JOPLIN, Mo. —
Officials of the National Rifle Association campaigned Friday in Missouri on behalf of Roy Blunt’s run for the U.S. Senate.
Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president, and Chris Cox, the organization’s lobbyist, accompanied the candidate for appearances in Joplin and five other cities to trumpet the candidate’s endorsement by the powerful gun-owners’ organization.
The three were joined in a series of airport stops by Matt Blunt, former Missouri governor and Blunt’s son.
“That they came here personally shows the importance of the race,” said Matt Blunt, a member of the NRA board of directors, during a stop at the Joplin Regional Airport.
Cox said Robin Carnahan, Blunt’s Democrat opponent, will “rubber-stamp” the agenda of President Barack Obama, repeating a theme used in some of Blunt’s campaign advertising.
“She s a radical elitist who 11 years ago led a campaign against allowing good, honest people the right to carry,” Cox said, referring to Carnahan’s leadership role in 1999 against a Missouri ballot measure that would have required law enforcement authorities to issue concealed-weapons permits to eligible people.
A similar measure was approved by the Missouri General Assembly in 2003.
Cox said the NRA also knows that Blunt, if elected to the Senate, would not support “another anti-gun justice to a lifetime appointment” on the Supreme Court.
LaPierre, who is chief NRA spokesman, noted Missouri is among more than 40 states that now have concealed-carry laws. He also said Blunt’s support helped save the American firearms industry by voting for legislation “to end reckless lawsuits” against gun manufacturers.
“Without his help, our military would be buying weapons from other countries,” he said. “He knows the Second Amendment is as important today as it was when the country was founded.”
Linden Zakula, a spokesman for the Carnahan campaign, said the endorsement was an attempt at “distraction from the real issues.”
“Congressman Blunt continues to try and create distractions from his record of waste, corruption and sticking it to the middle class,” he said.
Carnahan’s campaign this week issued a series of releases emphasizing Blunt’s ties to lobbyists.
Roy Blunt, currently a U.S. House member from Missouri’s 7th District, said the Joplin stop marked his 650th event in the Senate campaign. He said people he’s hearing from want more private sector jobs and less government control of health care.
But he mostly stuck to the theme of the day, saying he is a lifelong member of the NRA who is proud to have a 100 percent voting record with the organization.
Blunt’s comments brought applause from supporters who attended the event in the small conference room at the airport. The gathering attracted Republican officials, including state House Speaker Ron Richard, of Joplin; state Rep. Tom Flanigan, of Carthage; and Charlie Davis, of Joplin, who is unopposed for the state House of Representatives.
Blunt called the NRA support “a big deal.”
“There is a 180-degree difference between the candidates in this race, and the NRA makes a difference in Missouri,” he said.
Pedigrees
Roy Blunt has served nearly 14 years in Congress after eight years as Missouri secretary of state. Robin Carnahan is in her second term as secretary of state, first elected in November 2004.
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Flanked by Roy Blunt on Friday at the Joplin Regional Airport, Wayne LaPierre, an executive of the National Rifle Association, talks about why the group supports the candidate in his bid for the U.S. Senate. Globe/T. Rob Brown
Discussion
Blunt brings NRA officials to town for campaign event
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