I hadn't been to the AHSA site for some time--and it has had a complete overhaul, that's for sure. It was easy to find the quote Yosemite Sam cites.
Those who are not familiar with Ray Schoenke's role in politics, or with the history of AHSA, should read the Wikipedia entry on AHSA. That entry--which is not contested or objected to, as some topics are--includes the following information:
"The leaders of the AHSA are:
Ray Schoenke, Founding President. A former football player for the Washington Redskins, Schoenke ran for Governor of Maryland as a Democrat and has given "millions" to Democratic politicians and causes according to a January 19, 1998 Washington Post article. Among the groups that Schoenke has donated to are two that actively lobby to ban firearms: Handgun Control, Inc. and America Coming Together. Schoenke was on the Governor's Commission on Gun Violence in 1996.
Bob Ricker, Executive Director.
John Rosenthal, a real estate mogul and founder of Stop Handgun Violence. Stop Handgun Violence is credited with lobbying and subsequently helping to pass the licensing and registration system in place in the state of Massachusetts. John Rosenthal was a founding member of AHSA, however he has subsequently left the organization.
Joseph J. Vince, Jr., a member of the Board of Directors is the former chief of the BATF's crime guns analysis branch. Currently, he is a principal of Crime Gun Solutions. Crime Gun Solutions has worked for the Brady Center, providing data analysis supportive of the Federal Assault Weapons Act, and has provided ballistics evidence and analysis in lawsuits against firearm dealers. He was a signer on a letter submitted to Congress opposing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
Jody Powell, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board
A. Austin Dorr, co-chairman of the AHSA Advisory Board"
(note: citation references for footnotes removed for clarity in this quote.)
The wikipedia entry for AHSA includes the following information under a heading "Criticism of AHSA Leadership:"
"Bob Ricker, Executive Director of the AHSA, is a former NRA employee who now supports some groups advocating restrictions on the ownership and use of firearms and has testified as an expert witness against the firearms industry in multiple court cases.
President of AHSA, John E. Rosenthal, is one of the founders of Stop Handgun Violence, a group which has been influential in instituting strong restrictions on the ownership of firearms, in the state of Massachusetts.
Spokesman for the group, Ray Schoenke, has donated over $10,000 to the Brady Campaign, a national organization which advocates strong restrictions on the ownership of firearms."
(again, citation references removed, emphasis added by this poster.)
The link to the wiki entry is
here.
Keep in mind that periodically, we get forum members here who show up just as the new political campaign season begins (and now never really ends) seeking to influence the topics
du jour. It appears that "gun control"
per se will NOT be an issue for the 2010 elections if the Democrat party can help it--it will be worked at on the fringes, such as these posts by
Owlnmole and
tramp116.
RKBA enthusiasts, who are the vast majority of members at this site, would do well to heed
mongo the mutterer's advice.
Jim H.