George Allen has an "A" rating with the National Rifle Association. Tim Kaine has an "F."
It was not much of a surprise that on Saturday in Chantilly, Virginia, the NRA endorsed former Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen for the Virginia U.S. Senate. They had endorsed him last spring prior to the Republican primary when he ran against four opponents.
The endorsement came from the NRA's Political Victory Fund during the Nation's Gun Show. Chairman Chris W. Cox noted that, "George Allen has a proven record of defending the Second Amendment. Because of his strong support of our
rights, George Allen has earned an “A” rating and endorsement from the
NRA-PVF.
“The choice
is clear in this election. George Allen will respect our right to
self-defense and honor our rich hunting heritage. Tim Kaine will not,”
Cox continued. “We urge all NRA members and gun owners in Virginia to
vote George Allen for U.S. Senate on November 6.”
George Allen has a long-standing record of advocating for 2nd Amendment rights. While Governor of Virginia, he supported and signed Virginia's Right-to-Carry law, abolished parole for violent criminals, and promoted truth-in-sentencing legislation.
While in Congress, Allen co-sponsored and voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects American gun makers from being sued into bankruptcy. He also sponsored National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity legislation, cosponsored
the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act, and voted to prohibit gun
confiscation during states of emergency.
In contrast, his opponent, Tim Kaine, has a lengthy record of opposing the
rights of gun owners. As a result, Kaine is rated “F” by the NRA-PVF.
As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tim Kaine strongly supported the
nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court – the same
Sonia Sotomayor who signed an opinion saying that Americans do not have
an individual right to keep and bear arms.
Kaine, as a Richmond councilman, suggested that the city of Richmond team up with Fairfax and
Norfolk to push gun control laws. Further, he was endorsed by the
anti-gun Brady Campaign in 2001 when he ran for Lieutenant Governor. And
as governor, Tim Kaine vetoed HB 1106, which would have allowed
law-abiding Virginians to carry a handgun in their personal motor
vehicle or vessel as long as it was secured in a container or
compartment.
George Allen was grateful for the endorsement, saying, “I am
honored to have earned the endorsement of the National Rifle Association
in this pivotal Senate race. It is meaningful to
me to have the support of so many patriotic men and women in the
sportsmen community who share my commitment to protecting our natural
right of self-defense embodied in the Second Amendment and the freedom
to hunt and fish.
"I appreciate the NRA’s principled protection of our
Second Amendment rights through safe and responsible firearm ownership.
As Governor, I was proud to have led historic reforms including the
abolition of parole and juvenile justice reform that successfully
reduced crime by cracking down on criminals without restricting the
rights of law-abiding citizens.
"As Virginia’s Senator, I will continue
standing for our constitutional rights in Washington while promoting
responsible policies to keep our families and our streets safe.”
The National Rifle Association was established in 1871 and is the nation's oldest civil and sportsmen's group with four million members nationwide. The
National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund is responsible for
political candidate ratings and endorsements. These are based on
candidate voting records, public statements and responses to NRA-PVF
questionnaires.
The NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing
laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains
the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding
gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services.
--From NRA-PVF Press Release
Cross-posted at Bearing Drift
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