Upcoming "insider" book…

Dean Speir · August 22, 2007, 08:06 PM

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Ricochet Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist

Because I've known the author for more than 20 years, I was given the opportunity to review this book "in galley" as it won't be published 'til the end of October.

It's a terrific look at the life of someone who was on the front lines in the battle to control firearms policy and legislative efforts, as an Field Representative for NRA-ILA, and the Executive Director of the American Shooting Sports Coalition which was ultimately absorbed into NSSF, the fact of which reshaped that organization's policies into a grudging acknowledgment that guns were legitimately used in places besides the uplands and the marshes, the clays stand and the Bianchi Cup, and quite directly led to the most popular area of SHOT Show, the Military and Law Enforcement section.

Feldman worked for ILA under the great Harlon Carter… to whom the book is dedicated… and with the likes of Wayne LaPierre ("a wonk in a rumpled blue suit"), "Toxic" Tanya Metaksa, G. Ray Arnett, J. Warren Cassidy and James Jay Baker. He details the exiles of Neal Knox, Arnett and Cassidy, the insidious appearance of the Public Relations firm of Ackerman-McQueen ("Ack-Mac") which inexorably transformed the gun rights organization into a hugely successful but alarmingly cynical fund raising enterprise, and the duplicity of a variety of elected officials… why are we not surprised?!… as well as a number of NRA staffers.

Along the way we learn the heretofore unheralded role Roy Innis (a personal hero of sorts ever since he knocked the Reverend Al Sharpton on his well-padded butt in the stage of NYC's Apollo Theater during a taping of the Morton Downey Jr. Show 20 years ago), played in the Bernard Goetz story.

We also learn how Glock and Sturm Ruger managed to deflect media firestorms when their products were identified as having been used in mass shootings.

And we get the full account of the famous/infamous [check one] Rose Garden "safety device" ceremony with Bill Clinton and prominent members of the firearms manufacturers industry as Feldman was the primary architect of that 1997 meeting, one which made him a pariah at NRA HQ.

It's a good read, and an invaluable chronicle of the inner workings of the NRA and others in the gun rights fight. And it'll make'em crazed with anger in Fairfax when they should be looking ashamed and starting to clean house on the eighth floor.

Eghad · August 22, 2007, 08:29 PM

Lobby organizations, politics and sausage making have a lot in common. It probably isnt very pretty and I dont have any expactations that things are fair all the time as human beings are involved. The NRA is still the 900lb gorilla in the Halls of Congress. Nobody loved and adored Patton but he got results. Political lobbying isnt for choirboys.

**Antipitas** · August 22, 2007, 09:32 PM

Dean, thanks for the review.

I think this will be on my "to be read right away" list.

August 22, 2007, 08:06 PM	#1
Dean Speir Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2000 Posts: 154	Upcoming "insider" book… . . . . . Ricochet Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist Because I've known the author for more than 20 years, I was given the opportunity to review this book "in galley" as it won't be published 'til the end of October. It's a terrific look at the life of someone who was on the front lines in the battle to control firearms policy and legislative efforts, as an Field Representative for NRA-ILA, and the Executive Director of the American Shooting Sports Coalition which was ultimately absorbed into NSSF, the fact of which reshaped that organization's policies into a grudging acknowledgment that guns were legitimately used in places besides the uplands and the marshes, the clays stand and the Bianchi Cup, and quite directly led to the most popular area of SHOT Show, the Military and Law Enforcement section. Feldman worked for ILA under the great Harlon Carter… to whom the book is dedicated… and with the likes of Wayne LaPierre ("a wonk in a rumpled blue suit"), "Toxic" Tanya Metaksa, G. Ray Arnett, J. Warren Cassidy and James Jay Baker. He details the exiles of Neal Knox, Arnett and Cassidy, the insidious appearance of the Public Relations firm of Ackerman-McQueen ("Ack-Mac") which inexorably transformed the gun rights organization into a hugely successful but alarmingly cynical fund raising enterprise, and the duplicity of a variety of elected officials… why are we not surprised?!… as well as a number of NRA staffers. Along the way we learn the heretofore unheralded role Roy Innis (a personal hero of sorts ever since he knocked the Reverend Al Sharpton on his well-padded butt in the stage of NYC's Apollo Theater during a taping of the Morton Downey Jr. Show 20 years ago), played in the Bernard Goetz story. We also learn how Glock and Sturm Ruger managed to deflect media firestorms when their products were identified as having been used in mass shootings. And we get the full account of the famous/infamous [check one] Rose Garden "safety device" ceremony with Bill Clinton and prominent members of the firearms manufacturers industry as Feldman was the primary architect of that 1997 meeting, one which made him a pariah at NRA HQ. It's a good read, and an invaluable chronicle of the inner workings of the NRA and others in the gun rights fight. And it'll make'em crazed with anger in Fairfax when they should be looking ashamed and starting to clean house on the eighth floor. __________________ • Dean, jus' visiting from The Gun Zone

August 22, 2007, 08:29 PM	#2
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,893	Lobby organizations, politics and sausage making have a lot in common. It probably isnt very pretty and I dont have any expactations that things are fair all the time as human beings are involved. The NRA is still the 900lb gorilla in the Halls of Congress. Nobody loved and adored Patton but he got results. Political lobbying isnt for choirboys. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

August 22, 2007, 09:32 PM	#3
Antipitas Staff Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 5,664	Dean, thanks for the review. I think this will be on my "to be read right away" list. __________________ Al Norris POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. --Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.