NV Senate candidate Sharron Angle also deserves gun owner support

Courtesy Elect Sharron Angle

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• Make politicians prove they support the Second Amendment

• Gun owners should support Danny Tarkanian for Senate

On Wednesday, I shared the results from Senate Candidate Danny Tarkanian's responses to my political questionnaire, designed to elicit unequivocal answers to define a candidate's position on the right to keep and bear arms. Another candidate, Sharron Angle, has also responded.

From her email:

I do not ask voters to “read my lips – believe what I say”, I ask them to “read my record –trust what I’ve done as a Nevada State Legislator.”

Here's the Q&A:

1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?

SA: Yes. I believe that the Constitution insures our inalienable rights and that the Bill of Rights is an inseparable component of the Constitution. I have been to court four times in defense of the Constitution. I have been to the Supreme Court of Nevada and to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals as well as the United States Supreme Court defending the Constitution. The Claremont Institute gave me the Reagan Medallion for the 2003 Ronald Reagan Freedom Award for Courageous Client. Dr. John Eastman and Ed Meese were the attorneys for my case, Angle v Guinn, against the Governor of Nevada who sued the Legislature to make us disregard the Constitution and our oath of office to defend the Constitution by raising taxes without the Constitutionally required 2/3 majority vote of the Legislature.

2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?

SA: Yes and I have proactively protected them from infringement as a State Legislator voting “no” against unconstitutional laws, sometimes as the only “no” vote, and fighting against unconstitutional laws and decisions in court at the State and Federal level. I don’t ask people to “read my lips”, I ask them to read my record. My record is available at www.leg.state.nv.us and www.sharronangle.com. I have a duty to uphold the Constitution and I have fought for the Constitution by sponsoring and voting for legislation that promotes the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as going to court often at my own expense.

3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.

SA: Vermont has the most Constitutional gun laws in the nation. Their laws are the least restrictive on the right to keep and bear arms. The Founder’s writings concerning the Second Amendment are very clear that our right to keep and bear arms is an individual right not a right restricted to the military or National Guard. The burden of proof regarding the Constitutionality of any restriction on our freedom to keep and bear arms lies with those proposing the restriction.

4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.

SA: The laws which prohibit reciprocity across state lines, trigger lock requirements and the laws which allow gun manufacturers to be sued when guns are used in the commission of a crime are examples. Even though the Heller case brought clarity it did not completely restore the Second Amendment rights to Washington DC citizens and visitors.

5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?

SA: Yes (see my answer to question 3.) Vermont has the most Constitutional gun laws in the nation. Their laws are the least restrictive on the right to keep and bear arms.

6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern, and will you use the prestige of elected office to publicly promote that right?

SA: Yes. The original intent of our Founders was that the Second Amendment guaranteed a citizenry that was able to defend itself from tyranny and invasion. This would require that free citizens have access to weapons that will give them that protection.

7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?

SA: I oppose registration of weapons as an “infringement” upon our right to keep and bear arms. It is an incremental step toward confiscation. Criminals will not register or license their firearms. These laws are not a deterrent for crime but an infringement on law abiding citizens. As a legislator, I have voted against these restrictions in Nevada.

8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?

SA: (The same as above) I oppose licensing firearms because it is an infringement on our right to keep and bear arms. It is an incremental step toward confiscation. Criminals will not register or license their firearms. These laws are obviously not a deterrent for crime but an infringement on law abiding citizens. As a Legislator, I have voted against these restrictions in Nevada.

9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?

SA: As a U..S. Senator the first law to be repealed should be the restrictions on the Second Amendment within the District of Columbia. As I stated above, Heller was a good start but did not completely restore the rights of law abiding citizens and visitors in Washington DC. I have grave concerns with the Constitutionality of the Brady Bill as will as HR 45 especially the line "strike the second sentence of 18 USC 926(a)" which would create a gun registry. I fought to keep our NIC’s check exemption in Nevada.

10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?

SA: Yes. I will propose legislation to repeal restrictions as well as interim legislation that would enhance our ability to keep and bear arms. I would not confirm anti-gun Supreme Court Justice appointments or regulatory czars such as Cass Sunstein. I have a strong voting record in the Nevada Legislature opposing gun trigger locks, and opposing lawsuits against gun manufacturers. I have an equally strong record supporting repeal of limitations on the number of weapons that can be qualified on a CCW, and supporting reciprocity. I have an “A” rating from the NRA. I am a CCW holder in Nevada. I am a member of the GOA. I am a member of the NRA but have seriously considered that membership since I received the NRA letter requesting express gratitude to Senator Reid for his votes on second amendment issues. Senator Reid has a “B” rating from the NRA and an “F” from the GOA. His actions are less than stellar with regard to the Second Amendment and deserve careful scrutiny as political vote pandering.

Good answers. Good record. Those who make the gun issue their main focus should definitely consider supporting her.

But wait--didn't I just say the other day that I supported Danny Tarkanian?

Yep. And I still do. I think his answers to the questionnaire should be spread far and wide. And I think the same should be done with Sharron Angle's. No law says I can't encourage contestants for the same position who do the right thing on guns. I've also sent this questionnaire to others in the 2010 NV Senate race, including, just to be fair, Harry Reid. And I'll be reporting their responses (or the lack thereof) over the coming days or weeks.

My goal is to encourage as many candidates as possible to unequivocally let us know where they stand on the right to keep and bear arms. Nevada has given us a convergence of circumstances and opportunities to do this, and at this point, at least two candidates who aren't afraid to make a very public stand championing that right.

Barring some big news that forces this off the front burner, I intend to explain tomorrow. 

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GONV alert

As long as we're talking about "The Silver State," Gun Owners of Nevada put this out via email:

Nevada Sheriff’s and Chiefs’ Association --
Annual CCW forum.

WHERE: Carson City, Nevada-- Legislative Building-- Room #1214
Date: Tuesday, September 15
WHEN: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The forum is also available via teleconference for Las Vegas and Southern Nevada residents. The teleconference is at the Grant Sawyer Building located at 555 E. Washington Avenue in Room 4401.

For those who are unable to attend, you may email Frank Adams with your questions. fadams@nvsca.com

The Nevada Sheriff’s and Chiefs’ Association is responsible for several issues relating to gun owners:

• Handgun Registration in Clark County (Blue Card)
• $25 sales Tax on each gun purchase
• Attempted Fee increases on CCW holders
• And many other unconstitutional gun laws

If you do NOT want more firearm taxes & fees and if you do not want increased registration and more draconian gun laws, you need to attend this meeting.

PS—Again, if you can’t attend, it is imperative that you submit your concerns about less government intrusiveness via email.
Email Frank Adams with your concerns: fadams@nvsca.com