There’s a big Senate race to replace Bill Frist in my state. So, here’s what I found on the candidates with respect to the gun issue:

Ed Bryant says on his website:

I support the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees our right to keep and bear arms.

As U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee, appointed by President George H. Bush, I’ve seen how gun-control laws only penalize law abiding Tennesseans and do nothing to stop a person intent on committing a violent crime with a gun.

In Congress, I was proud to have served on the House Judiciary Committee where I worked to protect the gun-ownership rights of law-abiding Tennesseans and earned a lifetime rating of “A” from the National Rifle Association, as well as their endorsement for each re-election.

On the issues notes:

Voted YES on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1.

Bob Corker’s site says:

As Senator, I will protect the Second Amendment’s guarantee of our right to bear arms and reject attempts to limit the freedom of law-abiding gun owners. The best way to stop crime is to capture and imprison criminals—not to impose new burdens on law-abiding citizens. During my tenure as Mayor of Chattanooga, we cut violent crime in half in 3 years by putting repeat criminals behind bars.

On the issues says:

Protect the Second Amendment’s guarantee. (Jan 2006)

Harold Ford, Jr.’s site says nothing. But On The Issues says:

* Supports Second Amendment rights. (Jan 2006)
* Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
* Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
* Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
* Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)

Odd, I think, since with the exception of decreasing the waiting period, he’s as pro-gun based on these sites as the others. Ford also says:

But I’ve got a message for all of the Republican spin doctors tonight: We’ve got two guys atop this ticket named Bredesen and Ford who love their God, who love their guns, who support the Second Amendment and who understand that everybody ought to have a chance to make their future and their children’s future better.

And the KNS quoted Ford’s opponents as stating Ford’s votes would essentially end gun shows

Van Hilleary’s site says nothing. On The Issues says:

Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1.

I guess he may be as pro-gun as Ford, at least based on voting record. And he gets the award for worst web presence.

Based on the candidate’s web presence, it seems there’s little info on the Republicans. No specifics on what they support or do not support. The only bit of hard data seems to be a scant voting record for Ford and Hilleary. Seems to be little difference between Corker and Bryant. Ford’s and Hilleary’s outlying factors are nay votes to decrease the waiting period so I’d say Bryant and Corker edge them out.

Seems there’s a lot more info out there with respect to Harold Ford because he’s somewhat of a media darling. I didn’t find much on the other candidates.

I think I’ll send these guys (or their campaigns) a questionnaire about gun rights and see if they respond. I doubt they will respond to this anonymous gun nut but it’s possible so leave any questions you have in comments.

So, any of you bloggers out there who support these guys (you know who I mean) let me know what you found. Or let me know how to contact these guys or their campaigns.

Update: Cross posted at NSH.

Update: At AC’s, Mickey White writes:

Gun Control, H.R. 2122.
This legislation would clamp down on gun sales at gun shows, which for the purposes of this bill are defined as any event “at which 50 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale, transfer, or exchange” or at which there are ten or more vendors. Under this bill, a person offering a firearm for sale who is not himself licensed is prevented form selling that firearm directly to the buyer. The licensed vendor must complete a background check before the transfer of the weapon. (June 18, 1999 Congressional Record, pages H4656-57, roll call 244) Ed Bryant voted for this gun control bill.

Emphasis added for folks that need to be told that. Indeed, he did. Is this the same bill Ford supported? ETA: No, it is not. Ford voted no. Looks like Ford may be smart on gun shows while Bryant is not.

Posted in uncategorized on July 3rd, 2006 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |