Local NRA auction was disappointing

I take pen in hand - figuratively at least - to protest the actions of the National Rifle Association at the "Friends of the NRA" banquet held in Culpeper on March 24.

For eight years, I have been invited to be the auctioneer at their annual event.

Bear in mind, I am not a member of the NRA nor of Friends of the NRA and am not employed by either group.

I received no compensation for my work at their auction. I do not act as their agent nor do I speak on national and local matters - especially the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, including the third, fourth, fifth and sixth amendments.

This year, I took the micro-phone and called for the atten-tion of the room. I said I was going to express my opinion on three issues.

I first spoke about our congressman who took money from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramhoff. To me, that is grounds for voting him out of office.

Upon stating my opinion, the representative of the NRA became very upset, grabbed my shoulder and told me very loudly that I could not say that.

My reply is that it was my First Amendment right - and I had already said it!

I then moved to our local sheriff's election at which time the NRA representative turned off the miscrophone!

The man did not realize that auctioneers do not need mikes to project their voices.

I handed the NRA man the mike and continued my talk on the election and my third subject, immigration issues.

I then took back the mike and sold the items in the auction.
For seven years, I have been free to speak my mind at this event, even if it was controver-sial or contrary to the position of the NRA. Since I am not affiliated with the NRA I am not restrained by any regulations that may govern the NRA.

I feel that my First Amendment right was violated by this man's attempt to stop me from speaking my mind.

I have demanded an apology, which has not been forthcoming.
One can only conclude that the NRA does not care about any amendment to the Constitution, except the second (the right to bear arms.)

When men (or women) are not free to speak their mind, then all the guns in the world are useless. I am shocked and disap-pointed, first in the employee's auction, and second, by the NRA's lack of response to my demand for an apology.

In conclusion, it will be a cold day in hell when I again do anything to aid or abet the NRA, an organization, which, in my opinion, will trash the rights of free speech as protected by the First Amendment.