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Friday, October 31, 2008

Gun Sales Increase Part II

I posted on this earlier this week but it continues to be news. Cam Edwards on NRANews last night led his program with it as well. The increase in gun sales as the election approaches is clearly a nationwide story. All you have to do is google "Increase in Gun Sales" and you get page after page of articles around the nation, even here in Virginia.



National Review's Jim Geraghty said on NRANews last night it is possible that if Obama wins and he has increased majorities in both houses of Congress as expected, that Obama will try to strike while the "iron is hot" and push through things like a renewal of the Clinton gun ban. Geraghty believes it will be hard for even normally pro-gun Democrats (i.e. like a Heath Shuler) to resist the arm twisting from a president in the same party in the first 100 days.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Obama and Guns

In this morning's Washington Times, NRA-ILA Executive Director had this to say about Obama's claims about supporting the Second Amendment.

In speech after speech, Barack Obama has claimed he would "uphold the Second Amendment." Mr. Obama, of course, is a polished speaker who says "words matter." But records matter more. And while Mr. Obama is short on experience on most issues, he's long on anti-gun votes and even longer on rhetoric. Now's a good time to review both. One of Mr. Obama's first statements on the issue really said it all. During his first run for the Illinois Senate in 1996, Mr. Obama said on a candidate questionnaire that he supported legislation to "ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns." When challenged about the questionnaire earlier this year, Mr. Obama blamed others, saying his campaign staff had filled out the questionnaire incorrectly.

In a 2003 case, a resident of Wilmette, Ill., used a handgun to defend himself from a burglar with a drug habit and a long criminal record, breaking into his home for the second day in a row. Though authorities found the shooting justified, the armed citizen was charged with possessing a handgun in violation of Wilmette's handgun ban.

Illinois lawmakers proposed legislation that would make self-defense an "affirmative defense" against prosecution for handgun possession in towns like Wilmette. Mr. Obama voted four times against the measure, which passed over his opposition, and over a veto by Illinois' anti-gun governor, Rod Blagojevich, a long-time Obama ally.

Self-defense at home or outside the home - it's all just as bad to Mr. Obama.

In 2004, he said he was "consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry," and that he'd back "federal legislation that would ban citizens from carrying weapons, except for law enforcement." Mr. Obama had already put that anti-self-defense belief into action in 2001, voting against a state Senate bill that would have allowed people who receive protective orders - such as domestic violence victims - to carry firearms. Why? Because, in Mr. Obama's world, "authorizing potential victims to carry firearms would potentially lead to a more dangerous rather than less dangerous situation . It was a bad idea and I'm glad it failed," he said.

Mr. Obama also claims he's no threat to hunters.

But in 2005, he voted for a ban on all but the smallest rifle ammunition used for hunting (or for anything else). If the measure had passed, it would have classified most rifle ammunition beyond the low-powered .22 caliber as "armor piercing ammunition," prohibited for civilian manufacture by federal law. The ammunition ban was hardly Mr. Obama's first act against hunters, either. In 1999, Mr. Obama proposed increasing firearm and ammunition excise taxes by 500 percent. Right now, a rifle that a manufacturer sells for $500 carries an excise tax of $55. Under Mr. Obama's proposal, that amount would rocket to $330. This would turn a tax willingly paid by sportsmen, which funds many of our wildlife conservation programs, into a tool to punish gun buyers.

Also, while Mr. Obama promises hunters, "I will not take your shotgun away," his votes tell a different story.

In 2003, while serving on the Illinois state Senate's Judiciary Committee, Mr. Obama voted for a bill that would have banned (as so-called "semi-automatic assault weapons") most single-shot and double-barreled shotguns, along with hundreds of models of rifles and handguns. If the bill had passed, any Illinois resident who possessed one of these guns 90 days after legislation went into effect, would have faced felony charges. What was that about not taking shotguns away?

