State Senate candidate Dave Renzi touted an endorsement from the National Rifle Association today. His opponent, incumbent Senator Darrel Aubertine, sent out a statement demonstrating his support for gun owners’ rights. Their press releases are presented below, in full. Renzi’s is first:
—————–
Renzi Gets An ‘A’ — And Endorsement — From NRA
Dave Renzi today announced he has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association — which gave him its highest rating and called him the only “solidly pro-gun candidate” in the 48th District State Senate race.
Darrel Aubertine, meanwhile, was ranked in the lowest third of senators. Only one Upstate Senator earned a lower grade.
“As a gun owner and lifetime outdoorsman, I believe that responsible gun ownership is part of our Upstate way of life,” said Renzi, who made the announcement surrounded by fellow gun owners at the Watertown Gun Club.
“I am thrilled to have received the NRA’s support and recognition for my strongly held beliefs and, as Senator, I promise that I will stand up to efforts by downstate interests to limit our use and enjoyment of our firearms.”
Renzi’s “A” rating recognizes his “strong and vocal support of our Right to Keep and Bear Arms,” the NRA said.
Renzi said the group’s support was critical because gun owners rights are threatened by a possible shift in political control of the State Senate. As evidence, he cited a list of bills — most of which already were passed by the Assembly — that will likely become law if Democrats gain control of the Senate.
“These bills are themselves serious threats to our right of gun ownership, but they represent just the tip of the iceberg,” Renzi said. “My opponent wasn’t able to stop them from passing during his five years in the Democrat-led Assembly and there no reason to believe he will stand up to his downstate bosses to stop them in the Senate.”
The list of bills cited by Renzi is attached.
————–
Aubertine’s statement, from his press office:
————–
“As a gun owner and hunter myself, I have a long record of supporting the rights of gun owners and that record has earned an A rating with the NRA over the years. I worked effectively to gain bi-partisan support for the junior hunter mentoring bill and I will continue to demonstrate to my colleagues the importance of hunting and gun rights, not only in Central and Northern New York, but throughout the state.”–state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine
Background from Drew Mangione: Darrel built support as an Assemblyman for a junior hunter mentoring program, which he co-sponsored in the Senate and later took his name off, to avoid having the bill get caught up in partisan political games. The senator will continue to be a voice within the Democratic Party working to make sure people understand gun rights. Not only did the hunter bill pass the Assembly, but 28 out of Darrel’s 29 (with Darrel, that made it 29 of 30) Democratic colleagues supported it in the Senate. It passed 61-1.
missing or outdated ad config