Important, Documented Second Amendment Information About the Republican Presidential Candidates

Over at Huck's Army, a soldier started an effort to "harvest" e-mail addresses of gun ranges, dealerships, etc., in states that vote on Super Tuesday, so that multiple people could send out e-mails detailing Huckabee's stance and record on the Second Amendment in contrast to Romney's and McCain's.

Here's the e-mail I wrote:

As someone with an invested interest in the unadulterated preservation of the Second Amendment, you have probably noticed that the issue of the right to keep and bear arms has been hoisted onto the backburner in this primary and caucus season. Until Governor Mike Huckabee interrogated Governor Mitt Romney on the issue in one of the recent Republican presidential debates, I can only remember one other time when the topic was last mentioned in a debate, and that question was phrased to ask the candidates if any of them personally owned a gun.

Maybe this is not such a coincidence. Maybe it’s a concerted effort by two of the leading contenders for the Republican nomination: John McCain and Mitt Romney. Neither the Senator from Arizona nor the former governor of Massachusetts can tout impressive records on defending your right to keep and bear arms. In reality, the case is quite to the contrary.

Although he tap-dances around the issue now, Mitt Romney’s record shows that he supported the Brady Bill and a ban on so-called "assault" weapons. In fact, Romney signed into legislation a permanent ban on assault weapons. Moreover, when running for governor of Massachusetts, he said that he supported and promised not to "chip away" at Massachusetts’ strict gun restrictions. In one debate, he admitted that he does not even personally own a gun (He uses one of his son’s.). That’s certainly not a sin; but it’s not too reassuring coupled with his shabby record. Then, there’s the gaffe when Mitt called himself a "lifelong hunter," though his campaign later admitted that he may have only ever been hunting twice or so. He joined the NRA and became a "lifelong member" in 2006. Interestingly enough, that’s about the time he would have been considering running for President--as a "conservative."

John McCain also attempts to portray himself as a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, yet he and his "maverick" mentality have wandered into anti-gun territory multiple times, so much so that the Gun Owners of America gave him an "F" grade in 2004 and 2006 and called his record "Abysmal, wretched, and pathetic." GOA goes on to say that McCain supported "initiatives to severely regulate gun shows and register gun buyers"; he advocated laws that would require you to keep your guns locked up at home; and he introduced a compromise bill of gun show regulations.

Furthermore, the restrictions McCain helped put on political free speech affect Second Amendment activists.

In stark contrast stands Mike Huckabee, a consistent, adamant supporter of your constitutional right to keep and bear arms. He doesn’t have to hide any Second Amendment skeletons in his campaign closet, because he has none. The Gun Owners of America says that Huckabee "has proven himself to be a steadfast friend to gun owners and the Second Amendment."

Who are you going to support? Will you vote for a candidate who talks the talk and walks the walk...today...but hasn’t in the past? Will you vote for a candidate who’s been misleading? Or will you vote for the candidate who has persistently and consistently been a proponent and a protector of your right to protect yourself?

The mainstream media is trying to convince everyone that Mike Huckabee has no chance of winning. Don't believe them! He's running very well in many of the February 5th states. Stand up for principle! Stand up for the Second Amendment!

Thank you for your time.

p.s. Here is the documentation for the information in this e-mail:

Mike Huckabee on the Second Amendment: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=18

Gun Owners of America on Mike Huckabee: http://gunowners.org/pres08/huckabee.htm

Gun Owners of America on John McCain: http://gunowners.org/pres08/mccain.htm

Gun Owners Rating of John McCain: http://www.gunowners.org/mccaintb.htm

Gun Owners: "Abysmal, wretched, and pathetic" comment: http://www.gunowners.org/mccaintb.htm

Gun Owners of America on Mitt Romney: http://gunowners.org/pres08/romney.htm

Romney’s "chip away" comment: http://gunowners.org/pres08/romney.htm

Romney expressing support of Massachusetts laws: http://gunowners.org/pres08/romney.htm

Romney’s "lifelong hunting": http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3013787

Romney’s "lifetime" NRA membership (see last line of story): http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3013787http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=when+did+Romney+join+the+NRA&btnG=Google+Search

Romney’s lack of actual gun ownership: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/14/romney_retreats_on_gun_control/?page=2

Romney signs permanent assault weapons ban: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/14/romney_retreats_on_gun_control/?page=2http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Romney+sign+assault+weapon+ban&btnG=Google+Search