As if voting for anti-gun plans wasn't bad enough, Mr. Obama also helped pay for them. He was a board member from 1994 to 2001 of the anti-gun Joyce Foundation, which is the largest source of funding for radical anti-gun groups in the country. On Mr. Obama's watch, Joyce donated $18.6 million to approximately 80 anti-gun efforts, including $1.5 million to the Violence Policy Center, the nation's most aggressive gun-prohibitionist group. Many of the Joyce Foundation's projects were aimed at editing the Second Amendment out of the Constitution.

But an Obama Supreme Court could do that more directly. Mr. Obama has said he would not have nominated Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. It was Justice Scalia who wrote the majority opinion in D.C. v. Heller, which declared that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms, and that D.C.'s handgun ban is unconstitutional. Justice Thomas joined in that opinion. As a member of the U.S. Senate, Mr. Obama also voted against confirming Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, both of whom joined Justice Scalia's majority opinion in Heller. That means four of the five pro-freedom votes on the Supreme Court would not have been there under an Obama presidency.

This is the real Barack Obama. This record matches the attitude Mr. Obama revealed when he said rural Pennsylvanians are "bitter" and "cling to guns." This record matches what you would expect to emerge from a Chicago political machine where an unrepentant terrorist is "respectable" and "mainstream."

Finally, with no way to run from his record, Mr. Obama resorts to the ultimate political dodge. Does he support gun registration? "I don't think that we can get that done." Banning guns? "I couldn't get it done. I don't have the votes in Congress."

These efforts to ease gun owners' fears should make any gun owner ask, "Wait, why is he counting all these votes already?" Instead of this not-so-reassuring rhetoric, gun owners deserve the truth. And the truth is clear: Barack Obama would be the most anti-gun president in history - bar none.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Cooper Arms and Obama

There was a lot of chatter yesterday on Internet discussion boards and blogs about a USA Today article discussing corporate executives that don't normally support Democrats that are now supporting Barack Obama. One such exec mentioned was Dan Cooper, "chief executive of Cooper Arms, a small Montana company that makes hunting rifles." The article starts out with:


Dan Cooper, a proud member of the National Rifle Association, has backed Republicans for most of his life. He's the chief executive of Cooper Arms, a small Montana company that makes hunting rifles.

Cooper said he voted for George W. Bush in 2000, having voted in past elections for every Republican presidential nominee back to Richard Nixon. In October 1992, he presented a specially made rifle to the first President. Bush during a Billings campaign event.

...Cooper changed sides, he said, "probably because of the war. And also because the Republican Party has moved so far right in recent years."

He also likes Obama's message about "the retooling of America, which involves the building of middle-class jobs and helping American small business be competitive with those overseas."

You can imagine that the reaction to this news ranked right up there with the feelings of betrayal felt after Jim Zumbo made his uninformed comments about semi-auto military style firearms. Zumbo later apologized and after some range time with Ted Nugent, saw the error of his ways and now understands why people like to shoot firearms like AR-15s.

But is this USA Today report the whole story? In today's Shooting Wire, Jim Shepherd writes:


This statement posted on the Cooper Firearms website would seem to indicate otherwise: "Regarding the USA Today Article. Cooper Firearms of Montana, Inc. did not contribute and does not support in any fashion the campaign of Senator Obama. Nine months ago Dan Cooper (personally) made an online donation to the campaign in an effort to help defeat Hillary Clinton and in protest of American plant closures and the shipping of jobs overseas. Three months ago he made yet another donation to the McCain campaign and the RNC totaling over twice that given to Obama campaign. There is no doubt that the article in USA Today has caused a considerable response. To this end we are encouraged and stand with our fellow NRA members and supporters of the Second Amendment and against those who oppose it."

The end of this story is far from written, but were Cooper's actions were not inaccurately reported in order to fit inside the "More executives sold on Obama" headline, Mr. Cooper is only beginning to feel the ire of already angry gun owners. When your name is on the sign, there is precious little discrimination between your personal actions and those of your company.

Given how the media has been in the tank for Obama all year, it is probably always good to dig deep into anything they report. In any event, Cooper will likely think twice about talking to the media in the future.

