SPECIAL REPORT
In the U.S. Senate, support for the 2nd Amendment is razor thin. For that reason, during this election season, your gun rights may very well be Hanging by a Thread.
With everything that’s at stake in the coming
election, perhaps nothing is more important than our narrow pro-gun
majority in the U.S. Senate. No matter how popular the President,
a strong Senate can block anti-gun schemes ... or move pro-gun legislation
ahead in the face of a veto.
The Senate is important when it comes to firearm legislation, but
it is everything when it comes to “advice and consent.” The Senate
must confirm every important appointment made by the President. Judges,
cabinet members, ambassadors, and agency heads—even the director
of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives—all must
be approved by the Senate. And no treaty can be entered into without
the consent of the Senate.
So the question is simple: Do you want federal judges hand-picked
by Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein? Do you want our representative
to the United Nations to be selected by Richard Durbin or Hillary
Clinton? Do you want Joe Biden moving to ratify a U.N. gun ban treaty?
If we lose our majority, that is what we face. A one-vote change
in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court’s Heller decision could
be reversed. The wrong man at the U.N., and U.S. officials will start
working with, instead of against, the radical anti-gun extremists
that make up that body.
What’s more, the political situation in the Senate
is extremely fluid. Over the past 50 years, political party control
of the U.S. House of Representatives has changed hands just twice,
in 1994 and 2006. The U.S. Senate, however, has changed eight times:
1980, 1986, 1994, 2001 (three times), 2004 and 2006.
Just in the past eight years, the greatest deliberative body in the
world has changed leadership five times. And right now, the Democrats
control the U.S. Senate by just one vote with a 51-49 seat majority
(for organizational purposes, Independents Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut
and Bernie Sanders of Vermont are counted as Democrats).
However, gun owners enjoy a narrow majority of two or three votes. That is
the majority we must protect and increase this year.
The leadership in the Senate—and many of the issues
they consider—is decided by such small margins that every election
has the potential to change the course of events in major ways. This
will certainly be true in 2008.
The Big Picture
A quick look at the numbers:
Republicans currently hold 23 seats that are up for election, while
Democrats hold 12. There are five open seats for retiring members—all
currently held by Republicans. There are six seats considered to
be toss-ups, with no clear favorite, all six currently held by
Republicans.
The mainstream media focuses on the partisan breakdowns, but for
gun owners, what counts is if there is a majority in the Senate that
supports Second Amendment rights. Right now we have a narrow majority.
Whether that majority holds will be decided by only a handful of
races.
The 35 Senate seats up in 2008 break down like this:
Fifteen are in the hands of pro-gun incumbents and considered “safe”;
that is to say, these incumbents are strongly favored to win re-election.
This includes both Republicans and Democrats. In two states, open
seat races are not considered likely to see a party change.
Nine are held by anti-gun incumbents who are not considered vulnerable.
That leaves 11 races that are considered competitive. It is in those
11 contests where the make-up of the Senate will be decided. And
of those 11, pro-gun senators currently hold 9! Clearly, we have
our work ahead of us.
Battleground Races
There are tight Senate elections in Alaska, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North
Carolina and Virginia. A quick look at each of these races will give
you a good idea of the challenge we face in holding on to our pro-gun
majority in the Senate.
Senator
Ted Stevens
Alaska
Senator Ted Stevens, R—a former NRA director—is
one of the most senior members of the Senate and a very valuable
asset to gun owners. His long service includes unflinching support
for the Second Amendment, and his seniority is a valuable asset for
gun owners. As former chairman of the all-important Appropriations
committee and now the senior Republican in the Senate, he is in a
key position to advance pro-gun legislation and to fight the anti-gun
schemes that are certain to be introduced in the coming years. He
is facing one of his strongest challenges in years and will need
the help and support of gun owners to maintain his seat.
Rep.
Bob Schaffer
Colorado
Sen. Wayne Allard, R, fought for gun owners during
a long career in the U.S. House and Senate. His retirement leaves
a void that gun owners will have to work hard to fill. The race is
coming down to very pro-gun former Congressman Bob Schaffer, R, and
Congressman Mark Udall, D. The race is considered a toss-up, and
it is a top priority for gun owners to keep this seat in the pro-gun
column.
Bob Schaffer amassed an outstanding voting record on firearms
and hunting issues during his five years in the U.S. House, voting
to protect gun shows and to protect our hunting heritage. Congressman
Schaffer would be a proven pro-gun successor to Senator Allard.
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Kentucky
One should never be surprised when partisan politics plays
a big role in elections. This year, Senate Minority leader Mitch
McConnell, R, has been targeted, in no small part, because of his
leadership position. Radically anti-gun Moveon.org, one of the best-funded
political groups in the country, has made Senator McConnell a top target.
Gun owners in Kentucky would be smart to give strong support
to Sen. McConnell’s campaign as his record of support for gun owners
has not wavered in nearly 25 years in the Senate.
John Kennedy
Louisiana
Louisiana provides gun owners with a rare opportunity in
these tough political times: to defeat an anti-gun incumbent. Senator
Mary Landrieu, D, has not represented gun owners in the Sportsman’s
Paradise consistently on important firearm rights issues. She declined
to sign a congressional amicus brief in support of individual Second Amendment
rights in the Heller case and she voted to impose stiff federal regulations
on gun shows.
