VA Sen: The NRA Has Endorsed Who They Want To Represent Them In Their Backyard

Matt Vespa | May 11, 2018 12:15 PM

The National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund has endorsed who they want to represent them in their backyard. Virginia’s Democratic incumbent, Sen. Tim Kaine, is up for re-election this year and the pro-gun organization wants House Delegate Nick Freitas to retire him (via Inside Nova):

Freitas announced the endorsement in a news release Thursday, noting his A+ rating from the NRA.
“I've pledged to defend the Second Amendment and unlike other candidates in this race, I've got the record to prove it," he said.
[…]
In explaining its endorsement policy, the NRA’s Political Victory Fund noted in a news release earlier this week that it doesn’t endorse in every race: “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.”

My record of championing gun rights has earned me the NRA-PVF endorsement.

While others talk about defending your gun rights, I’m the only one with a record of thwarting Virginia’s Gun Control Lobby. pic.twitter.com/3MDAffLJgE
— Nick Freitas (@NickForVA) May 10, 2018

While Virginia is certainly good ground for Democrats, given hat Hillary won the state in 2016 and Obama carried it twice, a new poll from Morning Consult showed, on a generic ballot, that the Democrat is only slightly favored 39/36—a statistical tie. Freitas will face off against Corey Stewart, Chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, another hard-core supporter of the Second Amendment and E.W. Jackson on June 12.

At the conclusion of the NRA’s Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas, the mission was clear: don’t forget to vote. It’s a battle cry in a year that could be pivotal for Second Amendment rights. Gone are the days when only blue, anti-gun states passed more gun laws that further chipped away at people’s rights. Not saying it was a good thing, but at least it was contained in the usual areas, the states that were already antagonistic to gun rights. That all changed after Parkland, Florida. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott have both signed anti-gun laws. Both men are (or were) highly rated by the NRA. The anti-gun advocacy that erupted after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has leached into the friendly territory. It’s time to fight back.