Update: Sebastian has another take on the Cooper response. He makes some good points as always.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

NRA Looks to Close the Sale

The Politico reports that the NRA is running a new add in battleground states, including Virginia, in hopes of closing the sale for gun owners to vote their rights on November 4th. The ad does not mention a candidate by name but uses the popular actor Chuck Norris in ads reminiscent of the Huckabee primary ads.



With seven days left, the stakes could not be higher. It is likely the next president will appoint Supreme Court judges as six of the nine are turning 70. In addition, hundreds of federal and appellate judges will be appointed. Appellate appointments shape lasting constitutional interpretations and they cover multiple states. Although these require Congressional approval, that will be a slam-dunk if this election creates a Democratic super-majority. One out of three federal judges now owes a lifetime-tenured job to the current president.

The overwhelming majority of Americans believe that judges should interpret the law as it is written. Seventy-four percent (74%) of men favor that approach along with 65% of women. Sen. McCain supports that view and he has consistently campaigned on a “strict constructionist philosophy” for the courts.

Sen. Obama, on the other hand, believes that judges should be required to possess “empathy” and should “reach decisions on the basis of his deepest values, core concerns, and broader perspectives on how the world works.” During the Roberts nomination debate, Sen. Obama stated, “Legal process alone will not lead you to a rule of decision. In those difficult cases, the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge’s heart.”

The choice could not be clearer for gun owners. This is the most important election of our lifetime and we need all gun owners to vote for their rights. In these last seven days, please talk about what is at stake in this election with your fellow gun owning friends and family. Let's do all we can to defeat Barack Obama.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Gun Sales Still Brisk in Slow Economy

This from the Washington Post:

Americans have cut back on buying cars, furniture and clothes in a tough economy, but there's one consumer item that's still enjoying healthy sales: guns. Purchases of firearms and ammunition have risen 8 to 10 percent this year, according to state and federal data.

This on top of the increase in concealed handgun permit applications (in Virginia and nationwide).

Post reporter Frederick Kunkle writes that more than three dozen interviews with gun dealers and buyers in Virginia and Maryland and with experts nationwide indicated that the increase in gun sales appears to be driven predominantly by concerns about the presidential election and the economy..

Can't say that I disagree. It's likely that the fear that Obama may end up in the White House is driving both sales and concealed handgun permit applications.

Gun owners can do something about this in the next eight days - do whatever you can to get your friends, family and fellow gun owners to defeat Obama.

Hat tip to John J. Miller.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Board unanimously approves proposals on Hunting with Hounds

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) Board unanimously approved a list of proposals submitted by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee on Hunting with Hounds at it's meeting this morning. As expected, the hot-button topic was the state's right-to-retrieve law -- which enables hunters to go on private land to get their dogs whether they have permission to or not. Twenty five speakers from various interest groups spoke, with the overwhelming number being pro-hunters who did not want any changes to the right to retrieve law.

The 11 proposals were the result of the game department's 15-month "Hunting with Hounds in Virginia: A Way Forward" study

No laws or new hunting rules will immediately result from the proposals.

After approval of the recommendations, DGIF Board chairman C.T. Hill ordered the game department staff to put the proposals into three categories -- administrative, regulatory and legislative. Hill then wanted proposals studied before more public comment.

The advistory committee’s final recommendations as approved are:

-Improved law enforcement of current regulations and laws.

-Improved record keeping on violations and complaints to the game department.

-Increasing funding for law enforcement.

-Increase penalties and fines for violations of current regulations and laws.

-Training seasons for deer hounds.

-Greater department oversight for the practice of hunting from or near public roads.

-Modify Virginia’s “right-to-retrieve” law, forcing hunters to make a reasonable attempt to contact landowners and requiring landowners to properly post their land.

-Better identification for hunting dogs.

-An education and training program for hunting organizations, individual hunt clubs and other relevant stakeholders.

-Establish a code of ethics for hound hunters.

-And holding violators of laws and the yet-to-be-determined code of ethics accountable.

The study used facilitators from Virginia Tech and spent approximately $56,000 of a multi-project, $250,000 contract with the university.

