The NRA weighs in on Arkansas races

I got my National Rifle Association magazine last week and it included the NRA candidate endorsements for Arkansas.

They use a grading system that takes into account a candidate’s responses to an NRA questionnaire and their voting record, if any, on gun rights issues.

The grading system:

A+ A legislator with not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment.

A  Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.

AQ  A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate’s NRA questionnaire responses and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.

B A generally pro-gun candidate. However, a “B” candidate may have opposed some pro-gun reform or supported some restrictive legislation in the past.

C Not necessarily a passing grad. A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues who may oppose some pro-gun positions or support some restrictive legislation

D An anti-gun candidate who usually supports restrictive gun control legislation and opposes pro-gun reforms. Regardless of public statements, can usually be counted to vote wrong on key issues.

F True enemy of gun owners’ rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owner’s rights and/or actively leads anti-gun legislative efforts or sponsors anti-gun legislation.

? Refused to answer the questionnaire, suggesting indifference or hostility to the rights of gun owners and sportsmen.

So here’s how the candidates line up. You might think all of the endorsements are for Republicans, but that’s not the case.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Boozman gets an A, while incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln rates a D+.

In the race to replace Dist. 1 Congressman Marion Berry, Republican Rick Crawford and Democrat Chad Causey both have an AQ rating, since neither has a voting record.

Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, gets an A-, and his GOP challenger Jim Keet rates a B+.

Democrat Lieutenant Governor candidate Shane Broadway earns an A. His Republican opponent, Mark Darr didn’t return his questionnaire and gets a ?

Atty. Gen Dustin McDaniel gets an A.

In the Secretary of State race, Republican Mark Martin has an A rating, compared with Democrat Pat O’Brien’s B.

In the District 75 Arkansas House of Representatives race that involves Jonesboro, the NRA likes Republican Jon Hubbard with an AQ, compared with incumbent Democrat Joan Cash’s C+.

Up here on the Ridge in District 76, it’s a toss-up between Republican Jim Martin and Democrat Homer Lenderman, both of whom rate an AQ.