By LINN MCCABE
Why do the leaders of Alaska Gun Rights attack conservative, obviously pro-2A legislators such as Representative Mike Cronk, Speaker Cathy Tilton, Representative Kevin McCabe, and many others?
See some of their attacks on their website; similar information and memes are being boosted on social media just days before the Primary election on Aug. 20: https://alaskagunrights.org/news/ and https://alaskagunrights.org/wall-of-shame-hb61/
Alaska Gun Rights (AGR) is a local offshoot of National Association of Gun Rights (NAGR), an organization which considers itself to be to the right of the NRA. Their board consists of L. Richard McClure, Jerad McClure, and Pat Martin.
Jerad McClure is David Eastman’s legislative secretary, and Pat Martin is Eastman’s best friend and stalwart defender of anything Eastman does, no matter how ridiculous or unethical.
AGR is particularly angry at a group of legislators who have decided they do not want to support some of the silly amendments that Representative Eastman puts forth, and they have chosen HB61 as their vehicle to beat up on these legislators. See my previous article about the tactic of punishing legislators who do not march in lockstep with the “champion:”
House Bill 61 was House Speaker Cathy Tilton’s bill, a flagship bill of the NRA, and was passed last session. Significantly, she offered it three years ago and it was supported in a big way by both Eastman and AGR. HB 61 sought to protect gun rights from government intrusion in the time of an emergency.
It was known as the anti-Berkowitz bill, and was intended to prevent mayors and officials from closing down gun stores in an emergency, such as what happened in Anchorage during the Covid pandemic in 2020. What AGR takes issue with is that this bill (now law) does allow for the closing of gun shops and ranges. However, what AGR and McClure neglect to say is that the resulting law only allows for such closures if all other businesses are closed as well. The rest of the bill put into statute that the government cannot otherwise interfere with your firearms rights.
So what happened? Why did AGR and Eastman remove their support of this bill? The apparent answer is that they didn’t care as much about the bill or, in fact, your 2A rights, but rather they seek to publicly punish Republicans that they feel do not align with Eastman in everything he does.
Their goal is to protect their “champion” at all costs, even if this gives the election to someone like Savannah Fletcher, a far left liberal, running against Rep. Mike Cronk for the Senate seat “R” vacated by Sen. Click Bishop. Interesting to note that another opponent of Rep. Cronk in the race for Senate seat is James Squyres, who is the spouse of Eastman’s former staffer, Pamela Goode, who is (also) running for House seat 36, currently occupied by Representative Cronk.
AGR and Eastman came out with their opposition to HB61, which contained verbatim language of a bill which they had previously very vocally supported, after Eastman was not included in the Majority Caucus, and after he was removed from the Judiciary Committee. The result of these decisions were a reduction of points allowed for Eastman’s staff forcing him to decide on number of positions and staff pay. Candidate Pamela Goode lost her job when Eastman excluded himself from the majority; Jerad McClure retained his position.
The opposition to Tilton’s bill, by AGR and Eastman, was pure retribution. They sought to punish her over staff and committee reductions, even though those decisions were not hers to make. Committee assignments are made by the Committee on Committees, and staff decisions are made by individual legislators based on points they are given. Those points are based on committee assignments and caucus membership. Every single legislator knew AGR’s concerted effort to destroy HB61 was punishment for decisions made with respect to Eastman. The blatant political skullduggery by the father of Eastman’s secretary may have actually helped the bill pass.
The senior McClure is active in Alaska Republican Party politics, and his son Jerad is very active in Valley politics. One cannot help but wonder how gleeful the Democrats and anti-2A legislators must be to see his attacks on conservative Republicans. When trying to understand these reprehensible attacks on fellow Republicans, it is important to know the back story; while the feud between NAGR and NRA is part of it, the “punish-those-who-disagree-with-the-champion” mentality seems to be the impetus for this latest round of excoriation of legislators who are all candidates for election or re-election.
In light of the recent decision by the NRA, to endorse Rep. Mary Peltola, candidates/legislators are reluctant to use any NRA affiliation, where it had formerly been worn as a badge of honor. AGR leadership likely feels that they can now attack pro 2A legislators for past NRA support, and especially for HB61.
However, despite the NRA support of HB 61, and despite the new opposition to anything NRA, HB 61 made sense. It makes sense now, and it also made sense to AGR and Eastman three years ago because it prohibits the singling out of gun stores, ranges, and sporting goods stores. So what is the major malfunction of AGR?
