Old Town Station, Ltd. / ArmchairGunShow.com

2004 Election - Gun Politics

I’ll attach NRA’s official post-election comments below.

I’m not a very astute political observer, but that’s never stopped me from offering my opinions. Here they are:

In previous elections, many observers (including Bill Clinton) credited the NRA w/ electing more-or-less pro-gun majorities in both houses of Congress, AND with defeating Al Gore in 2000.

The anti-gunners learn from experience, and this cycle NRA had to put a lot of effort into exposing Kerry’s shotgun-wielding photo-ops (hence the famous poodle "that dog doesn’t hunt" NRA ads). Kerry, the major party nominee w/ the most anti-gun record in American history, focused a lot of his "Big Lie" efforts on union members in the upper midwest, generally pro-gun folks who otherwise vote Demo. Can you say "Ohio"?

It was working, with a shockingly large percentage of gun-owners in that region polling as believing that Kerry was pro-gun. In addition to the Poodle ads, NRA ran targeted 15 & 30 minute cable infomercials, and a tough last minute push at gun shows in Oct. & Nov. to get the truth out about Kerry & guns.

I think it worked.

Here’s the party line:
**********************

The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) earned a 95% success rate of endorsed congressional candidates winning their races! The Association also won two major battles over anti-hunting initiatives, as voters in Alaska and Maine rejected ballot issues banning bear hunting methods.

Of the 251 candidates endorsed by NRA for the U.S. House of Representatives, 241 candidates won! And 14 of the 18 NRA-PVF-endorsed U.S. Senate candidates won their races! For candidates and issues for which an NRA-ILA Grassroots Election Workshop was conducted, we enjoyed an 81% success rate!

"This election was crucial for the Second Amendment," said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. "The NRA stands for freedom; our members are defenders of freedom, and we are proud to see that gun owners across the country came out and voted for freedom.

"I really hope that national Democratic leaders stop taking this party off the cliff and look at the heartland and the wreckage this issue has caused. They have to start putting up candidates who support gun rights and have a voting record to match their photo-ops," added LaPierre.

The election outcome continues a strong winning streak for NRA-PVF-endorsed candidates. In 2000, NRA had an 85% success rate, followed by an 89% success rate in 2002. NRA’s impressive numbers illustrate the strength of gun owners as a voting bloc each election cycle.

"We’ve seen a real political sea change in this country since Al Gore’s defeat in 2000," added NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "A number of anti-gun candidates attempted to hide their gun-control agendas to get elected. Fortunately, savvy gun owners saw through misleading campaign tactics and voted for true pro-gun candidates on November 2," concluded Cox.
*******************

Me again. If you’re an NRA member & supporter, be proud. As a member of the largest Civil Rights organization in the world., you’ve repeatedly helped save our God-given, constitutionally guaranteed rights.

*****************************

Pre-election content of this page:

VOTE NOV. 2!

NRA-PVF candidate ratings - Enter your zip code at the bottom of the page this links to, or click on your home state to get NRA's Political Victory Fund candidate ratings

Voter Registration - information on registration & absentee voting, including forms to print out to register by mail.

That dog won't hunt - Don't let Kerry photo ops with shotguns fool you - he is the most anti-gun candidate ever to run for the U.S. Presidency from a major party, based on his voting record.

Kansas 3rd District - support Kris Kobach! - Here in my home 3rd Congressional District in Kansas, we have a liberal anti-gun Democrat, Dennis Moore, representing a Republican district.  Fortunately, we have a strong pro-gun Republican running against him, with a strong chance to win this seat (rated as one of the 3 most likely in the country to switch into the pro-gun column!)  Please support Kris.

Two reasons why this election is important for more than the next four years:

1.  SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS:  Court watchers expect this next President to appoint as many as four Supreme Court Justices.  Of course, Justices serve for life, and are our last line of protection against violations of constitutional rights.  Among the names floated as possibly Kerry appointees are Chuck Shumar, Janet Reno, and Hillary Clinton.  It is also anticipated that the Supreme Court will tackle the interpretation of the meaning of the Second Amendment sometime in the next few years.

2.  UN GUN CONTROL TREATIES:  Elements in the UN are promoting international gun control treaties that would eliminate the individual right to keep and bear arms (true fact, not black helicopter stuff).  The U.S. can ratify a U.N. treaty by Presidential signature and acceptance by the Senate.  Right now, the Senate has about 51 "pro-gun" votes (some of which are pretty marginal at best).  Loss of two Senate seats and Kerry in the White House could result in US ratification of a UN treaty that would effectively repeal the Second Amendment.  The Supreme Court should protect us against that, shouldn't it?  See No. 1 above.

HOME      SEARCH       .   Last updated 03/20/05. 

Copyright Old Town Station, Ltd.