NRA Statement on endorsement of Chet Edwards (D-TX)

NRA-ILA ^ | 8/12/2010 | Kaelan Jones

[Joe Brower]

Thank you for contacting NRA-ILA in regards to our endorsement of Chet Edwards.

We recognize and acknowledge that Congressman Edwards has disagreed with our positions on some important gun-related issues in the past. However, over the last eight years, he has worked closely with the NRA to significantly improve his voting record and, since 2002, has a near perfect record in support of gun rights.

Chet Edwards has supported the Second Amendment by signing:

The congressional amicus brief in support of the individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment in the Heller case. CLICK HERE

The congressional amicus brief in support of incorporation of the protections of the Second Amendment to the states in the McDonald case. CLICK HERE

A letter, along with 64 of his House Democrat colleagues, to Attorney General Eric Holder calling on him to abandon any effort to reinstate the semi-auto ban. Read the letter here.

Chet Edwards has supported the Second Amendment in his committee activities:

Congressman Edwards was the deciding vote in the House Appropriations Committee to adopt the Tiahrt amendment (protecting firearms trace data from public disclosure) in June of 2003, and has voted pro-gun on every recorded vote in that committee since then.

As chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Edwards has been very helpful in securing funding to improve the housing at Camp Perry for the annual National Rifle and Pistol Championship.

Chet Edwards has supported the Second Amendment by voting:

For H.R. 5827, a bill to protect the Second Amendment rights of persons filing for bankruptcy.

For an amendment to H.R. 627 to allow right to carry in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.

For the Childers substitute amendment (Second Amendment Enforcement Act) to H.R. 6842 to restore the Second Amendment right to residents of our nation’s capital.

For H.R.5092 to reform and modernize the BATFE, and to protect the rights of FFL holders from unfair harassment.

For H.R. 5013 to protect the rights of gun owners during times of emergency by prohibiting the confiscation of lawfully possessed firearms, such as occurred following Hurricane Katrina.

For the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to prohibit bogus lawsuits against the firearms industry. (He voted for this bill in 2003 and again in 2005 when it became law, and voted against multiple amendments designed to weaken or gut this critical legislation.)

Five times to eliminate the ban on handgun ownership in Washington, D.C.

Against an amendment to H.R. 2862 to ban the exportation of .50 caliber rifles.

For H.R. 4635, to allow the training and arming of commercial airline pilots following the terrorist attacks on September 11.

Against an amendment to H.R. 2500 that would have mandated that records of lawful gun sales be kept by the federal government for at least 90 days.

Against passage of the Brady Bill.

Chet Edwards has supported our hunting heritage by voting:

For the Altmire amendment to protect hunting, shooting, fishing and trapping on land managed by BLM.

Against the Inslee amendment to ban polar bear trophy importation.

Against an amendment designed to prohibit the use of bait when hunting bear on public lands.

Against an amendment to prohibit the use of foreign development funds to be used to promote trophy hunting.

For H.R.1675, the Wildlife Refuge Act, to ensure that hunting and fishing would be permitted in the Refuge system.

For an amendment to H.R. 2929 to permit hunting on all lands in the Mojave National Monument in California.

For an amendment to H.R. 5503 to allow deer hunting in Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.

Chet Edwards has cosponsored the following pro-gun legislation:

Legislation in the 111th Congress:

H.R. 197 (National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act)

H.R. 442 (Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act)

H.R. 1074 (Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act)

H.R. 1684 (Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges Act)

H.R. 2296 (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act)

H.R. 5162 (Second Amendment Enforcement Act)

Legislation in previous Congresses:

H.R. 1399 (District of Columbia Personal Protection Act) in the 110th Congress

H.R. 4900 (BATFE Reform) in the 110th Congress

H.R. 2088 (Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act) in the 109th Congress

H.R. 5092 (BATFE Reform) in the 109th Congress

H.R. 5013 (Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act) in the 109th Congress

H.R. 5005 (Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act) in the 109th Congress

H.R. 800 (Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act) in the 109th Congress

H.R. 3193 (District of Columbia Personal Protection Act) in the 108th Congress

Should you have additional questions or concerns feel free to contact us again.

Cordially,

Kaelan Jones

NRA-ILA Grassroots Division

(800) 392-2683

[fwdude]

The NRA has falled to radicals. I’m cancelling my membership - something that would have been unthinkable 2 years ago.

[fwdude]

Change that to “fallen.” ;0

[Frantzie]

I am done with the NRA. They were thrilled with Hairy Reed’s $70 million gun range in Nevada that could have been built for $1 million. It is a pure pork barrel real estate scam that Hairy Reed is know for. The NRA sucks now.

