Politics

After Backing Rival, NRA Shifts Support To Kemp

September 24th, 2018

In a press release, the NRA praised Brian Kemp as an “unwavering supporter” of the second amendment, echoing a phrase it had previously used to describe Cagle.

John Amis / Associated Press

The National Rifle Association is endorsing Brian Kemp to be Georgia’s next governor.

Earlier this year, the NRA had backed Kemp’s primary opponent, Casey Cagle. The gun group endorsed Cagle after he threatened a Delta Airlines tax break on its behalf.

In its release, the NRA now praises Kemp as an “unwavering supporter” of the second amendment, echoing a phrase it had previously used to describe Cagle.

Before the primary, Kemp had secured the backing of the influential, local gun rights group, Georgia Carry. At their annual meeting last month, Kemp laid out the case against his opponent, Stacey Abrams.

“She voted to seize and take possession of certain firearms in Georgia,” Kemp said, referencing to Abrams’ support for a 2016 bill to ban “certain assault weapons.” “That’s scary, and that’s who’s leading the ticket for the democrats.”

The proposal got no traction in the state legislature.

Abrams stands by her support for the ban, and remains vocal about her distaste for AR-15s.

“If you’ve ever shot an AR-15, that is not a weapon that the average person needs to have,” said Abrams at a town hall in Dalton, Georgia, in August. She was responding to a question about gun confiscation.

However, while that stance represents a potent fear for some gun owners, an assault weapons ban is not currently listed as part of Abrams platform priorities.

Her campaign’s focus includes universal background checks and limiting gun access for domestic abusers, policies the NRA describes in its own language in its endorsement of Kemp: “Abrams supports banning commonly owned firearms as well as criminalizing the private transfer of firearms between lifelong friends and many family members. In addition, she supports removing constitutional rights without adequate due process.”

Abrams touted her low rating from the NRA during an early primary debate.

“I’ve always only gotten D’s and F’s, the only bad grades my parents have ever been proud of,” said Abrams.