Second amendment rights on the line with Doug Jones U.S. Senate reelection bid
On March 21, 2018, newly elected U.S. Senator Doug Jones gave his first-floor speech. The topic of his speech most certainly was one that is rarely heard from members of the Alabama delegation in either chamber – his support of gun control and restrictions on the nation’s Second Amendment rights. According to an NPR story, Jones said he was supportive of efforts that were discussed and later implemented after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, including, “moving to ban bump stocks that can convert guns into automatic-style weapons, efforts to strengthen the background check system.” He went on to say those restrictions weren’t enough. Jones “proposed making background checks universal, including on internet sales, at gun shows and even private sales, as well as implementing three-day waiting periods.” Jones has since tried to reframe his speech and its purpose. A Yellow Hammer news story cross-referenced his senate speech with an interview with Al.Com. In his speech, Jones said, “So while I know that guns and gun control are difficult issues for this country, I can tell you they’re complicated for me, too.” In his interview with Al.com, he backtracked, saying, “I didn’t make a speech about gun control. I made a speech about gun safety.” Doug Jones attracted the attention of NRA-ILA and its members when the national organization called upon him to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Jones voted against Kavanaugh’s confirmation. A recent Ammoland editorial by Harold Hutchinson laid out additional arguments for electing Republican Tommy Tuberville over Jones. Electing Tuberville would help give Republicans an advantage in the Senate. He goes on to explain, “Jones did sign on to a version of the “For The People Act,” which for all intents and purposes he says is intended to silence grassroots opposition to left-wing politicians and causes, like gun control.” Hutchinson also noted in his piece that “Along with control of the Senate, the need for a Republican advantage lies in the ability to fill judicial vacancies. The next elected president will possibly fill the vacancies of judges like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, or Clarence Thomas. Donald Trump will certainly continue to nominate pro-Second Amendment judges, and if the Senate majority narrows, the nomination and confirmation of these judges could be stopped.” In contrast, Tuberville has openly stated his support for the Second Amendment. On his campaign website, Tuberville states, “While we are fighting out-of-touch liberals to protect life and liberty, we must also stand up for the time-honored traditions we hold dear in Alabama. Being a sportsman has always been a part of my life. That is why I will always vote to protect and preserve our Second Amendment rights.” In an interview with the Daily Mountain Eagle, Tuberville said, “A mental health plan is needed to address the mass shootings in the nation.” He added it once had one. Now he says the plan is to release prisoners to the streets. “There is not a gun problem. It is a people problem,” he said. “There’s been guns here forever. I’m not for any form or fashion of gun control. They’re are not taking my guns, because what happens is they are not looking to take guns because you want to hunt and do some casual shooting or target practice. They want to take your guns away so they can control you. In this country, we cannot do that. The Second Amendment says we are allowed to bear arms.” The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) endorsed Tuberville over Jones. Dudley Brown, a NAGR-PAC chairman, made a statement to Yellowhammer News. “Tommy Tuberville scored a perfect 100% on the NAGR survey and has pledged to support the Second Amendment and fight back against illegal gun grabs as a member of the U.S. Senate.”
Doug Jones town hall meeting dominated by Supreme Court discussion
U.S. Senator Doug Jones hosted his second town hall meeting since his special election victory in December on Monday night, but the conversation over the course of the evening remained fixated on one topic: whether or not Jones will confirm President Donald Trump‘s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. “I am doing a lot of work on the Supreme Court nominee,” Jones told the crowd, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. “He will be there for life twenty, thirty years, maybe more, we do not know.” One constituent told Jones that most Alabamians support Kavanaugh and asked how he could vote in opposition to the majority of his constituents. “I am going to exercise an independent view,” Jones responded according to the Alabama Political Reporter. “Most of those constituent views are based on 30 second TV ads. My vote is going to be based on what I believe. I am going to be an independent voice for Alabama and that is what I intend to do come Hell or high water.” Several organizations have called on Jones to both support and vote against Kavanaugh. Last week, the National Rifle Association’s political arm the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) posted a video asking voters to tell Jones they support Kavanaugh by signing a pledge on their website. In July, Organizing for America emailed Alabama democrats asking them to reach out to Jones to urge him to vote against Kavanaugh. Jones previously stated he would keep an open mind on the issue and that those groups airing ads were wasting their time. “I’m not worried about the ads. I tell folks, ‘Ads on both sides, they are really wasting their money.’ I have a process I’m going through to do what I think is my job and ads from interest groups really don’t mean that much to me at all,” Jones told the Associated Press.