[SeaHawkFan]

Edwards was allowed to vote the NRA position on legislation that was going to pass with or without his vote to help keep the Democrats in control of the House of Representatives.

If the GOP had solid control over the House, I could see this endorsement; but not now.

And how did this guy vote on TARP?

[Joe Brower]

As promised, here is the response I just received from the NRA about my inquiry into why they are endorsing Chet Edwards in TX. I'm not supporting a democrat here, but merely passing on the information that was sent to me.

It would be helpful to also know what Edwards' opponents pros & cons are, and I have emailed the NRA back telling them this, in addition to letting them know that they need to publish this information on their website and through press releases 1/2 second after making their endorsements, so that the rumor mill doesn't immediately go ballistic.

[headstamp 2]

Maybe the NRA should realize that whatever party controls the House dictates the overall agenda.

Supporting a Democrat that may be pro-gun is useless if it serves to keep Nancy Pelosi in power and in charge of the overall House agenda.

Idiots.

[Joe Brower]

Yes, Frantzie, I think everyone here is very familiar with your viewpoints -- you repeat them often enough.

[Joe Brower]

"Maybe the NRA should realize that whatever party controls the House dictates the overall agenda."

Come on -- you think they don't know this?

Maybe you should call the NRA and ask them yourself what their reasoning is, rather than act on your assumptions as fact.

That's what I did.

[hoosierham]

The Second was meant to be the last resort of the people in checking a government over-reaching its authority;being “allowed” firearms while at the same time forced to abide by government restrictions and rules on every other aspect of one’s life is meaningless.

[jazminerose]

There are NO good democrats.

There are plenty of terrible republicans but not a single good democrat. That was confirmed during the health crimes disaster.

WTH has happened to the NRA?

[Monterrosa-24]

Once again conservative money and muscle are being put behind a liberal candidate (American Conservative Union rating of 16 out of 100 for 2009).

The NRA outsmarts itself with its Machiavellian tactics.

[samtheman]

This illustrates why it’s so important for conservative voters not to be endorsement-driven. It is essential that we vote with our heads, not with our “loyalties”.

There’s nothing wrong with supporting the NRA in terms of the lobbying work they do.

But to take their lead in who to vote for... that’s pure folly.

[donozark]

At the time of Klinton’s first election, approx. 1/3 of NRA members were Republican, 1/3 Democrat, and 1/3 Independent.
That has changed considerably into a much more Republican base. But NRA still focuses on Second Amendment issues. Nothing to do with TARP. Obi-care,etc.

[Little Ray]

TARP is not part of the NRA’s politics, and the NRA is not an arm of the GOP (or vice versa). It is NRA policy to always endorse the incumbent if he has been sufficiently “gun-owner friendly” during his recent terms.
Moreover, if they stopped doing so, it might be ammunition to force a change their non-profit status.
I don't agree with this, but I understand it.

[JayVee]

Here in Illinois, once you get south of I-80, the political complexion of the state changes dramatically. The downstate Democrats are much different that their Chicago-bred counterparts. They tend to be much more conservative and tend to be pro-gun. Having a “D” in back of one’s name as an Illinois politician isn’t quite the “kiss of death’ that one might think. These downstate Democrats are one reason that Illinois doesn’t have even more obnoxious gun laws than we do. Oh, in this state, having an “R” in back of one’s name ain’t no gaurantee, either.

[roses of sharon]

What good is protecting 2nd amendment rights if we are all forced to rely on Government healthcare and Government employment?

What good is a gun when one will never use it against ones benefactors?

The commies don’t need to worry about taking your guns when they know you need them to care for your children’s health and livelihoods!

[Joe Brower]

"This illustrates why it’s so important for conservative voters not to be endorsement-driven"

You've got that right. I told the fellow at the NRA that this sort of thing is why I don't donate to their PVF, but only directly to specific candidates. To his credit, the fellow wholeheartedly agreed with me.

[FreedomPoster]

>>[the NRA needs] to publish this information on their website and through press releases 1/2 second after making their endorsements, so that the rumor mill doesn’t immediately go ballistic.

Huge 2nd on that.

Their website sucks. I ought to be able to go there and easily verify claims of NRA endorsements for various candidates, and I cannot.

[Texan Tory]

“There are NO good democrats.” I hesitate to go so far as you in saying that there are no good democrats, but I will say that some democrats are far, far worse than others. I don’t think Chet Edwards is actually too bad as far as democrats go, and he did vote against the healthcare bill, but he still voted for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and presumably he would do so again, and that alone is reason enough to vote him out and replace him with a republican.