I promised all y’all an update on the situation with Jews for Preservation of Firearms Ownership, now under the umbrella of the Second Amendment Foundation. The transfer required a three-person board of directors to be named. As of now, that board consists of Alan Gottlieb, Miko Tempski, and Ohad Lowy. Gottlieb is the founder of SAF, Tempski is general counsel for the same group, and Lowy is a practicing lawyer in the US who was born in Israel.
Two of the three are Jewish, and I for one think that’s important. The “J” had been missing from JPFO for a while. Until the takeover, there hadn’t been a Jewish hand at the tiller of JPFO since Charles Heller left his position as executive director a couple of years ago. The board that continued the mission in the interim was made up entirely of righteous Gentiles. (The capital R term Righteous Gentiles is reserved for those who worked to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. These three good men were born too late to do that. But they went to considerable personal expense and effort to keep the late JPFO founder Aaron Zelman’s brainchild alive and on course, and that sounds pretty damn righteous to me.)
I think the strongest moral imperative of JPFO grew from the lesson of the Holocaust, that gun registration led to gun confiscation and the creation of helpless victims of government-instituted genocide. A Second Amendment Sisters run by men, or a Pink Pistols run by straights, would simply lack credibility in its core message. It was important to re-solidify JPFO’s Jewish identity.
Non-Jews, of course, remain welcome. They have long constituted a majority of JPFO membership. Hell, I remember when Aaron Zelman and I used to joke about me being the token Arab member.
I’m happy to report that Rabbi Dovid Bendory remains with JPFO, and that the dynamic Charles Heller is back, as director of media relations for JPFO. Search is underway for a new executive director.
The announcement of JPFO coming under the SAF umbrella was met with enthusiastic applause from the hundreds of gun owners’ civil rights activists attending the Gun Rights Policy Conference in Chicago this past weekend. Ditto SAF’s tribute to Aaron Zelman. Some folks had called for mass resignation from JPFO, and SAF received a flurry of nasty-grams, but as of last week only ONE actual dues-paying member had resigned and requested a refund. (I’m told the dues refund was sent.) In fact, there has been a small spike in membership renewals and new member sign-ups.
Right now, the entire gun rights community is focused on the critical mid-term elections. SAF’s sister organization, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, headquartered in Washington State, is also working overtime to fight the egregious I-594 initiative there. There are also transferred records to be sorted out, and other such mundane administrative matters. For those reasons, I don’t expect the “new” JPFO ball to really get rolling until after the first of next year.
I’ve personally told the two new JPFO directors who were in attendance in Chicago that I’d like to see Zelman’s ground-breaking books on the desks of every Senator, Congressman, and legislative aide on Capitol Hill. The JPFO message needs to be more widely broadcast, and I have every reason to believe we’ll see exactly that in the coming year. SAF is well positioned to make it happen.
I was under the impression you were not for this union.
Did I read that incorrectly a ways back or was that OathKeepers?
I’m in favor of it, Huh. See blog entries here from August 25, September 9, and September 12.
best,
Mas
Charles Heller had a tough job handling the audio and getting the audio files edited and done in time for transfer to our flash drives. Trotting up to the mike to adjust it for each speaker must have been exhausting. He did it with professional aplomb.
I have already put the files on a CD so I can listen during my work commute. I intend to make some copies to hand out to my fellow club members.
I have to apologize for my previous comment on GRPC Day 2. I referred to Chris Knox, the itinerary shows his name as Jeff Knox. Thanks, Mas, for not correcting me. Sometimes my mind is like a computer, GIGO.
Only ONE member resigned? LOL!
How convenient that you’re able to ignore the fact that, in the weeks after the sellout was announced but before it was finalized, JPFO was inundated by calls and emails from members asking for their memberships to be cancelled. At least one corporate sponsor also demanded his money back.
But did you ask Doug Schuett or Sue Schmidt (JPFO’s Wisconsin office staff) about that? Nooooo. ‘Cause they would have told you they were utterly overwhelmed by all the requests, but that wouldn’t fit your preferred narrative.
I’m glad this fine organization will survive. The second amendment foundation has outstanding leadership.
Only ONE member resigned, you say?
I resigned, but did not request a refund, my membership being up at year’s end. JPFO, instead of accepting my resignation, sent me a goody packet with a renewal card dated 9/16!
