Gun rights group to back McDonnell in Va. (4 years ago NRA Backed Deeds over McDonnell for AG)

AP ^ | 9/14/09 | Bob Lewis

[ReagansRaiders]

RICHMOND, Va. - Republican and Democratic operatives say the National Rifle Association will endorse Republican Bob McDonnell for governor.

The gun rights group plans to announce its endorsement in a Monday afternoon conference call for reporters.

Operatives with knowledge of the NRA's decision confirmed the endorsement on the condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.

Four years ago, the NRA endorsed Democrat R. Creigh Deeds over McDonnell in their race for attorney general.

[Ceebass]

This time they think McDonnell is going to win.

[yongin]

Get ready for the WaPo to make an NRA endorsement into a scandal.

[Lucas McCain]

I am a gun owner and CCW permit holder, but I will never join the NRA as long as they endorse Democrats.

[ReagansRaiders]

Well, they switched and endorsed the GOPer this time in the rematch.

[ari-freedom]

that’s the problem with single issue groups.

[ReagansRaiders]

Want to make a bet as to what tomorrow's WashPo will be like? --

WashPo Sept. 15, 2009 Pg. A-1
FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSE DEEDS
America, apple pie to follow?

WashPo Sept. 15, 2009 Pg. B-4
GUN RIGHTS GROUP BACKS MCDONNELL
Gun owners march in lock step behind McDonnell; Concerns from moms, gays increase

[Shooter 2.5]

The dems control the House, Senate and the Presidency.

So here’s the question. Who’s stopping the antigun bills at the moment?

[12Gauge687]

A lot has to do with their tax-exempt status. By showing they’re “bi-partisan” they can continue to claim such status. The ACLU does the same thing; they back one or two obscure conservatives or Republicans and they keep their tax-exempt status.

Actually, though, the Dem Poshard who ran against Republican George Ryan for governor of Illinois was much more pro-gun than Ryan.

[cherry]

this is why I can not send money to the nra....I know they have a mission but my mission is to never elect rats because rats hang together and never act for the good of the people...

bluedogs be damned..Micheal Steele is right ...there are on bluedogs just wussies hiding under the radar, afraid to be too indepenedent from their big boss.

[Redcloak]

You do know that the “R” in NRA stands for rifle and not Republican, don’t you? When it comes to gun rights, the Republicans aren’t always your friends. Nor are Democrats always your enemies.

[US Navy Vet]

NRA needs to wake the &*(*(& up and smell the burned coffee! QUIT ENDORSING DEMS 4-EVER!

[Shooter 2.5]

Translation:

Everything else is more important than my Gun Rights.

[William Tell]

Shooter 2.5 said: "Who’s stopping the antigun bills at the moment?"

Unfortunately, the pro-gun Democrats do not seem capable of stopping Obama from appointing an anti-gun Justice to the Supreme Court. The forced inactivity of the anti-gunners in Congress may not outweigh that effect.

Let's hope that Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito, and, yes, even Kennedy, remain healthy and employed at the Court.

[Lucas McCain]

I agree that Republicans are not always my friends. I disagree that Democrats are not always my enemy.

[HokieMom]

For those who don’t already know, the good guys in the Virginia race (Republican slate):

http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/ for Governor

http://www.billbolling.com/ for Lieutenant Governor

http://www.cuccinelli.com/ for Attorney General

[HokieMom]

Press Releases

National Rifle Association Endorses Bob McDonnell for Governor

Group has over 120,000 Members in Virginia

-In Just Last Month McDonnell Endorsed by: The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; Virginia Realtors; Virginia Credit Unions; National Federation of Independent Business; National Rifle Association-

RICHMOND- Bob McDonnell, Republican gubernatorial nominee and former Attorney General of Virginia, was endorsed today by the National Rifle Association. The NRA is recognized as America’s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, and the group has over 120,000 members in Virginia. The association interviewed Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds prior to making the endorsement, in addition to reviewing questionnaires filled out by the two candidates, and thoroughly reviewing their voting records and policy positions.

Speaking about the endorsement, McDonnell remarked, “Over the course of my career in public service, I have worked to protect and uphold the Second Amendment rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution. The Second Amendment rights of law abiding Virginians must be respected and protected. That is what I did while serving as Virginia’s Attorney General. We worked to stop unauthorized attempted straw purchases by outside agents operating in the Commonwealth. We moved quickly to make the Commonwealth one of the first states to file an amicus brief in support of the individual right to bear arms in the historic Supreme Court Case of District of Columbia v. Heller. As governor I will continue to defend the individual right to keep and bear arms, and stand on the side of Virginia’s law abiding gun owners. The National Rifle Association is committed to protecting our constitutional rights and I am honored to receive this endorsement.”

Chris Cox, NRA Institute for Legislative Action executive director, noted, ““Bob McDonnell is an effective leader for Virginia hunters and gun owners. His opinions and actions as an attorney general have protected and enhanced the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians. His zero-tolerance attitude toward criminals makes him the best choice for governor. We ask every Virginia hunter, gun owner and Second Amendment advocate to vote McDonnell for Governor this November.”

This endorsement comes just weeks after McDonnell received the support of four organizations representing Virginia’s major job creators. McDonnell was endorsed by: Virginia Realtors ®, the largest trade association in Virginia with over 33,000 members; Virginia AgPAC, the political action committee of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation with over 147,000 members statewide; the Virginia Credit Union League, a trade association representing the Commonwealth’s 194 not-for-profit credit unions and the 3 million member-owners residing in Virginia; and, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the leading small business association in the Commonwealth whose membership consists of nearly 6,000 small businesses across the state.

The National Rifle Association is the premier firearms education association in the world. With nearly four million members nationwide and over 120,000 members in Virginia, the association is widely recognized as a major political force and America’s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights.

[moose2004]

Is the firefighters group a union?

[Idaho_Independent]

Normally this would be no big deal, the NRA must choose between several pro 2nd Amendment people running for the same position many times. I have seen times were they selected between two people with the same pro gun score, and simply went with the incumbent, or whoever had the best chance of winning. It’s all about keeping people in office who will support the gun owners. However when McDonnell supported Wilder’s measure that would limit gun purchases to one a month, his pro gun record should have been reduced to an “F”. He should never get an NRA endorsement, and am incensed that he did. The NRA normally does a good job, but in this case I believe they screwed up big time. This is a case in which neither candidate should get an endorsement.

[HokieMom]

NRA endorses McDonnell for Va. governor

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/14/nra-endorses-mcdonnell/

Washington Times

*BREAK*

In response to questions about why the organization has withdrawn its support of Mr. Deeds in favor of Mr. McDonnell, Mr. Cox said that “a lot has changed in the last four years since the 2005 attorney general race. Two things that haven’t changed are the National Rifle Association and Bob McDonnell. The one thing that did change was Creigh Deeds. I have to be honest with you, gun owners were shocked and disappointed when Creigh flip-flopped and voted for arbitrary and unnecessary restrictions on Virginia gun shows.”

Because of his record on crime and in support of the 2nd Amendment, the NRA has awarded Mr. McDonnell an A rating.

Mr. Cox pointed to Mr. McDonnell’s record as attorney general, including his support of overturning the District of Columbia’s gun law and his efforts to pass legislation making “straw purchases” by out-of-state agents illegal.