Posted on 10/06/2005 1:32:41 PM PDT by Gopher Broke
Kilgore Endorsed by National Rifle Association
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre Joins Kilgore in Tour of Virginia
October 6, 2005
Contact: Tim Murtaugh or Tucker Martin - (804) 421-9966
WINCHESTER - Former Attorney General and Republican nominee for Governor Jerry Kilgore today received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association. Kilgore welcomed the announcement during a tour of Virginia with NRA Executive Director Wayne LaPierre, who made campaign stops with Kilgore at rallies in Winchester, Weyers Cave, Roanoke, Abingdon and Danville.
Jerry Kilgore is a lifelong supporter of the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. Some of his earliest memories are of learning the respect and use of firearms on his family's farm in his native Scott County, Virginia. Kilgore has received an "A" rating from the NRA's Political Victory Fund.
"I have spent my life guarding Virginians' right to bear arms and standing up for the traditions that make Virginia such a great place to call home," Kilgore said. "I grew up in far Southwest Virginia, on a farm just outside Gate City. I grew up around guns, and was taught at a young age how to properly treat a gun and the importance of ensuring our families are safe. So protecting the Second Amendment is not just some issue I stumbled upon in an election year. It is how I was raised, and it is who I am."
Kilgore's opponent, Democrat Tim Kaine, received an "F" rating from the NRA in 2001 because of his steadfast opposition to 2nd Amendment rights. Someone who earns an "F" rating is considered a "true enemy of gun-owners rights. A vehement anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owners' rights and/or actively leads anti-gun legislative efforts, or sponsors anti-gun legislation," according to the NRA Political Victory Fund's 2001 Candidate Endorsement Chart. As Mayor of Richmond, Kaine endorsed efforts to lobby the General Assembly for the city's ability to enact greater gun control laws. At one point, he solicited advice from the city's attorney on the feasibility of suing gun manufacturers to hold them accountable for the actions of violent criminals. In addition, he directed that taxpayer money be used to send busloads of protestors to a gun control rally led by actress Rosie O'Donnell in Washington, D.C.
"NRA is endorsing Jerry Kilgore because we can trust him to preserve freedom in the Old Dominion," LaPierre said. "When the line was drawn in the sand and we were all forced choose freedom or reject it, Jerry Kilgore stood for freedom. Tim Kaine, on the other hand, surrendered our gun rights and used our hard-earned taxpayer dollars to cozy up to Bill Clinton and Rosie O'Donnell."
"Tim Kaine should be ashamed, but the truth is, if it weren't an election year, he wouldn't care," Kilgore said. "As he told a magazine recently, he doesn't own a gun, and he's never even been hunting. His whole 'Sportsmen for Kaine' group is nothing more than a few thousand dollars spent for a few thousand stickers to try to fool the voters. Well, it didn't work. All the bumper stickers in the world couldn't cover up Tim Kaine's anti-gun record. The gun owners of Virginia know that I am the candidate who will always stand up for the Second Amendment."
Jerry Kilgore ping.
Just about to do that........thanks!!!!
I've received half a dozen campaign ads from Kaine, and not a one of them identifies him as a Democrat ~ so he wouldn't have gotten my vote anyway.
On the other hand, Kilgore said he was going to increase local control over highway development, but at the same time he said he was going to quadruple lane I-66 through Arlington County (which they don't wish to happen).
Made me wonder if the Republican candidate was irrational as well as what appears to be a tad "light in the loafers" if you know what I mean. But, if the NRA wants him, then that's how I'll have to vote.
I thought he didn't answer a 2nd Amendment survey?
He didn't answer the VCDL survey.
Their quick jump to the fringe-left where the Democrat candidate sits makes me wonder about their resolve to support the Second Amendment though.
Does anyone else know anything about these guys?
That's good news!
VCDL didn't end up endorsing anyone for the Gov race (at least not yet, but they won't endorse Kaine or Potts). They are a top notch group. IMO they are the most effective gun rights group in the country at the state level. Far more effective, I believe, than the NRA, at least in VA.
One more reason to vote for Kilgore
I think that 2005 will be a repeat of 2001, an inept campaign by the Republican candidate (a la Mark Earley) results in a loss to the Democrat.
If you'll remember, the NRA didn't endorse anyone during that race.
If you'll remember, the NRA didn't endorse anyone during that race.
Kilgore is using the same campaign manager that
George Allen had when he flip-floped on the clinton gun ban.
Due to Kilgore's tolerance of personal attacks on VCDL's President Philip Van Cleave & and his refusal to answer VCDL's survey I will not be supporting Kilgore.
We shall see, sir, we shall see.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I am not in the least confident that Kilgore will win. I am somewhat mystified as to how he parlayed a 10 point margin in the polls a couple weeks ago into a dead heat. I'm still voting for him, but I'm not convinced he will win. Despite the NRA endorsement.
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