In discussing the upcoming primary election several folks have linked to youtube videos by Aaron Dorr of the Missouri firearms coalition. The assumption seems to be that Dorr is a credible source and that his group is heavily involved in Missouri politics. I won’t say whether he is or isn’t credible. What i will tell you us that during five years working for the Senate I don’t recall being aware of him being in the building more than a couple of times. My sense is that inside the Capitol the Missouri Firearms Coalition is essentially a non-entity. They’re almost never mentioned nor are they considered an important player. With very few exceptions they don’t show up to testify and you rarely see them (Aaron Dorr) in the halls or galleries. (As I recall, Dorr lives in Iowa)

National Public Radio (yes, that NPR) won a Putlizer prize for a podcast series about the Dorr brothers and the family network of supposed state firearms groups and related political activity. It would take several hours to listen to it all and you still might not believe it (NPR after all). But you should probably at least be aware that things may not be as they seem.

It’s been awhile since I listened to it but as i recall the TLDR version is that the Dorr’s MO is to create a wedge between traditional pro-2A supporters by presenting longtime friends of the RKBA as RHINOs while throwing their weight behind bills and politicians on the fringe. Through facebook posts and youtube videos they create a buzz, take credit for things they had nothing to do with and stir up listeners in hopes of building membership and getting contributions. They do this without ever (or rarely) traveling to the state they supposedly represent (think multiple clothes changes on a single day to produce a series of videos).  This model is repeated in several states with parallel videos in each state. The podcast suggests the Dorr Brothers true motivation isn’t firearms at all but actually home schooling and furthering a religious agenda. The multiple gun groups are just a way to build a political network. Again, there’s a lot to the series. A few episodes provide more of an overview while ithers dig in. Listen if you want, or don’t. Just know it’s out there.

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510356/no-compromise

The episodes are listed in reverse chronological order. If you decide to listen, start with the older episodes.

During the last election, I remember a video just like that in which he was really railing against a candidate about something........problem was that the info was incorrect.  I can't remember what it was, but we discussed it here about how they were (or still are) more biased than they seem.

These days, anyone with a smart phone can create a presence on the internet and say whatever they want. It takes quite a bit of effort and skepticism to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Thanks for the info Bladeswitcher.

Is anyone a member or ever been to an event with the Missouri Firearms Collation?  I see they have a nice website and an address in Jefferson City (registered to a UPS Store box.)  But outside of that don't really see much from them.  I thought for a second maybe they were a reboot of the MSSA, but that seems to still be around.

I'm always skeptical of these lesser known groups, after all the groups started popping up called something like "National Assoc for Gun Rights"--who are for "common sense" gun rights AKA anti-second amendment.  The mainstream media loves to quote them because it looks like they're the NRA, GOA, or true gun rights group for "the opposing view", and they are far from it.   Wolf in sheep's clothes.

EDIT:  Doesn't seem like that's the case with these folks, but still don't know much about them.  Missouri Firearms Collation is dba for "Missouri Gun Rights".  Looking at their tax filing, they're not paying themselves anything and most of what they take in is spent on materials, mailings, and advertising.  They seem to have a good source of revenue.  https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/   Hopefully someone that knows more about them will chime in.

@Bladeswitcher

I'd be much more interested in hearing your observations about the 3 main candidates stance on 2A than your opinion of someone else's opinion of the candidates.  

It might be construed that not 'playing politics' by showing up and swimming the swamp is a good thing!

In my experience, every Republican candidate is going to profess to be a diehard 2A supporter. It’s part of the Republican brand. IMO, most of them are fakers. I’ve rarely encountered a politician who I believed was a genuine gun guy. Generally, I don’t trust any of them to stand strong if the political winds shift.

Here’s what i can tell you:
I don’t recall Ashcroft ever indicating a personal involvement with guns.
Kehoe has hosted a sporting clays fundraiser for years
Eigel had his picture taken with a flame thrower and shot an Ar15 with Aaron Dorr in a MFC video.

