John Eaves is a Real Sportsman (WAPT)

Eaves: I Love Guns (And Hunting) More Than My Opponent

I disagree with the gun positions of both candidates, but here is the Eaves Campaign's rather good response to the NRA endorsement of Haley:

EAVES HAS “A” RATING FROM NRA

Democratic candidate for Governor John Eaves has an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, but unlike his opponent Eaves cleaned and skinned four deer last hunting season.

“I let my boys pull the trigger but then I did all the work,” said Eaves. “I’ve spent more than thirty years in duck blinds and deer stands and one of my biggest joys in life has been passing on that tradition to my four boys. I think we’ve got enough gun laws on the books and as Governor’s I’ll fight to protect our 2nd Amendment rights every day.”

Governor Haley Barbour received the endorsement of the NRA today, but it’s unclear when Barbour last fired a gun.

“I’ll bet Barbour has to rent guns when he goes out tame bird hunting with his good pal Giuliani, who as Mayor of New York City sued gun manufactures and infringed on people’s right to bear arms,” said Sharon Garrison, spokeswoman for Eaves. “If you measure a man by the company he keeps, Barbour and Giuliani could be the Laverne and Shirley of gun control.”



Eaves also said that as Governor he would fight to protect the rights of property owners, who under Barbour’s administration have seen rollbacks in their ability to hunt on their own land. For example, Jackson County passed an ordinance forbidding individuals from discharging a firearm on any tract of land less than ten acres in size.

Eaves said he strongly supports the mission of the NRA but touted the support of several Mississippi hunting organizations, promising to support their interests first.

“I don’t care who Barbour brings down from D.C., whether it’s Giuliani or all the friends from his lobbying firm,” continued Eaves. “If Giuliani gets elected President, gun owners ought to be shaking in their boots. I’ll serve the people of Mississippi and no one else.”

Eaves is an avid gun collector with over 30 guns he regularly uses for sport and hunting, ranging from the 16 gauge his grandfather gave him to his Colt AR 15. John has a lifetime gun license, and an extensive list of his collection follows.

Barbour to Recieve Endorsement from Extremist Republican Gun Group

The NRA ia going to endorse Haley Barbour today.

Whatever.

If you look at their history of endorsement you'll see that they almost always endorse Republicans.

Even when they endorse Democrats, like they did Musgrove, officials also issue letters supporting the Republican without any consequences effectively negating the endorsement.

Their endorsement of Democrats is usually simply that while they will often do independent expenditures on behalf of Republicans. An example is the lack of support following the gubernatorial endorsement in 2003 while doing a sizable expenditure on behalf of Scott Newton against Jim Hood in that same year.

So as Republicans crow about another group that almost exclusively endorses Republicans remember that this is a group that opposes the sale of automatic, assault weapons on the open market and opposes basic background background checks at gun shows that would make it more difficult for criminals and terrorists to acquire weapons.