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Dudley Brown

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Dudley Brown
Born1965
Occupation(s)Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
President of National Association for Gun Rights
Known forGun rights activism
Political partyRepublican

Dudley W. Brown (born 1965) is an American gun rights lobbyist. He is the founder and executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the president of the National Association for Gun Rights, a group that serves as an umbrella coordinator for various state-level pro-gun organizations.

Early life

Brown was raised in South Dakota.[1] Brown became politically active in his college years, where he founded the Colorado State University campus chapter of College Republicans[2] and was elected chairman of College Republicans of Colorado.[1]

Brown attended, but did not graduate from, Colorado State University. In 2013, after being questioned about his educational history, Brown changed his biography on his organization's web page to reflect that he had not in fact received a college degree. He reported that he was one credit shy of a degree but participated in the 1989 graduation ceremonies.[2] Brown was arrested in 1988 on substance abuse charges.[3]

Prior to becoming a pro-gun lobbyist, Brown worked in various political positions, including working as the Media Director for the Colorado House of Representatives Republican Party caucus.[1]

Political career

Brown is a critic of the anti-gun lobby and interest groups like the Violence Policy Center.[4]

A 2014 Denver Post article listed Brown as the 24th most powerful person in Denver, Colorado.[5]

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

Brown founded the Colorado organization Rocky Mountain Gun Owners in 1996 as a "no-compromise" alternative to other pro-gun organizations.[1] In the wake of the Columbine High School massacre, Colorado voters passed Amendment 22, a voter-initiated measure requiring background checks of gun purchases at gun shows, closing the gun show loophole.[6] Brown opposed the initiative, stating, "We're under assault right now. We feel like the Jews did in Nazi Germany."[7]

In 2002, a complaint was filed against Brown with the Colorado Secretary of State, alleging that a fund-raising letter he wrote supporting the congressional campaign of Marilyn Musgrave violated state law. The complaint claimed that, "As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Brown is clearly prohibited from fund-raising while the General Assembly is in session." Brown called the complaint "frivolous".[8]

Brown is known for involving his organization in Republican Party (GOP) primary elections at the state and local levels.[9] In 2012, during a change of leadership in the Colorado State Legislature, Brown supported a pro-gun Senator to take the place of one he felt was not supportive of Second Amendment rights. The state senator whose loyalty to the Second Amendment was called into question called Brown "the most dangerous man in Republican politics."[10]

At the Colorado GOP convention in April 2012, RMGO and Brown supported pro-gun candidates and spoke out against those whom they considered anything less.[11][12] The impact of Brown and RMGO on the 2012 election in Colorado was that nine out of eleven of their endorsed candidates won the general election.[13]

In opposition to the Colorado Legislature's gun control legislation in 2013, Brown mobilized thousands of supporters at the capitol building in Denver and also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[1]

In 2013, Brown and RMGO assisted on the campaign to recall a Colorado State Senator, Evie Hudak, a Democrat who voted in favor of more restrictive gun laws. The recall was cancelled when Senator Hudak resigned and was replaced by another Democratic Senator, Rachel Zenzinger. Senator Zenzinger lost her re-election bid in the midterm elections of 2014 to the RMGO endorsed Republican candidate, Laura Woods.[14]

In October 2014, Brown and RMGO launched a lawsuit against the Colorado Secretary of State to keep RMGO donor information private.[15]

During the 2014 midterm elections, three of RMGO's candidates won legislative seats, helping Republicans take control of the Colorado State Senate, which Democrats had controlled for ten years.[16]

In 2015, the Colorado State Legislature considered legislation that would bump the magazine limit enacted in 2013 from 15 rounds to 30 rounds. Brown opposed the legislation, arguing that 30 rounds per magazine isn't enough. Brown's opposition to the increased magazine limit drew criticism from fellow gun rights activists.[17] Luc Hatlestad of 5280 magazine wrote that conservatives were questioning whether Brown "is more committed to the money his activism earns him than the alleged principles behind his supposedly high-minded crusade."[18]

National Association for Gun Rights

At the national level, Brown's group the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) has outspent the National Rifle Association in political lobbying, spending $1.9 million compared to the NRA's $700,000 for the first quarter of 2013.[19] NAGR also ran ads attacking Eric Cantor for his stance on gun policy.[19]

Brown was involved in the debate during the Rules Committee meeting at the 2012 Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida. The rules committee voted for an entire set of revised rules, which James Hohmann of Politico claims were "negotiated behind the scenes by Romney’s surrogates".[20]

Brown and NAGR opposed the nomination of Loretta Lynch for U.S. Attorney General.[21]

Brown and NAGR have also criticized gun control advocacy groups such as Moms Demand Action. NAGR and Moms Demand Action have fought over private businesses allowing guns in their stores.[22]

In March 2015, Brown and NAGR supported constitutional carry in Kansas. [23]

Brown firing HK MP5

Political views

Brown has been a vocal critic of the National Rifle Association, saying they are soft on gun control issues.[24][25]

Brown and RMGO in August 2014 protested the gun-ban at a local Colorado library, sending the library a cease and desist order.[26]

Brown was quoted in a 2014 Mother Jones article, in response to the reporter's efforts to receive an interview, saying, "I don't talk to leftists like you. My guys don't read your crap." The article then states Brown brushed past the reporter, yelled "Pravda" over his shoulder and moved into the crowd.[27]

In 2014, Brown was quoted in the Los Angeles Daily News opposing gun buyback programs.[28]