Her opponent, State Treasurer John Kennedy, R, has been a
strong pro-gun voice in Louisiana and would be a consistent pro-gun
supporter in the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Norm
Coleman
Minnesota
Since his election six years ago, Norm Coleman, R, has been
a marked man. His political opponents hope to end his tenure in the
Senate and have chosen the controversial comedian turned radio talk
show host Al Franken, D, as his challenger. With his Hollywood politics
and New York state of mind, Franken is certainly a foe of gun owners.
His radical viewpoints and his outspoken personality would make him
a bigger foe if he were allowed to take a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Norm Coleman has an excellent pro-gun voting record and is
a friend gun owners can count on because he believes in the fundamental
Right To Keep and Bear Arms. Minnesota gun owners must take action
now to preserve a valuable pro-gun voice in the Senate.
Sen. Roger Wicker
Mississippi
It is a sign of the tough political times when a pro-gun
incumbent senator from Mississippi is thought to be in danger. But
Senator Roger Wicker, R, newly appointed after Senator Trent Lott’s
retirement, is certainly in a tough race to hold onto the seat. With
a strong record of support for firearm rights,
Sen. Wicker can be trusted to continue to support gun owners
in the future. Sportsmen and gun owners in Mississippi are the key
to his election and should give his campaign their full support.
Sen. Max Baucus
Montana
Sen. Max Baucus, D, has become a valuable ally
in the U.S. Senate, providing a pro-gun bridge to the Senate’s majority
party. Senator Baucus has voted to support gun owners’ rights on
key issues, such as emergency powers legislation, the Protection
of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, opposition to the Clinton gun ban
and ammunition bans and protection of gun shows from excessive federal
regulation. The re-election of Senator Max Baucus will greatly help
to protect the pro-gun majority in the Senate.
Sen. John Sununu
New Hampshire
Senator John Sununu, R, has compiled an impressive pro-gun
voting record during his first term in the Senate and before that
during his three terms in the U.S. House. He voted consistently against
the Clinton gun ban, to protect gun shows from heavy regulation and
to end the D.C. gun ban. Senator Sununu has given the gun owners
of New Hampshire a strong voice in the Senate, but his opponent would
silence that voice. Former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, D, has a long
record of opposition to gun owners’ rights. During her tenure as
governor, her increasing opposition to gun owners’ rights caused
her NRA-PVF grade to go from a “C” to a “D,” and kept slipping until
finally, in her race against Senator Sununu in 2002, she earned an
“F” rating. For those who care about the Second Amendment, the choice
could not be clearer. Senator Sununu has earned the strong support
of gun owners.
Rep. Steve Pearce
New Mexico
With the retirement of long serving pro-gun Senator Pete
Domenici, gun owners in New Mexico will have to do extra duty to
protect their voice in the Senate. Two current U.S. Representatives
will square off in this race. Steve Pearce, R, is the pro-gun candidate
who will have a tough fight against anti-gun Tom Udall. On firearm
issues, the two men stand worlds apart. On issues from reforming
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to the D.C.
gun ban, to reckless lawsuits, Pearce supports gun owners’ rights,
while Udall opposes us. Even on hunting issues, Tom Udall votes against
hunters’ interests. It’s a simple choice: Steve Pearce is a strong voice for
gun owners.
Sen. Elizabeth Dole
North Carolina
Elizabeth Dole, R, is completing just her first term in the
U.S. Senate. But in that short time she has delivered for gun owners
on every key vote. She supported the Protection of Lawful Commerce
in Arms Act, and has voted against bringing back the Clinton gun
ban and against efforts to regulate gun shows. Senator Dole’s years
of service in the federal government makes her a valuable ally in
the Senate and her strong record has earned the enthusiastic support
of gun owners in the Tar Heel state.
Gov. Jim Gilmore
Virginia
With the retirement of anti-gun Senator John Warner, R, there
is another opportunity for gun owners to increase their support in
the Senate.
Not only was former Governor Jim Gilmore, R, a strong supporter
of gun owners’ rights while in office; he has continued his support
by becoming a member of the NRA Board of Directors. As governor from
1998 to 2002, Gilmore supported NRA efforts to establish Project
Exile and was a strong advocate in Richmond.
Also in the race is former Governor Mark Warner,
D. As governor, Mark Warner signed over 20 pro-gun bills, and was
a valuable ally for gun owners and sportsmen. However this race turns
out, the good news is that Virginia gun owners will have a stronger
voice in the U.S. Senate after John Warner retires.
Gov. Mark Warner
The Remaining Races
Many pro-gun incumbents are running for re-election
in other states, and although their races are not considered tight
now, they have earned our strong support: Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.,
Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Pat Roberts, R-Kans., Thad Cochran, R-Miss.,
James Inhofe, R-Okla., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Tim Johnson, D-S.D.,
Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.
and John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
There are also two races for open seats where pro-gun candidates
are expected to prevail, but gun-owner support is crucial. In Idaho,
both Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, R and former Congressman Larry
LaRocco, D, have strong pro-gun credentials. And in Nebraska, former
Governor Mike Johanns, R, is a strong advocate of Second Amendment
rights and will be a valuable ally in the Senate.
The Bottom Line
The narrow pro-gun majority is certainly in danger in the Senate.
For gun owners, the division is not a partisan issue, but one of
commitment to the Second Amendment. Gun owners are in a position
to make the difference in every close race across the nation. If
we do our part, we can protect our majority. We can’t “sit out”
this election, because there is far too much at stake. And we need
to do more than just plan to vote on November 4. We need to give
our support to pro-gun candidates by volunteering our time and
energy—and when possible our financial resources—to help those
who will work to protect our rights.
Next month: A breakdown of the hottest races in the U.S. House of Representatives.
