In November, gun owners and sportsmen have a clear choice in the race for President. It will be the most important vote that gun owners have cast in decades. That choice is between a person who has been a true friend to gun owners and a candidate who has never missed a chance to vote against our right to bear arms.
In 2000, President Bush promised not to push for new gun control laws and he has kept that promise. He also said during the 2000 campaign that he opposes registration of firearms and gun owners, opposes mandatory trigger locks, and opposes waiting periods for the purchase of handguns (The Economist, "Issues 2000" special, Sep 30, 2000).
During his campaign for President, Bush defended his support for legislation in Texas that allows a person to carry a concealed weapon. "We live in a dangerous society," Bush said. "People feel like they need to defend themselves." (Washington Post Apr 25, 1999)
As President, he appointed John Ashcroft Attorney General, who in turn stated the official position of the Administraition is that the Second Amendment is an individual right to keep and bear arms - a marked improvement from the Clinton years. Then, in early March 2004 as the Senate was considering S. 1805 (The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act), President Bush urged Senators to pass a "clean bill," and asked the Senate to vote against "poison pill" amendments (including one to end gun shows as we know them and the other reenacting the Clinton Gun Ban) to S.659/S.1805.
The other candidate, Senator John Kerry, says he is a hunter and gun owner and would do nothing to take a way the rights of hunters. His voting record in the US Senate tells a different story. Kerry has a 100% voting record in support of Handgun Control, INC (now known as the Brady Campaign) and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. He even left the campaign trial on March 2, 2004 just so he could vote to end gun shows as we know them and reenact the Clinton Gun Ban. Later that day he voted for the Kennedy ammunition ban amendment. If the amendment had passed, it would have banned many hunting rounds. Even worse, Senator Kerry received a 100% rating from the Humane Society of the United States - one of the most anti-hunting groups in the nation. (The Humane Scorecard, February, 2004)
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