In the wake of the senseless shooting of three innocent people at a Ross Township Supervisors' meeting, the LV Tea Party has decided it's time that area lawmakers and the police community meet the fun lovin' gun nut community. In a move completely insensitive to the local victims of that shooting, they're bringing in perhaps the biggest gun nut in this country. Wayne LaPierre? Nah, nothing so tame as the NRA, especially someone whose name is so ... French. Instead, it's Gun Owners of America (GOA) founder Larry Pratt. He's the headliner for their October 11 meeting. They expect to pack the house.What's more, they are summoning all Lehigh Valley area PA lawmakers, Northampton County Council, Lehigh County Comm'rs, both Sheriffs, both DAs, and the Mayors and Police Chiefs of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
Pratt, incidentally, has been designated as a "false patriot" by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Larry Pratt, a gun rights absolutist whose Gun Owners of America (GOA) has been described as "eight lanes to the right" of the National Rifle Association, may well be the person who brought the concept of citizen militias to the radical right.According to Rational Wiki, he's also the founder of English First (an English-only movement organization), U.S. Border Patrol (an anti-immigration group), and Committee to Protect the Family (an anti-abortion and anti-same-sex marriage organization).
In 1990, Pratt wrote a book, Armed People Victorious, based on his study of "citizen defense patrols" used in Guatemala and the Philippines against Communist rebels — patrols that came to be known as death squads for their murderous brutality.
Picturing these groups in rosy terms, Pratt advocated similar militias in the United States — an idea that finally caught on when he was invited for a meeting of 160 extremists, including many famous white supremacists, in 1992.
It was at that meeting, hosted in Colorado by white supremacist minister Pete Peters, that the contours of the militia movement were laid out.
Pratt, whose GOA has grown since its 1975 founding to some 150,000 members today, hit the headlines in a big way when his associations with Peters and other professional racists were revealed, convincing arch-conservative Pat Buchanan to eject him as a national co-chair of Buchanan's 1996 presidential campaign.
The same year, it emerged that Pratt was a contributing editor to a periodical of the anti-Semitic United Sovereigns of America, and that his GOA had donated money to a white supremacist attorney's group.
Pratt is today close to the extremist Constitution Party and its radical theology.
Denying he's a racist, Pratt claims he's a rock star. He recently worried that civil rights charges against George Zimmerman would just “intimidate the rest of the country so that we don’t think about defending ourselves” against “attacks by black mobs on white individuals.”
Don't know about you, but that sure sounds racist to me.
This disturbs me. I visited the Tea Party several times in the past and found that, though the members are perhaps whiter and older than the rest of the Lehigh Valley, they are basically decent people. Many of them were downright friendly. But bringing in a racist lunatic like Pratt, while inviting local leaders to see it, is evidence that they've become far too extreme.
My guess is that no Sheriff, DA, County legislator or Mayor will darken their door.
38 comments:
You have not been around them in a while. They are getting more bizarre, angry and just plain nuttier.
It is a far cry from the kind of speaker I remember.
Hey,the Pope turns out to be Catholic.
Who would have thunk it?
Your taking the word of the Southern Poverty Law Center? On anything?
Sorry, that extremist group has been exposed a long time ago.
S/B "You're"
Ho hum.
"Your taking the word of the Southern Poverty Law Center? On anything?"
When what they say checks out wioth multiple other sources, I'll take their word, especially over that of an anonymous commenter.
You said no mayor, legislator, or D.A. would attend........but you let out County Council. Does this mean you actually believe some candidates like "pro gun" "pro hunting" supporters like Seyfried will be in attendance?
I said no legislator and that includes County Council. Jerry Seyfried is not pro-gun, he is pro-sportsman. There is a difference. He, Topping and all true sportsmen have always supported background checks to prevent insaniacs from packing. Also, the NRA today is not what it was 20 years ago. It used to be all about gun safety and education before it became a lobbyist for gun manufacturers. So, although I have not spoken to Jerry, I doubt he would go to a meeting featuring a racist as its guest speaker. The LV Tea Party should be ashamed of itself for inviting someone like Pratt, and then expecting police chiefs and DAs to attend.
Bernie, can you write anything without resorting to despicable name calling? If you don't like the guy, don't go to the meeting.
Just because you fear defending yourself, don't tell me that I must not either. We have a 2nd amendment. Get over it. If you don't like it, too bad.
Gun owners want the freedom to protect themselves because the state cannot. When the state guarantees my safety 24x7 from criminals, we'll talk. Until then, you must respect our inalienable right to self protection.