Other than what they say, that’s all I know. I don’t put any stock in what they say.

FWIW, I voted for Kehoe. The candidates’ professed views on the 2A did not influence my decision in any way.

Thanks, I appreciate your knowledge and experience.  I do believe your posts are honest and balanced.  

IMHO, Kehoe is the rhino candidate.  The big gov't candidate.  

My perception is that you are more accepting of big gov't and it must be noted you used to make your living participating in it.  

It is none of my business but I do wonder if you still have a dog in the hunt?

How would you define “the hunt?”

Are you involved in politics, lobbying, consulting, or employed by a company that does anything with respect to politics or employed by a governmental entity or on the staff of any such entity?  Are any of your family members?  

My sole involvement with gov't is being exploited by, abused and taxed.

Thats funny right there. I only wish it wasn't true

Nope. I’m not employed by anyone and I’m not involved in politics in any way. I belong to no political organization and neither are any of  family members.

I did volunteer to be a poll worker so I’ll spend all Tuesday at the polls. Does that count?

The podcast i linked to is quite informative. The first few episodes are definitely worth listening to. The later ones might offend some folks, i imagine.

Ok, thanks

and

Thanks for doing a thankless job!

I joined them a while back, and only seemed to get spam mail about donating more money. Their social media really only posts memes, not much information.

I have a few friends that have bird hunted with Kehoe at least a few times.  At a minimum, I think he is a friend to the fudd gun community.  I have no idea if that applies to the EBR/NFA/more "fringe" end of the firearm community.

I have no inside or personal information to base this on, but of the three, Kehoe is the only one I can imagine buying a gun or going shooting if nobody was watching or taking photos.

ETA: From my time working for the Senate, I recall Kehoe reporting on his weekend turkey hunting success during in-chamber banter back when Dave Schatz was president pro tem. Schatz was a big time hunter/fisherman and he would often "inquire of the chair" while Kehoe presided over the Senate so they could share hunting stories. Unlike a lot of politicians who claim to be sportsmen, I believe Kehoe actually does hunt and fish and would do so even if he wasn't trying to woo the rod and gun constituency.

He definitely seems more like a "Fudd" type guy, though. I can't imagine he'd go very far out on the NFA limb.

Thanks for the heads up.

Clearly, opinions vary widely about the various state-level pro-gun organizations the Dorr Brothers operate. I suggest anyone interested google "Dorr Brothers" and see what comes up. You'll find content on both sides. If nothing else, these guys are masters at self promotion and seem to find themselves at the center of just about every hot-button conservative cause.

One article I suggest everyone read is from the avowed anti-gun "news" organization The Trace. You might want to get out your salt shaker (a "grain" of salt), but it's still illuminating:

The Brothers Behind an Extreme Gun-Rights Network That Republicans Call a Big Scam

Interesting read.

Same. Disappointed in them.

I stopped contributing to the NRA during the Wayne LaPierre grift years and never signed on with any other organization. That said, there were four groups listed as sponsors of the 2024 gun rally day at the Capitol:

Western Missouri Shooters Alliance
Gateway Civil Liberties Alliance
Missourians for Personal Safety
Missouri Sport Shooting Association

Maybe somebody with experience with these groups can weigh in and provided useful intel.

GCLA is big on the gun show circuit. They are still  NRA affiliated but it seems to me they do their own thing. They've donated funds to a nearby Scout Troop to promote gun safety and sportsmanship. Known guys since high school who are devoted members. I've never been able to get to a meeting but I believe it is fully legit.

Just looking at their newsletter, it seems they are pretty involved and on top of things. Same with the Western Missouri group. What I don’t know is how deep that involvement goes. It is just a handful of guys who carry the load or do they have a lot of active members. Hard to tell.

Judging only by the turnouts at the Capitol rally days, my sense is that most folks are pretty complacent (and, yeah, I count myself in that).