TSRA Second Amendment Radio Spot

The Texas State Rifle Association is running an ad on radio throughout Texas that encourages gun owners to consider what is at stake in this election. The ad details that even though the Heller decision has affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms, the changes that could occur in the Federal judiciary in the term of the next president may have a dramatic effect on what the Second Amendment means. All the "reasonable regulations" left undefined in the Heller case this summer will be decided since litigation filed in the wake of Heller is set to determine many of those key issues, including whether or not incorporation of this basic right goes down to state and local government. If that fight is lost, the Second Amendment will then only apply to the Federal government, leaving states and municipal governments a free rein to take away most, if not all of our gun rights. Gun owners should consider this when voting in this year's election.

TSRA forwarded the audio to me and other gun rights activists and asked that we assist in distributing the ad to like-minded individuals interested in defending the Second Amendment. They don't have to be Texas residents, in fact it would help a great deal to get this out of state. As a non-battleground state where McCain is expected to win by over 17 points, both campaigns have largely ignored Texas.

I have uploaded the audio to You Tube to make distribution easier. Please listen to the ad below and then pass it along to others so we can get to word to all gun owners.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

NRA to Continue Hitting Obama on Guns in Virginia

The National Rifle Association will continue taking aim at Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. in battleground states, including Virginia, with this new ad.



"Imagine your child screaming in the middle of the night when a convicted felon breaks into your home," the narrator says. "Worse, he comes back a second time. You use a firearm to defend yourself and your family. Unbelievably, Obama voted to make you the criminal…"

The ad refers to a 2003 incident when a Wilmette, Ill., resident named Hale DeMar shot and wounded a burglar who broke into his house. DeMar was prosecuted by the town of Wilmette, which had, at the time, a ban on the possession of handguns, so some Illinois lawmakers introduced legislation to offer legal protections to individuals who use firearms in self-defense. The bill passed the Illinois state House by a vote of 86-25, and the Illinois state Senate -- where Obama voted against it -- by a vote of 39-20.

Don't believe the polls. This race is still winnable. If you can help defeat Obama, contact your NRA-ILA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) today.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hunting with Hounds in Virginia

Today's Virginia Pilot has an article about the debate going on in Virginia's hunting community which will come to a head on Thursday (October 23rd) at the Board meeting of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). At stake is Virignia's Right to Retreive law where currently, those how hunt with hounds can go on the property of another land owner to retrieve their dog - with or without permission - as long as they are not carrying a firearm or bow while retrieving. Most hunters with hounds are ethical and likely seek permission from adjoining landowners long before the actual hunt should the dogs stray onto other property but it is the few bad apples that have caused this to come to a head. No matter what happens at Thursday's meeting, no immediate change will take place. If the Board accepts the recommendations of the advisory committee, the Board will determine what regulations will occur and when they will take affect.

Below is a good video with background information on the issue.

Monday, October 20, 2008

New NRA Campaign Ad

NRA is running a a couple of new ad against Barack Obama. If you have not seen them they are posted below. The first is in response to Obama's threat to go after television stations that run the NRA ads.



This ad talks about how words do have meaning.

An Open Letter to Sportsmen

No one should know more about Barack Obama's record on gun rights than the Illinois State Rifle Association. Resently Richard Pearson, Executive Director of the ISRA issued an Open Letter to Sportsmen. If you have not already seen it, the letter is reprinted below.

Fellow Sportsman,

Hello, my name is Rich Pearson and I have been active in the firearmrights movement for over 40 years. For the past 15 years, I have served inthe Illinois state capitol as the chief lobbyist for the Illinois StateRifle Association.

I lobbied Barack Obama extensively while he was an Illinois StateSenator. As a result of that experience, I know Obama's attitudes towardguns and gun owners better than anyone. The truth be told, in all my yearsin the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt forthe law-abiding firearm owner than does Barack Obama.

