Fairfax, Va. – The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is announcing its endorsement of Richard Mourdock for U.S. Senate in the May 8 Indiana Republican primary election.
"Richard Mourdock is committed to protecting our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage," said Chris W. Cox, chairman of NRA-PVF. "Because of his strong support of our rights, Richard Mourdock has earned an "A" rating and endorsement from the NRA-PVF."
Mourdock's opponent, incumbent U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, has opposed the rights of gun owners throughout his career in Congress. As a result, Sen. Lugar is rated "F" by the NRA-PVF.
Lugar refused to join the letters signed by 58 of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle opposing any United Nations Arms Trade Treaty that would restrict civilian firearms ownership. In so doing, Lugar demonstrated his indifference towards subjugating our rights to the whims of foreign governments and international gun ban groups. In contrast, Richard Mourdock would oppose any international gun ban treaty that would restrict our rights.
In addition, Lugar refused to join the historic brief filed before the U.S. Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, signed by 55 U.S. Senators, 250 U.S. House members and Vice-President Cheney; and the historic brief filed before the U.S. Supreme Court in McDonald v. City of Chicago, signed by 58 U.S. Senators and 251 U.S. House members. Those briefs argued that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms for all law-abiding Americans. By failing to join a majority of his colleagues in signing those briefs, Lugar made it clear that he does not believe the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms in Indiana or anywhere else in America. In contrast, Richard Mourdock strongly supports our fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms.
In 2006, during his last race for U.S. Senate, Lugar was endorsed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, a national gun ban group. And last November, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, one of the leading proponents of gun control and co-founder of the anti-gun group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, hosted a fundraiser in Manhattan for Lugar.
"Unlike his opponent, Senator Lugar, who has a clear record of hostility toward our right to keep and bear arms, all gun owners and sportsmen in Indiana can trust that Richard Mourdock will defend their Second Amendment rights," Cox continued. "We urge all NRA members and gun owners in Indiana to vote Richard Mourdock for U.S. Senate in the May 8 Republican primary."
Chris W. Cox is NRA's chief lobbyist. He also serves as chairman of NRA-PVF. The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund is responsible for political candidate rankings. These are based on candidate voting records, public statements and responses to NRA-PVF questionnaires.
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook and on Twitter @NRA.