Somebody lied to you.
Well, I’m certainly one member who resigned and requested a dues refund (which was promptly paid.) That makes me the only one? I sincerely doubt it.
As to the demographic make-up of of original JPFO – I was told by Doug only a few short weeks ago that 22% of the organization was Jewish. Certainly not the “majority” you claim, Mr. Ayoob. This numerical tidbit matters only in regard to your credibility on this and other JPFO-related matters.
A minor proofreading correction for the third paragraph, first sentence. It should read “…. that gun registration led to gun confiscation…”, not ‘than’.
I hope that the JPFO survives and thrives.
Brad: I think my credibility remains intact, but your reading comprehension may be in question. If you re-read what I wrote, I clearly said that the majority of JPFO membership was non-Jewish.
Claire: Welcome back. I believe I made it clear that I was talking about SAF’s experience with JPFO after the merger. After seeing your comment, I talked with Doug and Bob and asked them what the story was on member resignation during the period you seem to be referring to, between when you started the controversy and when SAF completed the merger. Both guessed the resignations to number somewhere around 150 during that period, far from a mass exodus or an “utterly overwhelming” departure from an organization that had well over 6,000 members at that time.
David Phillips, thank you for your good wishes for JPFO, and for your sharp eye. You were absolutely correct on your proofreading, and I’ve just made the correction. Much appreciated.
I could see giving Brad’s problems with reading comprehension the benefit of the doubt, but it seems to me that the organization – any organization – is better off without negative whiners like Claire and Brad.
I look forward to seeing the newly reinvigorated JPFO doing great things in the future.
I am a life member of both organizations, and look forward to fighting the real battle. I don’t give a rat’s ass who resigned, unless it is the chief of the atf or the doj.
Good post, and best wishes for the JPFO. It is important that it survive. Will send some $ their way upon receipt of the next mailing.
Personally knowing Alan, Miko and Charles, I will say that JPFO is in good hands. I can only expect it to get better from here.
Mas,
You are cleverly twisting words to satisfy your own ends. I am yet another JPFO member who resigned in the midst of this debacle (sellout to SAF) and my membership was still active and I also did not request a refund. BTW, 150 resignations is about 149 more than ONE, if my math skills are still working.
The twisting of words was not on my end, Sam in Oregon. I explicitly wrote, of the time period after the merger, “SAF received a flurry of nasty-grams, but as of last week only ONE actual dues-paying member had resigned and requested a refund. (I’m told the dues refund was sent.)” Did you miss the “resigned and requested a refund” part?
Mas, in your reply to Claire, you said “I believe I made it clear that I was talking about SAF’s experience with JPFO after the merger.” Yet, you never declared that the statement “SAF received a flurry of nasty-grams, but as of last week only ONE actual dues-paying member had resigned and requested a refund” was referring to the period after the merger.
Why can’t you admit you may have been in error, instead of trying to weasel your way out? A man who can never admit an error quickly loses respect.
And why do you close threads when people point out you might be mistaken? If you don’t want to continue the discussion, then don’t reply. Closing the thread is a tacit admission that you may have been wrong, and don’t want anyone to talk anymore about it.
3030, the record here will show what I said, its meaning obvious to those who don’t feel a call to troll. Similarly, the record shows that I only close threads when the same kind of troll lies to my readers.
Mas, I have no dog in this hunt as I have never been a member of any of these organizations. My experience is folks normally don’t have reactions as angry as some I’ve seen posted here unless there is loss of money or power involved.
If there has not been a change of the mission, why all the animosity? I usually don’t care who the preacher is as long as he is preaching the gospel and not stealing the money.
Frank/Observer, love the knew moniker.
Let’s stop the in-fighting. Here it is 2014 and the NRA is finally making some quality Public Service Announcements to air on TV. Shouldn’t that have been done in 1970? I’ve seen commercials for Henry Repeating Arms on regular TV channels, and I think they even aired a spot during a Super Bowl a couple of years ago. That’s all great, but we should have seen ammo and firearm commercials in the 1970s on CBS, NBC and ABC.
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. That’s a great idea. It’s hard to think that some Jews would be against firearm ownership, considering twentieth century history. But what is the case today? Not only are few Jews in the organization, the Second Amendment’s biggest, richest enemies are two Jewish Nazis named George Soros and Michael Bloomberg! This is no time for fragging, fratricide or friendly fire!