Tom Campione is a strident member of the LV Tea party whose Facebook page states, "Please register today for this great 2A event featuring Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America. Additionally, about 25 Valley area elected officials will be individually invited to attend."
This is an event that features, not just a gun nut, but one who is well known for views that are racist and anti-Semitic. I have linked to just some of the observations about this person, but there are many more. The "name-calling" you deride is, in fact, and accurate description of what this man is and what he stands for. The fact that you would tout him and individually invite 25 elected officials to see this maniac tells me your group has deteriorated and no longer stands for conservative values. It now stands for racism, extremism, xenophobia. I at one time defended your group against attacks that it was such an organization. But you have proven me wrong. No elected official who knows a thing about Pratt will darken your door. Whether you know it or not, you have succeeded in marginalizing yourselves. Why not invite Chief (not for long) Mark Kessler and our own local gun nut, Tricia Mezzacappa, while you're at it? And the fact that you would do this after the tragedy in Ross Township demonstrates that you are completely tone deaf.
Bernie, Will you be attending? Just for shits and giggles. I will be right next to you.
U know who
I might go to note who is there.
And I will use you as a shield. See you there.
Sounds like a plan.
In you true Leftist form Bernie, you once again resort to childish personal attacks and name calling. You are filled with yourself and think your opinion matters to anyone.
We all know that you despise conservatism while claiming to speak for it. You don't speak for it. No conservative would use lies and personal attacks instead of factual evidence. Your perverted opinion is nothing. What a joke. Ha, ha, ha... By the way, mu opinion here is my own, and not that of the LVTP.
Tom, I am no leftist or conservative, and am tired of labels by which people try to pigeon hole others. The names I use - racist, anti-Semite - are accurate and are discussed in multiple links from my blog. That's called factual evidence. There's nothing childish about pointing out that someone is a either of those things, and I do not make the charge lightly. The fact that the tea party would tout this wingnut is alone an indication that your group is now an extremist. I am ashamed to see the words "Lehigh Valley" associated with your group. Instead of being concerned about this extremist whose views are so bizarre that Pat Buchanan had to dump him, you attack me for telling the truth.
Rocky Newell is a patriot, don't tread on me is more than a catchphrase, it's a battlecry!
"Rocky Newell is a patriot..."
Maybe in your "tea party foot soldier" world Newell is a patriot. To the rest of us he is a cold blooded murderer.
Really?
Vote Republican this Fall and save our guns from the UN!
Jerry Seyfried spoke at our Sportsmen's Club meeting and said he supports the second amendment. In the next breath, he said he supports background checks. He claims he donates money to the NRA. You can't have it both ways. You either support the second amendment or you don't.
Seyfried sows play both sides of the fence in politics. It is one of the many resound he was tossed from office the last time he ran.
You must mean some other 2d amendment. There is no absolute right to bear arms, and most sportsmen recognize that. In fact, no right is absolute.
1:55, Take tour drug cocktail,Tricia.
Just took my drug cocktail Bernice, I had a vision of you at the top of my stairs stark naked, it was horrifying and entertaining at the same time. Your tic tac, rock hard and uncut glistening with mineral oil and peanut butter in an attempt to lure Earl in for an hoer d'oeuvre. I woke up when Jolly Joe called me about an upcoming radio show that will be sure to take the valley by storm, "TM in the AM" will expose corruption all over and put an end to LVR.
In two years you going to eat your words about Re New LV too. I give you credit for admitting you we're wrong on this, but I suspect you really knew all along that these people were loose canons.
You are mistaken. I met and like many of the people in that group. I am shocked by what I am seeing.
Bernie
The links you cite are from "Rational Wiki" and "Right Wing Watch". I wouldn't exactly call those unbiased sources.
Not everything you read on the Internet is true, you know.
No, I agree that they are somewhat biased, but they packed the most informative in as few words as I could find. The evidence is there. You need only google this guy's name for numerous stories about him. His own words seal his doom.
I really can't believe you would even argue this point. It is simply amazing to me that your group would invite this guy to be your guest speaker. Not only is it disrespectful to the families of the Ross Tp massacre, but you are hurting R candidates to County Council with ties to your group.The Democrats couldn't ask for a nicer present. if you had any sense, you;d cancel this event.
You need to start writing for Howard Stern. You are hilarious.
