Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
Login | What's Hot
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Sandy Froman :: Townhall.com Columnist
Gun Vote Could Decide Michigan GOP Primary
by Sandy Froman
Forward Print Share Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


The three candidates topping the polls in Michigan all have something to run on. Mike Huckabee easily has the strongest Second Amendment record out of the three, earning top ratings and endorsements from the NRA when he was running for governor of Arkansas. Mitt Romney is an NRA member speaking in favor of gun rights, though his continued endorsement of the Clinton Gun Ban and Brady Bill on Meet the Press last month is generating criticism from many gun owners. And John McCain supported pro-gun legislation during his many years in the House and Senate, including the bill to end junk lawsuits against gun dealers, though it’s also no secret that he has crossed swords with gun-rights supporters on more than one occasion.

It’ll be interesting to see who can capture the gun vote. All three candidates have done things gun owners can applaud. While Governor Huckabee has the only perfect record, the other two would be acceptable to many gun voters.

Of course, plenty of gun owners will decide their vote on something other than the Second Amendment. Gun owners care about the same things all voters care about – national security, jobs, education, taxes, retirement, family issues.

But never underestimate how many gun owners are single-issue voters. The NRA election year slogan is “Vote Freedom First.” It was NRA members voting their gun rights that delivered West Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas to George W. Bush in 2000. And John Kerry’s phony goose hunt in Ohio helped NRA push that state into the Bush column in 2004. For a couple million committed gun owners, the Second Amendment alone determines their choice for president.

And for many gun owners who are not single-issue, a candidate’s Second Amendment position can be the tie-breaker. If gun owners see things that they like in two or three of the candidates and aren’t sure which way to vote, many will go with the candidate they think is committed to protecting the Second Amendment.

So in a few days Michigan will weigh in on the presidential race. Gun owners of Michigan, this is your chance to speak out and be heard. Demand a nominee who will fight for your Second Amendment rights, and hold him to his word.

1 2
| Full Article & Comments | < Previous
Share:
Forward Print Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author

Sandy Froman is the immediate past president of the National Rifle Association of America, only the second woman and the first Jewish American to hold that office in the 136-year history of the NRA. The views expressed are her own and not that of any organization.

Be the first to read Sandy Froman's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

Join The Debate!

Post Your Comment
(108 comments so Far)
View in ascending order     View in descending order
Reply # 1
Date: Jan 15, 2008 - 12:17 AM EST
McCain stabbed Oregon in the back
Senator McCain, who has been touting his support for the rights of gun owners,
took a huge bribe - reportedly a million dollars or more - from noted gungrabber and
"monster.com" magnate Andrew McKelvey, to appear in television ads here in Oregon
when we were fighting an anti-gun initiative measure a few years ago. The measure,
which ultimately passed, saddled us with background check requirements for private
sales at gun shows, and with a firearms registration database operated by the Oregon
State Police.

Here is a URL documenting McCain's involvement with McKelvey's
deceptively named anti-gun organization "Americans for Gun Safety":
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/Articles/Read.aspx?ID=61

McCain thought it was so important to attack our gun rights, that he took
time out from representing Arizona in the Senate to slither up here to
Oregon and interfere in an Oregon election. Oregon's gun owners were holding
their own in the campaign against the anti-gun initiative, until McKelvey and
his lapdog McCain started brainwashing the electorate with slick anti-gun TV ads.

Oregon's gun owners will NEVER forgive McCain, and if Michigan's gun
owners contribute in any way to putting him in the Oval Office, they
will live to regret it.

At least Hitlary would stab us in the front...
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 2
Date: Jan 14, 2008 - 4:14 PM EST
Ron Paul
The NRA says "Vote Freedom First" but does not even mention the one candidate who makes freedom a centerpiece of his campaign, Ron Paul. Ron Paul is the most pro-freedom, pro-constitution, pro-second amendment candidate in either party.

The NRA, like the mainstream media, has done its best to marginalize Ron Paul. You give lip service to McCain even though you have previously claimed that the McCain Feingold act threatened your ability to communicate political info to your members. You Talk about Romney but his gun rights record is anything but good.

When I ran a word search of this article for "Paul" I found only a side bar article entitled "Why Paulpots hate kids." As a father, grandfather and avid Paul supporter you cannot imagine how offensive I find that.

I'm beginning to get the idea that defending the second amendment is not the central goal of the NRA.
Flag as Offensive
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
 *
State:
 *
Zip:
 *
Phone:
       
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.