The following is an op-ed by Danielle Thompson, press secretary for Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the National Association for Gun Rights. Thompson recounts the critical November midterm elections and the vital role RMGO played in flipping control of the Colorado State Senate from the hands of pro-gun control Democrats to pro-gun Republicans.
Colorado Sen. Laura Woods, Republican, D-19. (Photo: TheColoGOP)
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) grassroots efforts fueled the first successful recall efforts in Colorado’s history, but only one effort overcame the Primary and General Elections.
RMGO was involved in all three recall elections, and because of the close proximity of the third recall in Senate District-19 in Jefferson County, the most competitive county in Colorado, RMGO Super PAC funded the effort and ran the operations.
RMGO did not stop their efforts in Jefferson County after forcing anti-gun State Senator Evie Hudak SD-19 to resign in 2013. RMGO focused their attention in Jefferson County for long-term gain to defeat the Democrats replacement candidate, Rachel Zenzinger.
The 2013 Democrat controlled State Senate betrayed their constituents by voting for and signing into law the magazine ban restriction, a tax on all gun purchases and expanded background checks. These anti-gun bills spurred the recall elections and RMGO was not about to let the public in Jefferson County forget about it.
RMGO recruited a candidate to run in the 2014 election against SD-19’s recall replacement candidate, Rachel Zenzinger. They urged prominent recall leader Laura Woods to run for office to represent the public’s lost voice.
Woods was slated to run against the establishment Republican Party’s candidate Lang Sias in the Primary Election. RMGO’s Super PAC was able to give Woods’ campaign some money, but was still outspent by outside establishment groups by a 4 to 1 margin.
RMGO ad targeting Rachel Zenzinger. (Photo:RMGO)
RMGO resorted to what they do best, grassroots mobilization. They let the public know her stances on specific Second Amendment legislation and Sias’ refusal to go on the record on the issues. Volunteers and supporters of the recall effort came in droves to offer grassroots support to Woods’s campaign.
Woods’ Primary Election was victorious and RMGO prepared for another nasty fight in the General Election. RMGO bombarded Woods’ Senate District with the most revealing political ads aimed to weaken Zenzinger, her anti-gun opponent.
Once again, RMGO’s efforts in this battle were outspent by a 3 to 1 margin from outside, liberal groups intent on destroying Second Amendment freedoms. Nevertheless, Woods was victorious.
Make no doubt about it, if Rocky Mountain Gun Owners sat on the sidelines of this race, the Colorado State Senate would be in Democrats hands. RMGO was the deciding factor in flipping the Colorado State Senate from Democrat to Republican by a one-seat majority.
We must absolutely push for thr recall of these anti gun so called laws. The anti constitutional democrats must fear the constitutional voter.
This is something that should be happening in every state. Before moving to Tennessee in 2013 I was involved in helping the Republicans take over every state office in Oklahoma in the 2010 election from the governor’s office across the board. I had a small part in the southwest corner of the state but we took the fight to the public and told the truth. I have advocated to the RNC to get better candidates and present a campaign based on truth. Until they show a willingness to do that we will continue to lose on the national level. People in America are hungering for someone who will tell the truth rather than the lies we are fed every day by the progressives. We can get our nation back but it has to start at the grassroots and work up. Then eventually the scene in Washington will change. To do less means we are willing to surrender our freedoms.
Congrats to Colorado!!! You should check out North Carolina’s grass roots. These Gun Owners are seriously kicking anti-gun tail.
http://www.grnc.org
The anti-gun politicians were recalled, yes. But here’s the question: Do the anti-gun laws they enacted still stand? If the answer is yes, then what was gained?
“what was gained” was a state government that is amicable to repealing these stupid laws. There is a process to be followed in removing these laws and we in CO can now travel down that path. A dem. state gov would not be interested in even considering a repeal since they work under the premise that criminals adhere to laws.
Article 2 Bill of rights “the right to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”We all need to .keep it that way.