Willes K. Lee – NRA Board of Directors

Happy birthday, to my parents.

This week my father turned 98 and mother reached 96. I love ’em.  Without short-term memory, his long-term is solid of growing on a Hawaii plantation, company command during winter fighting in Korea, hunting in the Alps, mingling w Redskins when pro football was a real sport.  Mom, who sent her men to war eight times, is beginning to deal with memory loss.  She called three times last night “just thought we could catch up” and we enjoyed the same conversation a few times.  Both healthy, staying in their house, weekday care-giver.  Happy birthday. #forever

So, for my ease, I am recycling the post I did for last Fathers Dy.

Happy Father’s Day.
My father is 97, healthy, lost most his memories, loves his home garden.  In so many ways, he is the most incredible man I’ve known.  Grew up poor, as in very poor (though ‘we didn’t know we were poor’).  Served 30 years in the US Army from Private to Colonel, made it through WWII and Korea combat (replacement at 3 ID was killed less than 24 hours later).  Still married to his childhood sweetheart, they raised four of us on assignments around the world (his hunting and fishing spawned my appreciation for guns and 2A).  THEN, he served another 20 years with the DC National Guard through Vietnam (how I met Vince Lombardi) and at the Pentagon with the National Guard Bureau.  This isn’t a tribute to him – I am weak at expressing those emotions – this is a tribute to his service to our nation, a Defender of Freedom for 50 years.  Happy Father’s Day. #MAGA #onlyinamerica Willes Lee NRA Board of Directors @WillesLee www.WillesLee.com

Six weeks ago, I woke with severe back and right leg pain. Still had a lot of work to do so drove to PA for GAOS, flew to AL for BamaCarry, week in MD for CPAC, now week in CO. So, I am a tough guy (sweetheart would say differently.) and if this is just pain, I can live through it. When I found out it wasn’t life threatening, it was time to power through, with help from drugs. Lots, lots of Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Bayer. Tried Oxy and found out why people get addicted.

Part of this is the complete tightening of muscles, in my case the right buttocks, right quad and groin. The burning in the right hip and way burn in right knee is the effect of the nerve damage. To break up muscle tightness, think of it as a really bad constant cramp, is to “needle”. The 5 inch needles are stuck in through the skin (doesn’t hurt) into the muscle then shifted & jabbed to cause the muscle to grip the needle then in 24 hours to release. Twice a week, painful as heck but the next day the muscle is considerably less cramped. Can’t sleep for more than three hours before the pain wakes me.  Even six weeks later, can’t walk for more than about 100 feet before the pain takes over and I need to stop to let the muscles calm down.  Taking tons of Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Bayer, couple of Tylenol 3.

There’s “cups”. First heard of these used by Michael Phelps in Olympics before his record swim races. They suction these cups onto you in an effort to stretch the muscles and try to get them to settle back in the right place. They leave a 96 hour-long mark, sort of like a hickey from years, years, ago.

Lots and lots of stretching exercises. Allowed to “run” again (no hills) but haven’t mustered the will just yet.  Last week, I began traction. She straps me to the table, then the table pulls me apart. Told her that sweetheart would like me taller …. and actually for a short, temporary, period, I am taller. Two more weeks of this before doctors decides whether to have steroid epidural, then would be surgery (uh, no).  Harrisburg GAOS was the worse, so bad, way bad, really bad it is much better now.  The Alabama trip was a chore.  This week was MRI which showed more than the X-rays. Slight pinched nerve in the lower back. It’s just pain, the injury and the rehab, but just pain. Unfortunately, while I can gut the pain, it is exhausting and makes me sort of want to do nothing … but still work to do.

In an act of corporate terrorism, perhaps extortion, antis pressured several major corporations to cut ties (mostly offering of discounts) with NRA/NRA members. United & Delta Airline, Enterprise mostly auto rental Dick’s Sporting Goods and such. Fail. Turns out, 95% of members didn’t know about the corporate partnerships and discounts, and 99.9 don’t care. Much the same effect that Obama and the potential of Clinton had on firearms sales. What gun owners did know was that the 2A was being attacked.

NRA membership in the month following Parkland shooting i.e. when corporations cut ties, soared by 3-500,000 to somewhere over 5.5 million. SAF reported 1200% (yeah, percentage is always a cover for actual numbers, but still, 1200 is a lot) increase in 18-20 year-olds as antis and lawmakers suggested raising the age of buying a firearm.

http://yournewswire.com/nra-membership-record-high/  We’re not done. This isn’t about the NRA – National Rifle Association of America. Liberals & antis faux-outrage isn’t about guns, it is about control. It isn’t about #snowflake companies turning on #gunowners. It isn’t about NRA-ILA. This is our call for #SecondAmendment & #gunrights, Gun Owners of America, National Shooting Sports Foundation | NSSF, Second Amendment Foundation Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) #2A friends to support the organizations & groups protecting YOUR rights. Whichever you support nationally, I support each, & locally, right now your help & membership is critical. #noexcuse #patriot #reciprocity #TweetYourNRAmembership #NRA @WillesLee #USA #merica #NRABoard @WillesLee #nocompromise #firearms #freedom www.WillesLee.com #ShallNotBeInfringed #DefenderofFreedom #guns #FreedomsSafestPlace #M2AGA Willes Lee NRA Board of Directors

From SAF. https://twitter.com/awrhawkins/status/973620666921508864   An increase of 1200% of youth to add to the new 21+ year-old members to Second Amendment Foundation. Join, including NRA – National Rifle Association of America National Shooting Sports Foundation | NSSF Gun Owners of America & your state affiliate. This is how YOU push back antis who want to ban all firearms. It’s not about guns, it’s about control. #ShallNotBeInfringed H/t to Awr Hawkins & #SecondAmendmentFoundation for reporting this.

