NRA Backs McCain, But Talks More About Obama

The National Rifle Association announced its endorsement of John McCain in Springfield today, despite differences with him on some gun show rules.

The NRA held a series of news conferences on Thursday, including in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada and here to announce its endorsement of the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket for president and vice president.

NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre says the group and McCain agree on many issues important to the gun lobby. McCain cast more than 60 votes in the Senate in support of the Second Amendment.

The NRA does not always endorse presidential candidates. It backed President George W. Bush but declined to endorse Bob Dole in the 1996 race or President George H.W. Bush in 1992.

The NRA has spent more than $2 million for ads against Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency.

You can watch a clip HERE.

Guns Blazin'

G.O.P. CALLS OBAMA GUN AD UNTRUTHFUL

"No doubt, he's equivocated, backtracked and flip-flopped on the issue," said Missouri Republican strategist Lloyd Smith in a Friday afternoon conference call.

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Smith is questioning a radio ad being run by Barack Obama, which features former Washington Redskin Ray Schoenke. "Barack Obama and John McCain will both make sure we can keep our guns," says Schoenke in the spot.

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"On the issue of the 2nd amendment, Barack Obama has consistently received an F from the N.R.A," said Smith in the call. "He flip flopped on the gun ban in Washington D.C. . . he can't have it both ways . . . He worked against conceal-carry in Illinois . . . His radio ad . . . is nothing more than an untruth at best, and straight out lie at worst."

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Smith also noted that the Supreme Court ruled the D.C. handgun ban "unconstitutional," and that's a position rural Missourians feel "strongly about."

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This is what Obama said, in part, after that handgun ruling:

"As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals."

HERE is some background of Obama's record on guns.

HERE is background on McCain's gun record.

MoGOP Hearts Dem Mike Carter for "Courage"

Democratic candidate for Governor Mike Carter has answered the call.

To the Republican Party, that is.

The Missouri G.O.P. recently called on Democratic candidates to announce whether they support a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the right to bear arms.

It's not like either side takes these calls seriously. It's not like Jay Nixon is going to call Tina Hervey and say, "Yeah, mark me down for supporting the 2nd Amendment."

Yet, Missouri G.O.P. spokesperson Hervey reports that Carter did actually respond.

Yesterday, at 2:41 p.m.

"On behalf of the people of Missouri, I want to applaud Mr. Carter for displaying political courage, something that’s not been seen lately by many of his Democrat colleagues. He was the first to clarify his position on Missourians’ right to bear arms and his action should be commended,” said Hervey in a release. "In an email yesterday, Mr. Carter stated that he has been a proponent of Missourians’ right to carry concealed weapons since the mid-1990s and ‘was happy when Missouri's legislature gave Missourians conceal and carry rights.’"

"Although Mr. Carter’s were not made publicly prior to the Supreme Court ruling, we will give him the benefit of the doubt that his beliefs on this important issue are heartfelt. We also have not been able to find any public statements that would contradict what Mr. Carter stated privately to us," Hervey added.

"For many Democrat politicians it is easy to remain silent and mislead voters but showing political courage is sometimes costly and Mike Carter has chosen to take the path less travelled – we commend him and hope that other Missouri Democrats will have the courage to respond to our challenge. Unfortunately, we suspect most Democrats; particularly those like Sam Page will lie and mislead voters," Hervey said.

"A lot of politicians are trying to change their stripes on this issue and we are outraged by Sam Page’s statements because we have always found him to be staunchly anti-Second Amendment while Lt. Governor Kinder has always been a vocal supporter of our right to bear arms under the Constitution," she added.

See there, and we thought everybody was close to getting along for a second? (Sigh).

Steelman Touts 2nd Amendment, Buys Son A Gun

Missouri State Treasurer Sarah Steelman showed her support for the 2nd Amendment Wednesday by buying her 13-year old son a gun.

“Like most Missourians, I am a strong believer and defender of the Second Amendment, Steelman said. “Hunting and recreational shooting are part of the traditional Missouri values that have been passed on from generation to generation in our state, and my family cherishes these values. As Governor, I will maintain a firm stand against those who seek to oppose our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms," she added in a release.

Steelman purchased her youngest son, Michael, a rifle today for his birthday. Jason Rosenbaum has all the fixings from the event HERE.

Steelman and her family enjoy recreational target shooting and recently visited the shooting range at Springfield’s Bass Pro Shops.

"Castle Doctrine" Fallout in Texas?

Check out this New York Times story:

DALLAS, Sept. 4 — A Texas rock musician was shot to death here early Monday by a neighbor who fired through a closed door, thinking he was scaring off a burglar.

The incident occurred just three days after a new law took effect strengthening the right of Texans to use deadly force to protect themselves and their property.

Missouri adopted a tougher law this year, that allows people who have a reasonable fear of imminent peril or death to use deadly force against the attacker.

As a local TV news guy, it's at least worth pondering . . . Could it happen here?