UPDATE: Mark Amodei has come forward and answered the gun rights questionnaire. Click here for details.
Regular readers are familiar with the gun rights questionnaire, designed to elicit unequivocal answers from candidates about exactly where they stand on the right to keep and bear arms. It's proven a useful tool at separating those with the political courage to be leaders from those who would instead rely on meaningless platitudes, and those who think they deserve power without having to make an account of themselves to gun owners.
We've used the questionnaire in a number of races throughout the Republic so far, but have given special focus to the 2010 Nevada contest for U.S. Senate.
Why?
Because polls show incumbent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is vulnerable to challenge. It would be a major victory to demonstrate that one of the most powerful political figures in the country can be defeated by an unequivocal gun rights supporter.
But isn't Reid "good" on guns?
It's true he comes from a place where opposition to gun rights doesn't play well in a statewide race. It's also true he has enjoyed long-term support from NRA, and that executive vice president Wayne LaPierre called him "a true champion of gun rights."
What's also true is Reid has used his influence to help bring committed notorious anti-gunners into power where they can assault our rights, supporting Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Sonia Sotomayor...you don't give aid and comfort to my enemies and then tell me you're my friend. And if NRA's pledge to hold the Sotomayor confirmation vote against politicians means anything, we should see it affect Reid's rating--no?
Besides which, GOA ain't impressed, and their rating reflects it.
So far we've had good success at getting responses from candidates in that race, with the notable exception of Sen. Reid, who ignored the questionnaire. We've even gotten back answers from both candidates who polls show to be ahead of the incumbent.
Here are the candidates and responses, so you can read them for yourself:
Danny Tarkanian
Sharron Angle
Bill Parson
Robin Titus
Terry Suominen
Mike Wiley
Jeff Durbin
Sue Lowden
You'll note I've been saying "we" a lot instead of "I." That's because I've been partnering with Gun Owners of Nevada to get these questions sent out and answered. They've been persisting with the remaining candidates in this race, and are now ready to report their results:
It has been months since we first attempted to contact Mark Amodei, John Chachas and Chuck Kozak...an honest attempt has been made and we’ve not heard back from any of the three.
I take that to mean Amodei, Chahchas and Kozak don't want to answer the questionnaire. I take that to mean they are not willing to go on record and give Nevada gun owners unequivocal answers to how they will treat the right to keep and bear arms should they be trusted with political power. And I note that because their competitors have not ducked the issue, these three fall short.
If that's the way they want to play it, that's their call. But why would any gun owner support someone who is not willing to be a leader and champion for gun rights? I'll send the campaigns the link to this column and ask them that, and also ask them to reconsider their silence. And I'll share any response I get.
In the mean time, GONV has some good news for us:
Additional candidate questionnaires will be posted soon for other races throughout the state of Nevada. Stay tuned as we help gun owners get to know those who are running from Reno, Elko, Pahrump and Las Vegas and everywhere else in Nevada. Nearly every office will be covered.
Nevada provides us with a perfect convergence of candidates and circumstance in one of the highest profile races of 2010, kind of a "lever moving the world" political situation. Later today in my "New Year's gun rights resolutions" column, I'll talk about how you can add your weight to the effort.
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Speaking of candidates
Texas State Senate District 22 candidate Darren Yancy answered the questionnaire here. There was a bit of confusion over a couple of his answers, so he issued a clarification here.
I said at that time I believe he deserves our support. I did not make an endorsement then, because I had not yet approached his opponent, incumbent Kip Averitt, who enjoyed an A rating and endorsement from NRA.
The Averitt campaign did not respond to my emails with the questionnaire. And I know from experience that gun organization ratings are not often the best indicator of fidelity to the uninfringed right to keep and bear arms.
I don't expect folks to show support for what I want and then leave them hanging. Darren Yancy put himself on the line by giving specific answers to questions anti-gunners and the media will try to use against him. But he did it anyway, because he believes it and knows it's the right thing to do.
That is the definition of political courage. He asked for my endorsement and he's got it.
Learn more at Darren Yancy for Texas Senate.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Darren Yancy for Texas Senate. All rights reserved
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Happy Bill of Rights Day!
Today is Dec. 15, also known as Bill of Rights Day. To commemorate it, Aaron Zelman of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership has written "An Open Letter to All American Politicians and Bureaucrats," reminding them that anyone who violates his oath of office is "a liar and a criminal."
Sounds about right to me.
Click here to read the letter. Then spend some time exploring the JPFO website.
We spoke yesterday about joining a gun rights group. I can't think of a better one to support than JPFO.
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