Linn McCabe is a nearly life-long Alaskan, and has been a conservative political activist since 2008. She is married to Representative Kevin McCabe of Big Lake, who is currently running for re-election in House District 30.
Well then, we should never give an inch (when all other business are closed first). When that happens we will need our shops and ranges. Secondly, it is the first step for other restriction (frog in a pot of warm water). Third, the NRA does no favors in giving a anti 2nd amendment Peltola an A rating! Lastly and most important. The Republican party should get rid of their mascot the elephant and replace it with the Lynx. Reason: Lynx don not care if they eat their own.
Keep the elephant, get rid of the snake
I support many Second Amendment organization but won’t touch any parts of National Association of Gun Rights. They’re just an angry group who goes radical when they don’t get their way. IMHO they do more harm than good.
More conservative foot shooting. No shortage of that recently. Worry not: the shooters won’t ge able to hobble forward soon. They’re running out of feet. Case in point: watch them get Peltola re-elected.
What are you doing Eastman. ?? It’s bad enough we got liberals to fend off let alone (our) own conservatives. At some point you wind up falling on your own sword you keep this crap up.
“Why do the leaders of Alaska Gun Rights attack conservative, obviously pro-2A legislators such as Representative Mike Cronk, Speaker Cathy Tilton, Representative Kevin McCabe, and many others?”
I would say the more obvious question is why does the wife of a Republican Representative spend so much time attacking a conservative?
Linn, obviously Eastman has his peculiarities, but your repeated attacks wreak of personal vendetta much more than principled disagreements.
Women shouldn’t be involved in politics, much less political piss fights on behalf of their husbands. Your aim is off and you just can’t shoot as far, Linn.
she likes to bully people, just like her husband.
Alaska Gun Rights is a great organization that really pulls no punches when telling how people voted on gun bills. You know what they say, throw a stick at a pack of dogs and the one who yelps is the one who got hit.
One thing we’ve all seen this year is how the surrender caucus works in the House, not even trying to give us a full PFD or fighting the bad Senate budget. They constantly “table” conservative ordinances so they don’t have to vote on them. I’ve donated to AGR and will again in the future.
you are right on…this is just another bully piece by another McCabe….maybe they should both go to therapy!
What famous American wrote this gun quote?
”Aim for the high mark and you will hit it, no, maybe not the first time, maybe not the second time, and maybe not even the third time, but with practice, you will hit the bullseye”
Answer; yelkaO einnA
oh my gosh does it never stop with the RINOS attacking the rule Conservative(s)?
Does Must Read ever acknowledge that NRA is spineless group that supported the likes of Harry Reid?
Tilton is a full blown RINO and she expects the other puppets to fall in line and they do.
Eastman uses his Brian and will not be intimidated.
Stop referencing NRA like it means something. Hasn’t for years.
To answer your question, it is the feckless AKGOP.
Thank you for spelling it out for us. Eastman has played in the shadows too long working AGAINST great legislation.
Also – I’d like to point out that…2A rights are NOT infringed on in HB61 but a caveat was put in place in case of natural disaster such as a major earthquake… that a severely damaged strip mall could be shut down.
That does NOT mean ALL gun stores would be shut down but the ONE that was severely damaged along with all other industries would be shut down – for example. If they pretend they don’t understand that… then they’re choosing to not understand basic operations of business.
In this world, we have two kinds of people, those that are honest, and those that are not. Alaska Gun Rights and their board are clearly of the latter persuasion. What an absolute crock they would attack any of these conservative, clearly 2A-supporting legislators. McCabe from Big Lake, Tilton from the Mat-Su and Cronk from Tok, these are literally some of our most ardent down-to-earth liberty keepers in the Alaska Legislature. Eastman clearly doesn’t understand that the legislature is a place where you are required to sit down and cordially work with others with very different view points. He’s bombing at every turn. Wasilla House District 27 voters, get your butt’s out to vote for Jubilee Underwood on Tuesday. You might has well have a liberal representing you in Juneau if you stick with your incumbent.
Have encountered Jerad McClure at the gun shows where he tries to sell the concept that nobody in Alaska with a known mental illness should be prevented from owning a firearm. This is pure hogwash as I have neighbors and yes friends that I wouldn’t trust with a firearm in any type of crisis where clear thinking must prevail. It was like talking to a stone wall!!
NAGR is a money mill for its founders.. They’re using the
Malfeasance at The NRA to sucker in customers
Representative Eastman has been the best Democrat in Juneau for years. Hopefully this is the year that Wasilla sends an actual conservative there.