Someone visiting minnesotagunrights.org might assume it's a Minnesota group. The text on their website sure makes it sound local...
"Here in Minnesota"
"our local communities"
"want to outwork us"
"agenda down our throats"
"so that we can REACT when our rights"
"defend our rights"
"to safeguard our"
And finally,
"These are the people that we report to – not a boss 1,000 miles away who doesn’t understand Minnesota and what Minnesotans want."
So, who is minnesotagunrights.org? The executive director is Iowa resident Chris Dorr. Chris may not be 1,000 miles away, but he's not from Minnesota, and all of his "we" and "us" language is misleading, at best.
Minnesotagunrights.org wants you to think they were involved in Minnesota legislative issues. On their Minnesota Legislation page they posted an article which appeared to be their own content.
Monday, 28 October 2013 07:01
Gun control won't come to a vote this session, Minnesota House speaker says
Written by Administrator
It was six paragraphs, and ended with:
"But state gun rights advocates quickly fought off proposals to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines this year. They packed legislative hearings with hundreds of supporters and inundated lawmakers with thousands of emails and phone calls urging them to leave law-abiding gun owners alone.
The other side early on lacked the organization and lobbying skills, observers said. Legislators added that there are at least dozens -- if not hundreds -- of gun owners for every one gun control supporter they hear from."
There was no attribution other than "Written by Administrator". The story wasn't theirs. They copied it from the Pioneer Press, dressed it up with a photo they copied from the Star Tribune, and republished it on their site. Why did they choose to only republish the first six paragraphs? Well, my guess is they stopped there because the seventh mentions GOCRA, one of the groups actually responsible for getting stuff done here. That seventh paragraph starts:
"Andrew Rothman, vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance, said"
You can read the entire article here: http://www.twincities.com/ci_23151560/minnesota-legislature-gun-control-vote-wont-happen-this
The Pioneer Press story was from May, 2013. Minnesotagunrights.org didn't exist until July, and they didn't post the story to their site until late October.
Another example of Chris Dorr's attempt to appear local and relevant can be seen in the petitions section. Here you are urged to sign a "Petition to Restore Constitutional Carry in Minnesota". It includes: "Constitutional Carry would allow every law-abiding Iowa citizen who wants one to be able to carry a gun to protect themselves and their families;"
Yep, he didn't even have the decency to replace "Iowa" with "Minnesota" in the text. It goes on:
"In the interests of freedom, and the right of individuals to protect themselves and their families, I urge you to both cosponsor and seek roll-call votes on The Minnesota Constitutional Carry bill."
Chris managed to get the Iowa/Minnesota change right in this paragraph. However, there is no Minnesota Constitutional Carry Bill. It simply doesn't exist. There was one in Iowa, though.
So thanks Chris, but we're doing just fine without you. You can head back home now. Please.
You can read more about minnesotagunrights.org in this series:
Carpetbaggers
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=39222
Carpetbaggers: All Or Nothing, And Nothing
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=39619
Carpetbaggers: In The Out Dorr
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=39637
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=39640
Carpetbaggers: Not Of This World
http://www.shotinthedark.info/wp/?p=39721
Carpetbaggers: Of Moo And Cow