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear they will maintain their autonomy. That is good!
Old Fezzywig: I hear ya. It was the maddening frustration of Jews deaf to the logic of “Never Again!” that motivated Aaron Zelman.
Dennis: The newest troll does have a familiar tone, doesn’t he? 🙂
Win3030: And, by the way…by definition, “…SAF received…” couldn’t possibly have referred to anything BUT the period after the merger, since prior to the merger, JPFO instead of SAF would have done the receiving.
Just a general observation, but as Mas says: “A Second Amendment Sisters run by men, or a Pink Pistols run by straights, would simply lack credibility in its core message.” It is important that organisations claiming to represent the views of a given group e.g. women/police officers/Jews/gays/veterans etc are made up of members of that group.
Having associate members or supporting members from outside the group is all well and good, but if the core (majority?) membership isn’t made up of that group then the organisation risks running into accusations of being merely a “straw front.”
This type of infighting is exactly why I gave up on IPSC. After Jeff Cooper retired it just wasn’t the same and the infighting berween clubs kept me awake nights with phone calls.
This is Mas’ blog and can run it anyway he likes.
I was at GRPC, which was free, had a great time, and thought that Alan Gottlieb was very welcoming to the JPFO fraternity.
Mas,
I fancy myself a tracker. Every creature leaves distinctive sign.
Maybe not the same animal, but definitely the same species.
Mass. God Bless your heart & Soul. And Thank You. I know you are not perfect but dang, you push the limits. I have been reading your work for well more than a decade now. Would that more could manage to avoid letting their emotions blind them (to the point of not being able to read a simple statement and well beyond).
Hi, Mas. I feared this kind of self defeating back-biting would happen when Mr. Zelman died. I’m glad the JPFO will survive, but we need to see some of the historical data they gathered brought to the general public. Like a hand full of “sat. nite specials”© allowing the resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto to tie down an SS division for a month, allowing an unknown number of people to escape the round ups for the death camps. How many Joe Six packs have heard of the Battle of Athens, Tenn. In the 40’s? This part of our history NEEDS to be mainstreamed so folks will have a chance to understand the argument is about freedom, not shooting or gun ownership. ” I do not love the sword for its sharpness or bright gleam; but that which it protects.”
Just stumbled in on this blog, but I am familiar with JTPO having been one of your Facebook followers for about a year now.
I spend most of my time going after all the Jew-hating, Israel bashing liberals on the Internet (in addition to keeping current on the gun scene).
A belated La Shana Tova!
Hi,
We need all the friends and allies (of true purpose) in this fight that we can get. I have been a fan of JPFO precisely because of their cogent insight, “Never Again!” attitude, and intense full realization of the stakes at risk: with the validation of The Holocaust as the end result giving exceptional street credibility that “this is a group that KNOWS . . .” No better entitlement exists to point out that the Emperor is wearing no clothes. Their heightened sensitivity makes them the Canary in the Mines to warn us the situations is getting risky.
I am very happy that JPFO will continue to exist and their researches preserved. I applaud SAF for becoming the safe haven. I can only wish that JPFO, SAF, NRA and its affiliates, and other supporters of the Second Amendment succeed continuously, grow and prosper, and go from strength to strength, until the uninformed dreamers see the light and our fight is won.
Sincerely,
Sghiandhu
I mentioned the Battle of Athens, TN to state legislators a year and a half ago. As well as the true details of the Militia Act of 1903. And details of post Katrina civil & self defense. And more. I have also tried to educate and/or inform some Jewish & black friends of some history they need to review. Even the truth about German gun laws (1938 they did loosen gun control IF you were not a Jew, for example).
We, (me included) need all the good research & references we can get. (I am not a JEW nor a black, etc but I can feel their pain as well as any liberal). I appreciate Mass’ efforts to deal in facts as best he can & suspect he has good ideas many of us can only imagine.
First, kudos to you, Mas, for not only revisiting this subject (undoubtedly knowing you would get slammed anew), but for once again displaying a sense of what the core meaning of this subject should be. You also have shown a patience all should have in the face of such bitter recriminations. Like Dennis, I also question the motives of those who are so very bitter. As others have posted, we simply must quit any/all divisionary actions – the only hope we have is to become united. We can do it!