Today is Election Day, and while there are only two states with legislative elections, there are still plenty of races on ballots around the country that could have a big impact on gun owners.
In Virginia, every seat in the state legislature is up for grabs, and gun control groups have been pouring millions of dollars in advertising into more than a dozen races in both chambers, hoping to flip just a couple of seats in the state House and Senate. If anti-gun groups are successful, Virginia could soon see new gun control laws like a so-called “assault weapons ban”, a ban on magazines over 10-rounds, gun rationing, a “red flag” law, and more.
New Jersey is also holding statewide elections today, and while anti-gun politicians have a veto-proof majority in the legislature, Republicans are hoping to claw back a couple of seats in the state Assembly in what they’re calling the “Murphy Midterms”. Anti-gun governor Phil Murphy has been in office for two years, and the NJ GOP is hoping that today will be a referendum on the governor. There’s also a special election for a state Senate seat in south Jersey, and although the Democrat candidate has seen a double digit lead in the few polls that have been conducted, he’s also running far to the right of most Democrats in the state, even stating that he could vote for Donald Trump for president in 2020.
In Kentucky, voters will decide if Governor Matt Bevin will remain in office or if he’ll be replaced by Democrat Attorney General Andy Beshear. President Trump was in the state on Monday evening for a pre-election rally in support of Bevin, and the president told the crowd that Beshear is a “major lefty” who’s too extreme for Kentucky, while Governor Bevin specifically called out Beshear for his backing of “red flag” legislation. Bevin signed Kentucky’s permitless carry bill into law, while his opponent has been non-supportive of the measure, though he hasn’t publicly talked about attempting to repeal the new law.
Mississippi will also pick its next governor today, and Vice-President Mike Pence was in the state on Monday to push for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tate Reeves.
Lt. Gov. Reeves faces Democratic longtime Attorney General Jim Hood in a competitive race between the two candidates, closer than any state governor contest since 2003, most political observers believe.
“Jim Hood doesn’t represent the values of Mississippi, so Mississippi needs to say no to Jim Hood and yes to Tate Reeves tomorrow,” Pence told a crowd of about 500.
The Reeves campaign hopes the visit by Pence will get voters to the polls Tuesday.
“… Remember to vote, take a friend and tell them about this good man Tate Reeves,” Pence said. “We need Tate Reeves to be the next great governor of Mississippi. He’ll make a great governor because he has Mississippi running through his veins.”
Reeves recently released a campaign ad attacking his Democrat opponent for being soft on the Second Amendment and the Castle Doctrine.
Mississippi’s Castle Doctrine law states that you have the right to defend your home by any force necessary. Hood opposed the law when it passed, but lied about his position on the Castle Doctrine in the WJTV debate in Hattiesburg. Hood traveled to Geneva, Switzerland in order to testify before the United Nations Human Rights Committee regarding the implementation of treaty obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. While there, he took the opportunity to trash Mississippi’s Castle Doctrine law. He also sat for an interview with ultra-liberal journalist Dan Rather—on the show Dan Rather Reports—where he accused Mississippians of supporting the law because it was “testosterone-induced” and a “get-out-of-jail-free card.”
“Jim Hood is lying to try to hide his record of opposing the right to self defense in Mississippi —just like he’s lied throughout this race. He vehemently opposed Mississippi’s self-defense protection and now he wants you not to believe your own eyes. See for yourself. It’s a pathetic attempt to deceive Mississippi voters,” said Lt. Governor Tate Reeves.
There are also local elections being held around the country, so no matter where you live, the chances are that there are important races that gun owners need to be a part of. I hope you’ll head to the polls today to cast your vote in defense of individual liberty and the right to keep and bear arms.
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