn't it the NRA-ILA that gets involved in politics and the actual NRA stays away from it? I'd point out that the NRA has no political affiliation whatsoever and is a completely separate organization than the NRA-ILA (that is, if I'm correct).

 

[Warp]

Isn't it the NRA-ILA that gets involved in politics and the actual NRA stays away from it? I'd point out that the NRA has no political affiliation whatsoever and is a completely separate organization than the NRA-ILA (that is, if I'm correct).

But then again the executive vice president of the NRA spoke on national television about gun control and appeared/spoke at Senate Judiciary Committee hearings regarding gun control. That seems pretty political to me.

 

[HexHead]

My US Representative is a Democrat with an A rating from the NRA and has their endorsement. Not all Dems are antis and I'm voting for him today in early voting.

Harry Reid had been A-rated by the NRA too.

 

[LockedBreech]

I grudgingly donate money to the NRA (currently on a 5 year membership) because they're the only serious player fighting for gun rights in DC aside from the SAF, to whom I also donate. But since I'm very politically moderate and disagree with conservatives just as often as liberals NRA has been steadily alienating me. You can't claim to be politically neutral and have like 5 straight issues of American Rifleman talk about how Obama is basically the Antichrist.

I have a lot of gun-loving liberal friends who don't donate to the NRA because of their bombastic politics. I wish they'd focus a little more on guns and a little less on conservative politics and trying to sell me gold coins.

That said, I donate my money and wear my NRA hoodie. They've done a lot of good for gun owners.

 

[Wanderling]

The NRA's traditional policy has been to endorse and support pro-gun candidates regardless of party, especially incumbents who need to be rewarded for casting difficult votes. This policy has served gun owners well over many decades.

However, reading the -- often hysterical -- editorials in the American Rifleman magazine, there seems to be a definite pro-Republican bias. In a way, this is understandable, given the national platforms of the two parties and the way these are expressed through the respective party leaderships in Congress.

But there's a real danger that the NRA will increasingly be seen as a mere appendage of the Republican Party. To the extent this happens, the NRA will tend to lose clout among the general public. It needs to remain a single-issue advocacy group unconnected to the right-left polarization in this country.

(All that being said, it would still behoove us to elect a Republican Senate majority this year.)

Agree 100%.

IMHO NRA should look at ACLU - it is a universally hated organization (which it should be given that it exists to defend the unpopular causes, as the politicians are more than happy to defend the popular ones). And I am sure that many ACLU activists are left leaning. But they defend right, left, commie and nazi as long as they feel there was any denial of constitutional rights. NRA does sound overtly Republican lately. It should concentrate on one cause and one cause only.

 

[Wanderling]

After reading these posts, I need to go dig out my "Molon Labe" shirt and wear that to vote tomorrow. I already have my hat ready to go.

That is the way to do it !

 

[Sav .250]

The most recent NRA , American Rifleman, lists "Your official 2014 Pro-Gun Ballot."

They list people on both sides of the isle!

Folks who don`t get it (The American Rifleman) of course won`t know that.

 

[bannockburn]

All this nonsense about what you can or can't wear while voting is all the more reason to use an absentee ballot. Don't have to get past all the campaign workers crowding the entrance to the pollling place, don't have to wait in line, show my ID, wait for them to find my name in the book, wait for a voting machine to be available, vote and then go home. Did I forget to mention that its usually raining on Election Day too?

Much easier, and less bothersome, to fill out the absentee ballot in the comfort of your home, slap a couple of stamps on it, and put it in the mailbox.

 

[natman]

Isn't it the NRA-ILA that gets involved in politics and the actual NRA stays away from it? I'd point out that the NRA has no political affiliation whatsoever and is a completely separate organization than the NRA-ILA (that is, if I'm correct).

You're quite correct. The NRA proper has to stay out of politics, especially lobbying, for tax reasons. The NRA-ILA is set up specifically to handle the political / lobbying side of things.

 

[natman]

Just to put this in perspective, you can't wear anything promoting a political issue at a polling place. No donkeys, no elephants, no "Anarchists Unite" T shirts, nothing. It's not just the NRA.

Although technically an NRA hat should have been OK as long as it wasn't an NRA-ILA hat.

Not true here in FL

Florida has the law in place, similar to most other states:

102.031 Maintenance of good order at polls; authorities; persons allowed in polling rooms and early voting areas; unlawful solicitation of voters.—
.....
(4)(a) No person, political committee, or other group or organization may solicit voters inside the polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance to any polling place, a polling room where the polling place is also a polling room, an early voting site, or an office of the supervisor of elections where absentee ballots are requested and printed on demand for the convenience of electors who appear in person to request them. Before the opening of the polling place or early voting site, the clerk or supervisor shall designate the no-solicitation zone and mark the boundaries.
(b) For the purpose of this subsection, the terms “solicit” or “solicitation” shall include, but not be limited to, seeking or attempting to seek any vote, fact, opinion, or contribution; distributing or attempting to distribute any political or campaign material, leaflet, or handout; conducting a poll except as specified in this paragraph; seeking or attempting to seek a signature on any petition; and selling or attempting to sell any item. The terms “solicit” or “solicitation” may not be construed to prohibit exit polling.
Click here for citation

Wearing a shirt or hat with a specific political endorsement ("Vote Yes on Measure A" or the name of a candidate) is usually considered soliciting and not allowed. There's considerable room for interpretation so it may not be enforced strictly in your district, but the law is there.

 

[Midwest]

Agree 100%.

IMHO NRA should look at ACLU - it is a universally hated organization (which it should be given that it exists to defend the unpopular causes, as the politicians are more than happy to defend the popular ones). And I am sure that many ACLU activists are left leaning. But they defend right, left, commie and nazi as long as they feel there was any denial of constitutional rights.

Yes the ACLU defends gun rights. The ACLU filed suit against New Jersey's Firearm ID card law in 1966 or 1967.

http://cemeterysgunblob.com/2012/01/14/when-did-new-jersey-become-so-anti-gun/

"Believe it or not the ACLU was opposed to the law as well! A separate suit was filed in Freehold, the county chairman of the ACLU contended the law violates the Fifth Amendment by requiring applicants for firearms permits to state whether they belonged to so called subversive organizations. The suit was thrown out."
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