Questions as NRA Endorses McCabe

The Political Victory Fund of the National Rifle Association (of which I am a life member) recently released its grades and endorsements of West Virginia legislative candidates. A few surprises can always be found, but none was more shocking than what I saw in the 17th Senate District.

In the 17th, the NRA endorsed Senator Brooks McCabe, D-Kanawha, over former Delegate Ann Calvert, R-Kanawha. This occurred even though Calvert won an "A" rating and is a tremendously viable candidate and McCabe won a "B" rating this year after being F-rated in 2002 when the NRA endorsed his opponent, then first-time candidate Patrick Lane, who was subsequently elected to the House of Delegates in 2004.

Brooks McCabe is one of two anti-gun senators in the West Virginia Senate; the other is fellow Kanawha County Senator Dan Foster, who was elected in 2004. Approximately 7 years ago, the Legislature passed a state preemption law that prohibited counties and municipalities imposing local gun control laws. This followed Charleston enacting a one handgun per month purchase limit and serious consideration of a similar proposal in Huntington.

The NRA's 2006 West Virginia legislative candidate ratings & endorsements can be found here.

The NRA's 2002 West Virginia legislative candidate ratings & endorsements can be found here.