Although Obama claims to be an advocate for the 2nd Amendment, hisvoting record in the Illinois Senate paints a very different picture. Whilea state senator, Obama voted for a bill that would ban nearly every huntingrifle, shotgun and target rifle owned by Illinois citizens. That same billwould authorize the state police to raid homes of gun owners to forciblyconfiscate banned guns. Obama supported a bill that would shut downlaw-abiding firearm manufacturers including Springfield Armory, Armalite,Rock River Arms and Les Baer. Obama also voted for a bill that wouldprohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one gun per month.

Without a doubt, Barack Obama has proven himself to be an enemy of thelaw abiding firearm owner. At the same time, Obama has proven himself to bea friend to the hardened criminal. While a state senator, Obama voted 4times against legislation that would allow a homeowner to use a firearm indefense of home and family.

Does Barack Obama still sound to you like a "friend" of the law-abidinggun owner?

And speaking of friends, you can always tell a person by the companythey keep. Obama counts among his friends the Rev. Michael Pfleger - arenegade Chicago priest who has openly called for the murder of gun shopowners and pro-gun legislators. Then there is his buddy Richard Daley, themayor of Chicago who has declared that if it were up to him, nobody wouldbe allowed to own a gun. And let's not forget Obama's pal George Soros -the guy who has pumped millions of dollars into the UN's internationaleffort to disarm law-abiding citizens.

Obama has shown that he is more than willing to use other people'smoney to fund his campaign to take your guns away from you. While a boardmember of the leftist Joyce Foundation, Barack Obama wrote checks for tensof millions of dollars to extremist gun control organizations such as theIllinois Council Against Handgun Violence and the Violence Policy Center.

Does Barack Obama still sound to you like a "friend" of the law-abidinggun owner? By now, I'm sure that many of you have received mailings from anorganization called "American Hunters and Shooters Association(AHSA)"talking about what a swell fellow Obama is and how he honors the 2ndAmendment and how you will never have to worry about Obama coming to takeyour guns. Let me make it perfectly clear - everything the AHSA says aboutObama is pure hogwash. The AHSA is headed by a group of left-wing elitistswho subscribe to the British view of hunting and shooting. That is, a stateof affairs where hunting and shooting are reserved for the wealthyupper-crust who can afford guided hunts on exclusive private reserves. The AHSA is not your friend, never will be.

In closing, I'd like to remind you that I'm a guy who has actually gonenose to nose with Obama on gun rights issues. The Obama I know cannot evenbegin to identify with this nation's outdoor traditions. The Obama I knowsees you, the law abiding gun owner, as nothing but a low-class lummox whois easily swayed by the flash of a smile and a ration of rosy rhetoric. TheObama I know is a stony-faced liar who has honed his skill at getting whathe wants - so long as people are willing to give it to him.

That's the Barack Obama I know.

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful andresponsible firearms ownership. Founded in 1903, the ISRA has representedthe interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

WEB SITE: http://www.isra.org/

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Newsweek's Palin Cover


Michelle Malkin has a great post about the current Newsweek issue complete with a photo of Sarah Palin holding a shotgun. Michelle takes the drive-by media to task over their reaction to the photo.


NRA Endorses McCain/Palin

This from the NRA-PVF web site:

Fairfax, VA. - The National Rifle Association's (NRA) Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre, and NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) Chairman Chris W. Cox are traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa., Springfield, Mo., Colorado Springs, Colo. and Reno, Nev. today for a series of press conferences endorsing Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin for President and Vice President respectively in the November 4 election.

"John McCain has more than two decades of pro-gun and pro-hunting votes in Congress. He has stood time and again to preserve our Second Amendment freedom and our rich hunting heritage," said LaPierre. "Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin have earned the NRA-PVF's endorsement and we will encourage gun owners, hunters and anyone who values freedom to vote McCain-Palin on November 4."

"NRA members and gun owners will not allow Barack Obama to hide his radical record of opposition to our constitutional rights," said Cox. "Obama has voted to make self-defense with a firearm in the home illegal, has voted to ban the most commonly owned hunting shotguns, has voted to ban commonly owned hunting ammunition, and has supported a 500% tax increase on guns and ammunition. We will remind voters every single time he pretends that his anti-gun record doesn't exist."

