NRA Board Endorsement

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Published on Monday, 29 December 2014 10:39

The Texas Firearms Coalition is proud to endorse Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr. for reelection to the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association.  I have served on the NRA Board of Directors since 2001 and I have never seen a harder working, more dedicated Board Member than Joe. 

A good work ethic, though important, does not fully describe a man. I serve on committees with Joe, so I have a very good opportunity to see him in action. Two years ago we served together on the NRA Nominating Committee.  (You can only serve on that Committee every five years and never when you are up for reelection.)  All Nominating Committee discussions and deliberations are confidential so I cannot discuss any particulars. 

I can say that an issue came up that prompted Joe to abstain from any discussion or voting, because it involved a person with whom he had had a long running disagreement. Joe was in a position to strike out at this person, but chose not to do so. He didn't have abstain; there was no legal conflict, but he took the highroad and it is a great example of his character and statesmanship. Sadly, men of honor are increasingly hard to find in the political and legislative arenas, but Joe still lives by the code that “a man’s word is his bond.”

 Speaking of statesmanship, Joe is the consummate statesman -- one part politician, one part counselor, one part rush chairman and two parts Second Amendment defender.  In gun-friendly Texas, I sometimes feel a tinge of guilt when I compare our political and legislative environment with what Joe has to deal with in New York.  Joe's ability to develop and nurture true friendships, not merely fleeting political connections, with people of real influence in the New York Legislature is possible because of the statesmanlike approach Joe takes to defending the Second Amendment.  It's easy for those of us in Texas to look at New York and believe that there never are any political victories in that State.  However, this view is shortsighted.  While few if any states can match the number of pro-gun bills we pass in Texas, or the fact that we kill almost all anti-gun bills, good things do happen in New York. Yes, the Safe Act passed in New York, but other anti-gun bills were defeated long before they saw the light of day. Joe was a big part of those victories. He’s also working hard to show that the so-called Safe Act is anything but “safe.”

Please join me in voting for Joe DeBergalis, Jr. when your NRA Ballot arrives in your official NRA journal and ask your friends to do likewise.

Respectfully,
Charles L. Cotton
TFC President