Virginia Gun Rights

The NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) has posted the endorsements for the June 10th primaries in Virginia and has endorsed House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the 7th Congressional District and Congressman Rob Wittman in the 1st Congressional District for the June 10th Republican Primary.  Cantor received the NRA-PVF highest rating of “A+” and Wittman received an “A” rating.  Cantor’s opponent, Dave Brat, had a “?” by his name, indicating that Brat apparently did not return his NRA candidate questionaire.    It is unknown why Brat would not have returned his questionnaire given he is running as the Tea Party supported candidate.  Wittman’s opponent Anthony Riedel received a rating of “AQ” indicating a pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate’s responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.

In the 8th Congressional District Democrat Primary, gun owners have no choice from which to choose.  All of the  candidates either received a ? or an “F”.  One of the “?” candidates however is former Lt. Governor Don Beyer.  He was no friend to gun owners as Lt. Governor and when he was a candidate for Governor in 1997, was the darling of the gun ban crowd.

The NRA has what is commonly referred to as an “incumbant friendly” endorsement policy:

NRA has an incumbent-friendly policy that dictates our support for pro-gun incumbents seeking reelection. It is important that we stand with our friends who stand with us in Congress or the state legislature through their actions. Of course, should a pro-gun challenger win his election, and stay true to support for our gun rights, then he will be the beneficiary of this policy when seeking re-election.

Our endorsement is not given lightly; it is something that is reserved for those candidates who meet certain criteria and something that must be earned.

Virginia gun owners in the 7th District have a true friend in Congressman Cantor.  While a member of both the House of Delegates in the General Assembly and the House of Representatives in Congress, Cantor has a voting record supporting our 2nd Amendment freedom.   In the 1st Congressional District, Wittman likewise has a voting record supporting our rights going back to his days in the General Assembly’s House of Delegates.

Please note the NRA is a single issue organization and is only concerned with the issue of our 2nd Amendment Rights.  In the 7th Congressional District, the intra-party contest between Cantor and Brat has come down to who is the most conservative.  Brat’s supporters believe Cantor has abandoned his conservative principles on issues such as spending and immigration.  Cantor has tried to paint Brat as a “liberal college professor” because of his serving as one of former Governor Tim Kaine’s economic advisors.  NRA would likely tell Brat supporters upset that the organization endorsed Cantor that none of those concerns were considered in their endorsement.  Obviously NRA does not lobby on the issue of immigration or federal spending.  Their issue is the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and on that issue, Both Cantor and Wittman have been our friends.

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