Saturday, January 9, 2016

Mike Vanderboegh needs our help at the end of his life


Mike Vanderboegh has rendered countless services to the firearms enthusiast community, from his relentless defense of the Second Amendment to his uncovering of the Project Gunwalker scandal where the ATF allowed thousands of firearms to be trafficked to drug cartels and gangs in Mexico.

Several years ago Mike was diagnosed with cancer.  He fought it valiantly, with considerable success;  but it's returned in full force, and he's been informed that he has plus-or-minus six months to live.  He's trying to put his affairs in order before the end, including making his home fit to live for his wife and doing his best to provide for her financially in the time he has left.

His friend and associate David Codrea has appealed for our help.

... the doctors have told him he is not long [for] this world. As we all know, his financial situation due to years of disability and devotion to the larger issue of self-sacrifice for freedom is terrible.  He is doing what he can to get his affairs in order, but the reality is, his wife will be left in really bad shape.  I would like to help with a funding appeal.

I looked at various "crowdfunding" sites, but there are hoops to jump through and/or  a cut they take. For now at least, in order to get the ball rolling and hopefully growing as it does, I'm asking all of Mike's friends to spread the word and to send gratitude offerings directly to him:

  • Paypal to:  georgemason1776@aol.com
  • Check, money order, cash, etc. to Mike Vanderboegh, PO Box 926, Pinson, AL 35126.

You'll note I called it a "gratitude offering." That's proper, as this is being directed to those of you who have received value from Mike's work over the years. That gratitude should also extend to Mike's wife Rosey, who has had to make plenty of sacrifices of her own to enable Mike to do so many necessary things you and I have benefited from.

In truth, many people have and owe Mike plenty, and don't even realize it.

There are people who identify as "Three Percenters" who don't know Mike is the originator of the concept, and who have never heard of Sipsey Street Irregulars. You can generally tell, because, by their words and conduct, they reveal absolute unfamiliarity with the Catechism of the Three Percent, and its "ironclad commitment to no first use of force."

Plenty more have heard of "Fast and Furious." Few know the first report came from Mike, and how creatively and hard he worked after that to dig out more exclusive information, and to make certain the story got noticed by politicians and the press.

The entire movement to restore recognition of the right to keep and bear arms -- and more -- owes Mike for his uncompromising leadership, for his refusal to comply, and for the risks he has assumed with acts of public defiance.

Everyone who is a War on Guns regular and a Sipsey Street Irregular owes Mike for being a constant source of information and inspiration. So no, I'm not begging anyone for donations on his behalf -- I'm flat out observing we owe him, and now's the time to show it tangibly.

There's more at the link.

I'm not a Three Percenter, but I've learned a great deal from Mike Vanderboegh's crusade for the rights of firearm owners, and he's done us all a great service by uncovering the 'Project Gunwalker' scandal.  I'm going to donate to his needs as an acknowledgment of all he's done on our behalf.  May I appeal to my readers to please do the same?

Thanks.

Peter

2 comments:

Old NFO said...

Done and done...

Uncle Lar said...

I used to follow Sipsey Street Irregulars daily, and would send Mike the occasional cash donation.
Sort of drifted away the last few years. Sorry to hear that his multitude of medical woes has finally done him in.
Will be logging on to PayPal later today to make a donation.
I did go and check Amazon to see if Mike had finished Absolved and put it out for sale. Seems not.
Pity, while a bit rough I rank its spirit as equal to Unintended Consequences, a seminal work in the pro gun movement. David Codrea does host the finished chapters on his site at:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/07/absolved-banner-connector.html
Highly recommend anyone not yet familiar with the work take the time to read at least the introduction.
Perhaps someone might take on the task of whipping what's been done into shape and publishing the complete book with proceeds going to Rosey.