During three years in the 80’s in Europe I was the guy responsible for anti-(generally defensive, counter-measures) and counter-(offensive, or direct action) terrorism for the Army in Europe. We lost several soldier in the Berlin Disco bombing, then none for the three years… though Pan Am 63 (no USAREUR folks) was blown out of the sky over Lockerbie. This was the beginning of our fight back against terrorists. In the late 90’s I had the anti-terrorism job now at the Pentagon on the Joint Chief of Staff i.e. for all Armed Forces. Not an expert, but know a little about this stuff. Go back and watch my comments at CPAC. Security, or perceived security is what the US security apparatus is based on.

What he says. http://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/375511-the-second-amendment-is-a-human-right-ignorance-toward-it-is  BFF Ned Ryun explains how to protect our children AND the #Constitution. Security, even perceived security, is a safeguard. Antis punish law-abiding because to them this isn’t about solving the problem, it is about control. Next shooting (just like this one Gov Rick Scott & Broward Sheriff’s Office) is on you, you weak-kneed politicians & law-enforcement who want to take my rights rather than stop murderers. #commonsense #bloodonyourhands #WillesLee #protectourchildren #M2AGA #nocompromise www.WillesLee.com#gunrights #gunowners #lovevets #CCW #selfdefense #freedom #merica #firearms #guns #shallnotbeinfringed #noexcuse Willes Lee NRA Board of Directors

They won’t let this student speak because the system and law enforcement worked. http://dailysignal.com/2018/03/06/i-go-to-a-school-where-an-attack-was-foiled-heres-why-im-against-limiting-gun-rights

Politicians are not sincere in protecting schools.  https://www.nraila.org/articles/20180309/nra-files-suit-challenging-florida-gun-control-law  Why I don’t trust politicians, any politicians – Not a question, a statement. Supposed #2A politicians passed anti-civil rights legislation in Florida to cover for their failure to secure schools. They passed “solutions” which take our rights, AND don’t make our children safer. Now, NRA – National Rifle Association of America has to take our supposed-own supporters… Florida legislators, Gov Rick Scott AG Pam Bondi … to court to protect our rights. I support & defend the constitution, these politicians just want to get elected. #NRABoard #DefenderofFreedom #NRA #DTS #gunrights #gunowners #freedom #USA #SecondAmendment #transparency #itsnotaboutgunsitsaboutcontrol NRA-ILA.

Thank you. Gunsite Academy again on the leading edge offering the best training free (to you). H/t Ken Campbell Gunsite Alumni Group #secureourschools #armteachers #CCW@WillesLee #2A #ICarryMySafePlace #lovevets #protectourchildren #selfdefense #GoodGuyWithAGun Willes Lee NRA Board of Directors

I’m done with the disingenuous march/protest.  My tweet “You had to get permission from your mom to skip school, and you think you’re ready to make public policy? You’re being used. #toobad“

Not bad to follow a wickedly-paced couple of months to begin 2018 with a week of skiing. Unless, it’s work. Immediately following CPAC, sandwiched between commitments, hit the slopes at Vail. I’m just learning, Black Diamond, not Black Double Diamond yet. With an instructor, helps to get through lift lines, we cover miles each day, pushing the envelope. Second day was a warm up on Riva and The Slot (if you know, you know) – whether you think so, your instructor thinks you’re ready. Ski, eat, sleep, repeat for seven days. With my back and right leg in disarray since before the trip to GAOS in Harrisburg, it was surprising that I could ski more comfortably than walk. I had difficulty getting to the slope, to meals, to break areas, but not so slicing through the snow. One day of sorta wet powder, which slows you a lot, and one day of beautiful 6-8 inches of light fluffy powder that you see in magazines. Powder, especially, is why you learn to ski more parallel than snowplow, or the new term ‘pizza’. Very few, very few, moguls this year because the beating on the back and groin muscle made it way painful. Early March means fair temps, most days on the mountain were 25-30 degrees. One was a very windy cold 20 degrees. The day it hit 40 down below, we came in for the afternoon to slush … which was ice the next morning.  Early March also means ACC Men’s Basketball tournament, fitting it into our schedule, getting ready for March Madness.  Expensive outing and the  only “vacation” we take.  Sweetheart goes all day long, no breaks, no lunch, hardly any Blue runs. Ski, eat, sleep, repeat. With my back as it was, I made all but one day, and then only half days. She just kept going (she is the expert in the family). That’s an Ermine in the photo, cute tiny rodent things, but fast. Not that work stops, because of phones and computers, and now it is back to work.

First time, finally, invited on stage for CPAC. Also, first time for NFRA to be on the CPAC stage.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4715924/twaw

#CPAC Sighting. Right panel, right timing, right place. #CPAC2018 #2A Panel -10 Years After Heller.  With Carrie Lightfoot Graham Hill – Member of NRA Board of Directors Niger Innis. ‘Heller is good but not everything.’ ‘More women defending themselves.’ ‘Secure our schools.’ Fun panel. #M2AGA #NRA #NRABoard The Well Armed Woman, LLC #DefenderofFreedom Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) Willes Lee NRA Board of Directors Thanks to C-SPAN coverage