I found this rambling on the Politics PA site-as someone who know's none of the actors-Bernie- YOU SOUND LIKE A DEMONRAT-i after reading your comment's find your intolerant and insensitive comments like the DEMONRAt party,
while i live near Chief kessler- and acknowledge he could have spoken more eloquently-he has a right to say what he want's. AS do we all to STAND OUR GROUND. My inital thought after reading your writing-is you love people who think like you,but if not...
You think they SUCK--Not as much as
YOUR LOVE LIFE! BTW not interested in a reply-just pointing out what i saw from SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Bernie, what a joke. You say that you are tired of "labels by which people try to pigeon hole others" and then do exactly that, label others as racist anti-Semites then simply link to equally despicable opinion and call it factual.
I contend that your attempt to pigeonhole Larry Pratt is driven solely by your ideology. Over the years, you claimed to be a friend of the tea party, but IMO, you never were. I believe that you saw your role as silencing the voices of individual rights and limited government and that you resort to Alinsky tactics to reach your objective of silencing your opposition. I offer as proof your act of bringing Chief Kessler into the conversation along with a Northampton County woman who you relentlessly attack.
Larry Pratt is a good man. You and others are free to disagree with his position. But, unfounded charges of racism and anti-Semitism are disgusting, vile, and defamatory. BTW: Most sport men do not agree that there is no absolute right to bear arms. That's a crock. You just made it up. We have a constitution which even a disbarred lawyer should be able to read. We also have a Pennsylvania Constitution Article 1, Section 21 which reads “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.“ That is the law of the land, not some phony opinion of some fictitious group of sportsmen.
You Leftist claim you are all for tolerance, equality and open dialog. Well, Mr. Pratt has a right to his opinion and you should support his right to speak with us. Those who will be attending this meeting are normal, everyday people who happen to own firearms for their own protection, lawfully. Many of us understand that we are responsible for the safety of our loved ones, and that in an emergency, it will take police 6 minutes to arrive. That is six minutes from the time you can get a 911 call off, assuming you can. Bernie, your complete disregard for the 2nd Amendment puts my life in danger. That is why I oppose your progressive tactic of taking defensive tools from law-abiding individuals simply because firearms have no place in your distorted utopia while at the same time, you do nothing to disarm criminals and gangs who murder for fun.
"-i after reading your comment's find your intolerant and insensitive comments like the DEMONRAt party,"
Yeah, I am fairly intolerant when it comes to racists.
Tom, He is a bigot. You are defending a racist. Google the frickin' name. I don't giver a shit what your views are, a bigot is a bigot.
I do know this much. I am sure the GOP Council candidates who attend your meetings are really happy with you. Bringing a person like that tou your meeting, on the eve of an election, has got to be one of the stupidest things you could do. Bringing him so soon after Ross Tp is also completely insensitive.
Larry Pratt is a good man and just because you are out to destroy him for ideological reasons, that does not make him what you try to label him. Your so called evidence is nothing more than perverted opinion by left-wing extremists.
More important, you now reveal your true motivation for attempting to do the kill on this meeting. I posit that your true intent is to provide a political cover for those officials who do not want to engage the gun owner community.
With your repulsive remarks, officials who wish to avoid a very important segment of their constituency have the perfect out... Bernie says the lead speaker is controversial.
Larry Pratt is an honest man who is passionate about 2nd Amendment rights. He is none of the ugly names that you call him. I know him to be an honest, devote individual who is happy to share his views with Valley gun owners and elected officials.
Officials are asked to attend, not to support Larry Pratt, but to come meet the gun owner community. Larry will get gun owners there. Gun owners should get elected officials there. This should be the start of an important relationship between the gun owner community, and our elected officials. That's all it is Bernie. It's not some sinister plot as you make it out to be. It's good people coming together to begin a dialog on a very important subject that effects a great many people.
My argument, in case you haven't noticed, has NOTHING to do with ideology. Unlike you, I am not an ideologue. My argument has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that this guy is a bigot, is anti-Semitic, and has a very long record of it. In the wake of the Zimmerman verdict, there is no dispute that Pratt said that the AG is considering civil rights charges to “intimidate the rest of the country so that we don’t think about defending ourselves against attacks by black mobs on white individuals.” What is that if it is not blatant bigotry?
Just this Independence Day, Pratt was headliner at Freedompalooza, hosted by the anti-Semitic Poker Face folks. That's the same band that Jake Towne correctly abandoned.
When Pratt was a Christian Identity preacher at the Laporte Church of Christ, he claimed the lost tribes of Israel were Europeans and that current jJws are Satanic imposters. What is that, if not anti-Semitic?
The fact that you consider him your good friend tells me all I need to know about you.
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