Which John McCain Is Showing Up at the NRA Convention Today?

Today, the National Rifle Association convenes its annual meeting in Louisville. Speaking to the group will be presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) ran an ad in the Louisville paper today with an open letter to NRA members who need to get the real story about John McCain. They won't get it from the NRA's leadership. The full ad can be seen here, and here is the text:

When Senator John McCain addresses NRA leaders at their convention today, we all need to ask where does he really stand on the important issue of background checks on all gun transfers at gun shows.

In March of 2004, on the floor of the US Senate, Senator McCain delivered an impassioned plea for legislation to close the so-called "gun show loophole".

SENATOR MCCAIN: "Why do we need this amendment? Some might point to tragedies such as Columbine, but as horrific as the massacre at Columbine was, where eleven young people needlessly lost their lives, that is not what drives the need to close the gun-show loophole.

We need this amendment because criminals and terrorists have exploited and are exploiting this very obvious loophole in our gun safety laws... "We need this amendment because, according to the NRA [National Rifle Association], 'hundreds of thousands' of unlicensed firearms sales occur at gun shows each year. We need this amendment because ATF has identified gun shows as the second leading source of firearms recovered from illegal gun trafficking investigations...

"We also need this amendment because my law-abiding constituents who attend gun shows in Arizona should not have to rub shoulders with the scum of the Earth who use this loophole to evade background checks to buy firearms to peddle to God knows who."

Now, McCain argues that no new gun laws are needed.

Has he changed his mind or has he had a "senior moment" and forgotten that he once was an outspoken national leader on this issue?

Hunters and shooters deserve to know where the leader of the "Straight Talk Express" now stands on gun shows.

So today, while Senator McCain panders to Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox, Kentucky sportsmen need to call McCain's Senate office at 202-224-2235 and ask where the Senator really stands on this important issue.

Ray Schoenke,

President--American Hunters and Shooters Association

Today, McCain will pander to the NRA's leaders. And, the leaders will pander back. We don't expect straight talk. We expect a lovefest. By doing that, McCain continues to show his disrespect for gun owners. And, the NRA leaders continue to put their own personal political agendas ahead of the best interests of McCain if they let him off the hook.

This is a newfound relationship between the NRA and McCain.

A couple years ago, McCain was vilified by the NRA in its own publications over the gun show issue:

Anti-gun groups, led by Americans for Gun Safety, have teamed up behind U.S. Sen. John McCain to exploit terrorism in order to advance their gun control agenda. Their first target of opportunity is the traditional American gun show.

Also, just a couple years ago, the mere mention of McCain's name elicited boos from the membership. In 2002, Fox reported:

The crown booed the mention of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lead sponsor of the campaign finance reforms that the NRA is challenging.

LaPierre said the group "must grow larger and tougher" to fend off attempts to implement waiting periods on gun purchases at gun shows, protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits and defend First Amendment freedom of speech in the form of campaign advertising.

No surprise. Back in 2000, John McCain attacked the NRA:

The NRA is entitled to their advocacy. I don't think they help the Republican Party at all, but I don't think they should in any way play a major role in the Republican Party's policy making.

Which McCain shows up at the NRA convention today? The McCain who the NRA booed and vilified or Wayne LaPierre's new best friend? The McCain who attacked the NRA and did t.v. ads in Colorado and Oregon opposing the NRA on gun shows back in 2000?

It's almost incomprehensible to think that the NRA leadership would abandon its principles to support someone who worked so hard against them. But, that's what is happening today in Louisville. That's why we want NRA members to get the answers from John McCain himself. Clearly, when it comes to McCain, the members can't trust the leaders. There's a lot of hypocrisy on both sides.

We know most gun owners do support background checks according to a survey of gun owners conducted by Field and Stream. That's the position of AHSA. But, it's not the position of the NRA, which purports to represent gun owners. But one thing is clear: real gun owners aren't represented by either McCain or the NRA.

We'll have a lot more to say about how McCain's record affects hunters and shooters over the next weeks and months. Climate change, roadless rules and public access all have to be part of the discussion.

But, to start, a real answer on gun shows would be helpful.

Comments

[UsofA]

I've never been so deeply appalled by the comments of any politician as I was by former Governor Mike Huckabee's today in a speech before the NRA (after McCain): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/16/huckabee-talks-about-some_n_102178.html
It merits immediate condemnation by all Americans. In a healthier world, it would spell the end to his nascent media career.

[StinkyPete]

I haven't been able to find any endorsement of Sen McCain by the NRA or affiliates.
The fact that Sen McCain gave a speech does not imply endorsement or support.

My suspicion is they will remain neutral in the Presidential election and just give their ratings.

[nazcalito]

I've thought for a long time that the Democrats should drop the anti-gun issue, and maybe this time around, they will. The gun laws don't prevent most of the injuries, which occur when some ordinary person buys a gun and then some family member gets hurt, either by accident or in a quarrel. You could probably save lives if you could lock up all the guns and while you're at it, install mandatory radar collision avoidance systems on everyone's private automobile, but it's not going to happen.

