Gunleaders Blog

It’s that time again.  The time when gun owners are left scratching their heads over mysterious & quizzical endorsements issue by the NRA and in this episode, we look at the endorsement and fallout from the 2012 Virginia US Senate candidate endorsement of George Allen.  Having spoken to both Jamie Radtke & George Allen, one should make up their own mind but know that either of these two choices are far superior to Tim “Kaine the terrible”.

One thing for sure, Jamie Radtke stands for REPEALING gun control laws, not the enforcement of existing laws.  She is unequivocal on her support for the 2nd Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms.  George Allen is generally supportive of the 2nd Amendment, however when questioned on specifics of what he would help repeal, he equivocates and offers general encouraging words.  Grassroots activists have come to understand this is code for “I will maintain the status quo”.

In the Virginia General Assembly, where George Allen gained some of his notoriety, there is a somewhat common practice of “shunning” a bill with the introductory phrase “I am introducing this bill at constituent request”.  This phrase is key and indicates to the leadership that it is a political hot potato, I don’t want to vote on it, you don’t want to vote on it but if I don’t introduce it I could get a primary challenge or worse.  The bill then quietly gets ignored, passed by indefinitely or sent off for a “study”.  This tip came from a serving member of the assembly.  Look at what happened to George Allen’s bill to repeal the National Parks gun ban – or, more specifically what didn’t happen.

We reminded George Allen that his words of 2nd Amendment support did not match his actions supporting the repeal of the National Parks gun ban.  One of the first contacts to then Senator Allen’s office offers an insight into the mindset of Senator Allen and he maintained barely tepid support for this issue from 2004 until he began losing his reelection bid to Jim Webb.  Then he introduced a bill to the National Parks gun ban.  This was a unique opportunity for gun owners in Virginia to maximize their candidate potential and Jim Webb came out the winner.

Lest we forget, George Allen was for the so called assault weapons ban, before he was against it.  What’s more important, his rationale for his “support” or lack thereof for the renewal of the so called assault weapons ban is troubling at best:

“I would support reauthorization of the ‘assault weapons ban’ in its current form if this legislation had proven effective in reducing violent crime,” he said. “I have concluded, after a review of the evidence, that this symbolic ban of 19 firearms chosen for cosmetic reasons is a meaningless, toothless law that has virtually no impact on crime.“

While it’s true that he eventually came down on the right side of that issue he did not do it willingly, nor did he do it with sufficient enthusiasm for a constituent who is primarily concerned with preserving, protecting and defending the right to keep and bear arms.  Gun owners who are curious about the facts on this issue should contact VCDL; www.vcdl.org for a full breakdown of the “so called assault weapons ban” reauthorization flip flop by George Allen, his so called hard work on repealing the NPS gun ban as well as how effective he was for RKBA activists.