John McCain voted for the landmark Firearms Owners Protection Act and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, opposed the failed Clinton Gun Ban, and voted against mandatory waiting periods, national gun registration, and bans on hunting ammunition. He also signed the historic congressional amicus brief in the case of Heller v. District of Columbia, holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms -- a brief that Senator Obama refused to sign.

Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin is a hunter, gun owner and NRA Life Member. Gov. Palin has been a consistent and outspoken supporter of the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen.

Members of the media are invited to attend these significant events. Locations and times of events are as follows:
Pittsburgh, Pa. - 8 A.M. EDT
Radisson Hotel
Pittsburgh Green Tree
101 Radisson Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

Springfield, Mo. - 11:15 A.M. CDT
University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center
333 John Q. Hammons Parkway
Springfield, MO 65806

Colorado Springs, Colo. - 2:15 P.M. MDT
Radisson Hotel Colorado Springs
1645 North Newport Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Reno, Nev. - 5:30 P.M. PST
Grand Sierra Resort
2500 East 2nd Street
Reno, NV 89595

Hanover County Board of Supervisors Rejects Shooting Restrictions

Gun owners packed the Hanover County Board Room last night and spoke out against the proposed changes to the county's shooting regulations. Speakers opposing the changes stated the proposed changes would reduce the opportunity to shoot and hunt. Besides the gun related proposals, there was also a proposal related to shooting a bow.

The changes would have:
  • doubled the distance that a weapon could be discharged, from 100 yards of someone's dwelling or any place where the public gathers, unless given written permission by the building's owner;
  • changed the penalty for violating the ordinance from a Class 1 misdemeanor, which includes a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail, to a misdemeanor that carries a $1,000 fine and no jail time;
  • prohibited the discharge of firearms within the urban service area, except for anyone hunting with a shotgun on at least 20 acres; and,
  • prohibited the discharge of a bow within the urban service area, unless target shooting or hunting on at least 20 acres.
Included in those speaking out against the proposed ordinance were the Sheriff and the Commonwealth Attorney. Both said the proposed noise ordinance was unenforceable. In the end, the Board voted unanimously to defeat all of the proposed shooting ordinance changes as well as the proposal dealing with hunting and the noise ordinance.

Thanks to all VSSA members who either contacted the supervisors or who attended the meeting last night.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Hanover County Public Hearing on Gun Law

On Wednesday, October 8th, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Ordinance No. 08-23 – Amending Hanover County Code Section 24-4 to Prohibit Generally the Discharge of Weapons within the Urban Services Area and within 200 Yards of a Residence or Public Gathering Place Outside of the Urban Services Area. There will also be a hearing on Ordinance No. 08-24 - Amending Hanover County Code Chapter 16 "Noise" to Include a Provision Relating to the Frequent, Habitual or Prolonged Discharge of Firearms and to Clarify the Provisions Related to Enforcement.

Ordinance 08-24 is of special concern as the last information VSSA had on this change was that a judge would determine what was "habitual" if a suit was filed by a citizen against a gun owner shooting on private property. All Hanover County gun owners are encouraged to attend the public hearing. It will be held at 7:00 PM at the Hanover County Administration Building Board Room, 7497 County Complex Rd., Hanover, VA 23069.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Airport Gun Ban

An August USA Today article reports that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering a proposal to ban all firearms in all areas of ALL airports in the U.S., including unsecured areas of the airport like lobbies, areas where the ticket counters are located etc. This would have a huge negative impact on anyone travelling with firearms. It could have a serious chilling effect on international hunting as well as domestic hunters who travel. It will also have a negative effect on those with CCW permits who may be at the airport picking someone up or conducting other legitimate business.

The NRA is working on this issue and is asking people to contact TSA as soon as possible to tell them a ban on firearms in the unsecured areas of airports in not acceptable. Please contact them today. Click here to contact the TSA

Hat Tip to NRA Board Member Todd Rathner.