[noneIn2008]

Pander he will, with the Double Talk Express.
All the more reason you can not under estimate the threat he poses to Democrats. He has no compass, no principles - so he can say anything, anywhere, anytime.

[BethStuart]

Ah, it's begining to sound like 2004 again. Let's see, how does the Republican campaign phrase go?

Vote Democratic and gay terrorists will move in next door and take your guns away!

[1will]

McCain is not the perfect pro gun candidate but he's better than the anti gun candidates supported by the AHSA.
Despite the efforts of the AHSA to split the gun owning community it's doubtful gun owners will believe Obama or Clinton will support 2nd Amendment rights or appoint 2nd Amendment supporters to the courts.

[NCRESIDENT]

Obama said he supports the second ammendment rights(he studied and taught the constitution and knows it better than Mccain) he just said that guns are getting into the wrong hands hence the massive killings of kids especially black kids. So what he wants to do is make it harder for the criminals to get the guns by putting tighter restrictions on guns. I feel like this, if you are buying guns and you know you are not using it in a wrong way and your background check is clean why are you worrying? It just makes me think you are looking to do worse with the guns. A man who has nothing to fear should not fear the things thrown his way.

[numbnuts]

Your right on money.
Too bad your point is probably falling on deaf ears.

"It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen. "
Oliver Wendell Holmes

[Thirdpower2]

He studied it and thinks the COTUS grants rights. He supports the 2A yet wants to ban all semi-autos and handguns. He supports it yet wants to override the laws of 48 states by banning CCW. He supports it yet supports lawsuits to shut down firearm manufacturers and dealers.

Yep. Nothing to worry about.

[kaveman]

Obama also falsely states that the 1994 AWB was about full-auto machine guns. Here is Obama's policy paper on the 2A as sent from his Oregon campaign HQ.

http://obama.3cdn.net/84b2062fc4a5114715_ftxamv9ot.pdf


What a joke.

[txbyrd]

Well, he has to pander to SOMEBODY.
No one else is listening to him.

[babylonandon]

I can't wait until you guys find out about Huckabee's sense of humor at this convention.

My head hurts already.

Somehow I don't think quipping about Obama hitting the floor at the NRA to avoid getting shot will go over well here.

[txbyrd]

Well, he needs to pander to SOMEONE.
Nobody else seems to be paying much attention to him.

[Cautious]

Maybe he has Cat Scratch Fever.

[AdobePhsyko]

Speaking of which , I think Ted Nugent should be the next Celebrity President of the NRA

[MinuteMan]

The GOP and the NRA use each other. The GOP dislikes peaceful dissent so it's hard to believe they really like the idea that the dissenters might be armed. Look how long it took NRA Life-Member GHW Bush to turn on the NRA once he retired.

For its part, the NRA engages in its own short-sighted realpolitik: they'll support politicians who will shred the Constitution just so long as they leave the 2nd amendment along—though leaving it for the time-being is more likely the case.

Having a background check and even requiring proof of a reasonable safety course (i.e., like one of the many offered by the NRA even) seem like reasonable measures to keep firearms out of the hands of those unsuited to responsibly use them.

[Poli]

Too bad for the firearm-phobics that there is not one single independent academic study showing any gun control law to have had a positive impact at reducing crime including background checks:

See link to CDC report:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5214a2.htm

I guess "common sense" is not so common for those who support gun control.

The NRA does more to provide and promote the safe use of firearms for civilians and law enforcement than any other organization. What does the Brady Campaign provide in this area: nothing.

[DoTheMath]

I hope people are recording all of McCain's speeches during this free-flop period. Since the national focus is still on the Democratic primary, McCain has been taking advantage of the opportunity for targeted serial pandering - telling each audience what it wants to hear without much concern about others hearing it. Fortunately for our side, there's modern technology. Let's not forget to use it, folks.

[waynesmyer]

But! But! "I am not a free-flopper, flop-flipper, Uh, flippy-flop? well, hell, you know what I mean! Why, don't even know what one of them looks like! your next beloved War Presinator, Johnny "Bomb!Bomb!" McCain

[altohone]

McFlipFlop strikes again!

Someone should switch out the Straight Talk Express with Kesey's Furthur bus.
He's clearly had his share of the kool-aid.

[Poli]

Is this really any different than Hillary and Obama claiming they alone deserved the pro-gun vote durning the Pennsylvania primaries? LOL!

Funny, but I don't seem to recall an article here at the Huff bashing those two.

Watching McCain, Clinton, and Obama bash each other while claiming that they deserve the pro-gun vote would be like watching Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell bash each other while claiming that they deserve the pro-gay vote. What a laugh riot!

No position is too hypocritical for any of these candidates if they think there are votes or an advantage to be gained by it.

[JulieSA]

Right, and remember the survey Obama took in which he said he wanted to ban handguns?

He said a staffer filled out the survey, but his handwriting was on it.

[altohone]

Ummm, huh?

1- Nobody's talking about the Dems in this post. Just GOP hypocrisy.
2- pointing out historical fact isn't "bashing".
3- inventing conflicts to justify a diatribe off topic isn't going to help your cause... whatever it is.