In a 2014 Human Events article, Brown expressed his approval of a verdict to allow guns on Idaho college campuses.[29]

Mother Jones described Brown as "the face and voice of the absolutist gun-rights movement, which opposes any and all gun-related restrictions."[27]

Reception

In August 2013, NAGR and Dudley Brown were profiled in a 5280 magazine story. According to the article, Brown "savagely and routinely attacks candidates and officeholders unwilling to pledge, in writing, their absolute loyalty to Brown on Second Amendment issues." NAGR was described as a "fund-raising machine that bullies anyone who compromises Brown’s pro-gun, anti-abortion, anti-gay agenda." Former Colorado Republican State Representative B.J. Nikkel said Brown "is a political terrorist and a modern-day charlatan who operates in the shadows and portrays himself as a supposed ‘Christian,’ but he uses the people naive enough to believe him and financially support him.”[1]

Brown has been criticized for his fundraising practices. Former Republican Colorado Governor Bill Owens said Brown "makes his money when there’s turmoil, real or perceived, because that’s what gets his members to write him checks." Ammoland wrote that Brown's "rhetoric has done more to marginalize Second Amendment activism than all of the slanders from gun prohibition lobbying groups combined."[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Stokols, Eli (August 2013). "Dudley Brown's War". 5280. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b Lynn Bartels (April 2, 2013). "Dudley Brown: Web site now shows he doesn't have a CSU degree after all". Denver Post. Denver, Colorado. Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 27 August 2013. In an interview this morning with the Denver Post, Brown said he was one credit short of graduating from CSU but participated in graduation. He said he did not write the biography on the RMGO site that said he was a graduate. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Stokols, Eli (June 12, 2014). "The New Front in Dudley Brown's War: Jefferson County". Denver Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  4. ^ Whaley, Monte (May 24, 2013). "More Coloradans died from gun shots than car wrecks in 2009, study says". The Denver Post. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ^ Lynn Bartels (March 2014). "5280 magazine: new ranking of Denver's most powerful". Denver Post. Denver, Colorado. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. ^ Colorado Secretary of State Amendment 22 ballot history, 2000.
  7. ^ Pat Neal (2000-09-20). "Gun sale measure leads polls in pro-gun, post-Columbine Colorado". Snyder, Colorado: CNN. Archived from the original on 2004-12-08. Retrieved 2013-08-28. But the initiative faces strong opposition from people like Dudley Brown, of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. Brown says the initiative would rob gun owners of a basic freedom. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Gun lobbyist draws fire over fund-raising letter," Associated Press; March 30, 2002.
  9. ^ Bob Ewegen, "Last Man Standing Wins the 4th," Denver Post; February 16, 2002.
  10. ^ Rival pro-gun groups’ explosive relationship triggers political hits | Colorado Statesman
  11. ^ Colorado GOP splits support among Romney, Santorum and Paul | Colorado Statesman
  12. ^ Bartels, Lynn (2012-04-13). "Gun-rights group speaks up in Colo". Denver Post.
  13. ^ Sandra Fish (April 2014). "Rocky Mountain Gun Owners PAC: Big bang for small bucks". The Colorado Independent. Denver, Colorado. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  14. ^ Eli Stokols (October 2013). "Dudley Brown, RMGO assisting with Hudak recall effort". KDVR. Denver, Colorado.
  15. ^ John Tomasic (October 2014). "Rocky Mountain Gun Owners: We're suing secretary of state, Ethics Watch". The Colorado Independent. Denver Colorado. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  16. ^ Luc Hatlestad (November 2014). "Election Recap: Colorado Dems Feeling Mighty Blue". 5280. Denver, Colorado. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  17. ^ Bartels, Lynn (April 10, 2015). "Colorado gun allies split over compromise on increasing magazine limit". Denver Post. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  18. ^ Halstead, Luc (April 21, 2015). "Has Dudley Brown Finally Gone Too Far?". 5280. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  19. ^ a b Fredreka Schouten (May 2013). "Ultra-conservative gun group outspends NRA on lobbying". USA Today. Washington. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  20. ^ Hohmann, James (August 28, 2012). "Republican National Convention 2012: Tampa floor fight less likely". Politico. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  21. ^ Sabrina Siddiqui (March 20, 2015). "Gun rights groups rally support against Loretta Lynch nomination". The Guardian. New York. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  22. ^ "Gun control group takes aim at grocery chain". CBS. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  23. ^ Tim Carpenter (26 March 2015). "Kansas House OKs no-permit carry law". The Hays Daily News. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  24. ^ Eric Drexheimer (2001-09-20). "Let Freedom -- and Gunshots -- Ring". Westword. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2013-08-28. Dudley Brown, executive director of RMGO, thinks the NRA is too soft. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Kate Nocera (August 2013). "Rival Gun Group Attacks NRA Over Database". BuzzFeed. Washington. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  26. ^ "Gun Rights Activists Protest Library's Ban On Weapons". CBS Denver. Denver, Colorado. August 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  27. ^ a b Kroll, Andy (October 28, 2014). "How a Pro-Gun, Anti-Gay "Political Terrorist" Could Help Keep Colorado Democrats in Power". Mother Jones. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  28. ^ http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20140528/los-angeles-holds-gun-buybacks-on-saturday
  29. ^ http://humanevents.com/2014/06/16/campus-carry-comes-to-idaho-july-1/
  30. ^ "Dudley Brown & NAGR's Despicable Deception". Ammoland. May 21, 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
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