Congratulations Asa But.......(NRA Arkansas Stinks)

Asa Hutchinson has gotten the endorsement of the National Rifle Association of Arkansas this past week, along with Democratic Congressment Marion Berry and Mike Ross.

The NRA did not make any endorsements in the down ticket races. In a couple of races, this is a travesty. For example, for Attorney General Gunner DeLay was not deemed worthy of the endorsement even though his opponent, Representative Dustin McDaniel, was a vital part of a lawsuit against Remington Arms. He was trying to wring money out of Remington for not forcing you to buy a trigger lock every time you buy a gun. McDaniel had a good record on the few gun votes he had during his one term in the legislature, but that was not much. DeLay had a much longer run in the legislature and a more sustained pro-gun voting record.

The clearest example that NRA Arkansas has problems is in the Lt. Governor's race. They have been in a feud with Republican Jim Holt ever since they refused to endorse him against Blanche Lincoln. Holt had been a member with straight A's and Lincoln had a poor gun record. Holt critisized that decision as cowardly, claiming they were backing candidates based not on their gun record, but on their ability to win.

Then, in the Republican Primary, NRA Arkanasas stunned many obeservors by endorsing Rep. Doug Matayo in the Lt. Governor's primary even though he and Holt had virtually identical legislative records on gun issues. Matayo still finished last in that race, but it raised some eyebrows that the NRA was not willing to endorse the "A" rated Holt over the "C-" Lincoln, but took sides in a Republican primary where both candidates had "A" ratings.

Now we have a general election where Halter has no gun record whatsoever, but is so liberal on other issues that he is suspect on guns as well. He has spent the last 25 years in California and Washington, where gun laws are much more restrictive than Arkansas. NRA Arkansas has opted not to endorse the man with a lifetime straight A rating (Holt) over a liberal with no record at all on gun issues. Why on earth not? Petty payback? That is not what the members pay dues for. They count on the NRA for an objective look at candidates on gun issues. They are not getting their money's worth.

I suggest taking a look at the Gun Owners of America. They are a smaller, leaner, and straighter shooting organization that does many of the things the NRA does. People who are more interested in defending gun rights than delivering personal payback might want to consider switching their membership.