NRA FUND-RAISER TO BECOME ANNUAL EVENT

Tim Crosno had no idea his offer to help a cause he fervently believes in would bring a NRA fund-raising banquet to Cape Girardeau with a simple phone call.

But that's exactly what happened. The culmination of such an offer could be seen Thursday night. The NRA held its first "Friends of NRA" auction and dinner at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Cape Girardeau.

"I struck up a conversation with Brian Black, a field representative with the NRA, at the fall NRA fund-raiser in Poplar Bluff," said Crosno. "All I said was that if there was anything I could do to help, just give me a call."

Black took advantage of the offer. This led to an event that will become an annual NRA banquet in Cape Girardeau.

"I approached the Cape Chamber of Commerce and they were able to come through," said Crosno. "Dan Drury said he would pitch in to help any way he could and pretty soon it was done. From now on Poplar Bluff will have its fund-raiser in the fall and we'll have ours in the spring."

Said Black: "It's very difficult for the NRA to get the message out without the support of people like you. We need to raise funds to make sure there is Second Amendment education and to work on projects like the expanded protection of women's personal safety and others."

Dennis Eggers, who is the western regional director of the NRA, expects an even larger crowd than the nearly 300 that attended Thursday's event. "We've got about 300 here tonight and I know we can add to that in the near future," said Eggers.

"We've got 3.4 million members right now and I can assure you we will not stop at 3.5 million. Despite what you might have heard, we're getting stronger every day."

Said Crosno: "The good thing about events like these is that you know where the money is going. Fifty percent of the money that we raise tonight will stay in the state of Missouri. The rest of the money will be used for the national cause, and we'll know how that is being spent. Someone will be chosen tonight to represent the state to determine how that money will be used."

Eggers said Cape Girardeau's first NRA banquet drew the largest group of political candidates and representatives he has seen in some time. "I look out here in the audience and am very impressed by what I see," said Eggers.

The event was attended by state Sen. Peter Kinder, who was co-chairman of the event. Others attending were state Rep. Mary Kasten and members of U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson's staff.

The "Friends of NRA" grass-roots fund-raising program is designed to affirm and introduce the rights and privileges of lawful gun ownership. According to Black and Eggers, such events provide participants an opportunity to stand up for the Second Amendment and enjoy comraderie of other law-abiding gun owners.

Said Eggers, "Proceeds from these events will be used at the local, state and national level to perpetuate firearms ownership for hunting, shooting, collecting, home protection and other legal uses."