Take Back The MDC
A Gathering Point for True Sportsmen
Why does the MDC not like the NRA?
Friday, May 11th, 2007
Its truly sad that we have to discuss things like this.
Its come to the attention of many sportsmen in Missouri recently that the MDC leadership would rather not associate with the NRA officially. Why?
It first came to our attention a few months back when the MSSA and the MDC met in a Jefferson City meeting over some growing concerns inside the department. A number of issues were discussed including one about NRA membership. MSSA board members who had been planning for two years the arrival the NRA convention in St. Louis had learned that not only did the MDC not have a booth at the convention but they didn't even know that it was less than 2 months away.
We've been told by lower level MDC employees that Director Hoskins found out that MSSA was concerned about this and two weeks before the meeting was to take place had placed a call to Willis Corbett asking if he could help the MDC to secure booth space in time for the convention. Willis pulled some strings and aquired some booth space in the outside lobby area at the convention center at the last minute.
The MDC usually always has their booth set up at the annual state fair as well as other events during each year in Missouri. Our question is how come the nations 2nd largest firearms convention event (with the exception of the shot show) somehow skipped under the radar of the MDC? The reason we have learned is that none of the top leaders at the Missouri Department of Conservation are members of the NRA. NRA members receive a monthly magazine and for at least the past 6 months had been advertising the event. The reason was obvious why nobody was paying attention.
When asked at the MDC/MSSA meeting if John Hoskins or Denise Brown were members, the answer was no. Why was the answer no? The reason Denise Brown reportedly gave was because they were worried of how being an NRA member might cast an appearance of a conflict of interest.
A conflict of interest? After this was reported back to us and others, some of us began to think about how stupid of an answer that was. While visiting the last convention, I could have swore I saw Governor Blunt there. He wasn't scared to stand with the NRA. We saw elected state reps and senators from both parties. U.S. Congressmen from both parties including Bob Barr who now declares himself a libertarian. We saw an appointed judge and a Federal Law Enforcement Director at the Convention. We saw a former Ambassador who was the guest speaker at this years event proudly stand with the NRA. In the past, sitting Presidents and Vice Presidents have spoke at the NRA Annual Meetings. They weren't scared to stand with the NRA.
Even Anheuser Busch held a private fundraiser at Grants Farm for the NRA that weekend. They weren't scared to stand with the NRA. Over 65,000 people showed up at this years NRA convention however, Denise Brown and John Hoskins somehow feel that their membership would constitute a conflict of interest.
The real reason is one of the following.
1. Either they don't agree with the NRA and its policies....
2. Or they refuse to manage based on their own convictions because of what others may think of them.
Either answer is un-becoming a leader in the most prominent conservation department in the Nation. John Hoskins recently fired an employee by the name of Steve Wilson who was a former employee at the NRA. Wilson largely disagreed with Hoskins on a number of issues and was even considered by many at the MDC to be the next Director. However, Hoskins demoted Wilson two years ago and last month fired him with the only official reason given to be, "Lack of Leadership." That's a poor reason for someone who once was the city manager of Jackson, Missouri.
Denise Brown has said in the past that "Hunters are the lifeblood of the MDC." If she really believes that, why in the heck was the MDC not even aware of the 2nd largest firearms related convention in the nation was coming to Missouri? Why did they not prepare for an event that had every hotel in the city of St. Louis completely sold out 3 months prior to the event? Why did it take the MSSA to press the issue before Hoskins finally got someone on his staff to make arrangements to have the MDC booth at the convention only weeks before it took place?
Are you a member of the NRA? We are. Many of the MDC employees are but the MDC leadership refuses to stand with the NRA even though the NRA provides thousands of dollars every year to the Conservation Department to help sponsor its programs.
On thing is clear, the current MDC leadership DOES NOT have its finger on the pulse of shooting and hunting community in the state of Missouri. If this angers you, please take the time to call the governor at: (573)751-2019 and let him know about it. Politely urge him to appoint people on the MDC Commission that will put shooters, hunter and anglers back in the forefront at the MDC.
Time is running out. Only you can make a difference. Jim Zumbo learned his lesson concerning the importance of the 2nd Amendment, lets help the MDC leadership learn the same lesson.
Next, "Why Bob Staton would make a great Commissioner"
Sen. Dan Clemens Remarks
Just last month State Senator Dan Clemens made remarks on the Missouri Senate Floor expressing his concerns with the current leadership at the MDC. Please read his remarks and forward them on to others who may wish to read them. Click Here
Report to Elected Officials
Please download and pass on the Take Back The MDC report to elected officials concerning the current state of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Please call your state elected representatives and senators and tell them that you are concerned with the Leadership at the MDC. Tell them you want change!
Download HERE