NRA-ILA ask members to show Doug Jones their support of Brett Kavanaugh
The National Rifle Association’s political arm the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is joining the many voices calling for U.S. Senator Doug Jones to support Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump‘s nominee to the U.S Supreme Court. Alabama’s senior senator Richard Shelby announced his support last week saying, “After speaking with Judge Brett Kavanaugh, I am confident that he is principled, intelligent, and a steadfast supporter of the rule of law,” said Shelby. “He is highly-qualified for this role and exhibits strong, conservative values and an unwavering commitment to our Constitution. I have no doubt that Judge Kavanaugh will uphold the principles on which our nation was founded. “Confirming Judge Kavanaugh is one of the most important things we will do during this Congress. I look forward to supporting his nomination to serve on our nation’s highest court, and I urge my colleagues to do the same,” Shelby continued.” Jones has previously said he was keeping an open mind on if he’d support or oppose the candidate. Since then he’s received pressure from both sides of the fight including from Obama’s own “Organizing for America” who weighed in asking Jones to oppose the nomination. The NRA-ILA is asking people to sign the following pledge which can be found on their website: Federal: Contact Your Senator and Urge Them to Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court. The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh is a major step in securing a pro-Second Amendment majority on the Supreme Court for a generation. Let your U.S. Senators know that you support the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and that you, along with the NRA’s six million members and tens of millions of Second Amendment supporters, will be watching the confirmation process closely. We have a responsibility to secure our right to self-defense as well as protect the Second Amendment rights of future generations. Sen. Chuck Schumer and the gun control lobby have vowed to prevent Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation. That is why we need you and every pro-Second Amendment supporter to contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. What you need to know about Brett Kavanaugh: He will faithfully execute his oath to the Constitution and protect our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. He is an outstanding choice to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat on the Court. He has demonstrated his clear belief that the Constitution should be applied as the framers intended. He has supported the fundamental, individual right to self-defense embraced by Justice Antonin Scalia in the historic Heller decision. In 2011, he filed a dissenting opinion in a case challenging D.C.’s “assault weapon” ban and restrictive firearm registration requirement. In a well-reasoned opinion closely following the Supreme Court’s guidance in Heller, he found both the ban and registration requirement to be unconstitutional. In 2016, he voted to leave in place an order striking down D.C.’s restrictive carry law. In 2017, he voted to leave in place a panel decision that found D.C.’s “may-issue” carry law violated the Second Amendment. This vote led to D.C. adopting its current “shall-issue” concealed carry process. Judge Kavanaugh has an extensive and impressive legal resume. He completed his undergraduate and law degree at Yale University, clerked on the Supreme Court and served in the Bush administration. Throughout his career, Kavanaugh has fostered and built lasting relationships with key conservative figures who fight to protect and defend the Second Amendment. Tell your U.S. Senators you will be watching how they vote on this nomination and will be keeping their vote in mind when deciding how to cast your vote in the next election! Encourage your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to contact their senators as well.
NRA urges Alabamians to call legislators in support of gun bills
Two bills currently under consideration by the Alabama Legislature are receiving special attention from the National Rifle Association’s political action arm, the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). The pro-gun group is urging its Alabama members to contact their state representatives and senators in support of the bills over the next week and a half during the legislature’s spring break. The first of the bills, SB 14 sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, would allow Alabamians without certain criminal records to carry pistols, “without a license on property under his or 14 her control, in his or her vehicle, in his or her 15 place of abode, in his or her fixed place of 16 business, and on the property of another or a 17 vehicle owned by another, with consent.” While Alabama is a so-called “Open Carry” state, meaning citizens over the age of 18 may legally carry a holstered firearm unconcealed without a permit, under current law a gun is considered concealed as soon as an open carrier steps into his or her vehicle, requiring a permit issued by their county’s sheriff. The NRA-ILA and other proponents of the bill argue current law constitutes an undue burden on the Second Amendment rights of Alabamians. The most vocal opponents of the bill thus far have been from the sheriffs themselves, who argue that allowing those without permits to carry weapons in their vehicles would put their deputies in danger. “The only thing we’re saying is every time we turn around an officer is being killed just because he’s wearing a badge,” said Alabama Sheriffs Association executive director Bobby Timmons during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. “What is a life worth?” The bill was eventually OK’d by the committee on a 6-3 vote. The second bill, SB 304 sponsored by powerful Rules Committee chairman Sen. Jabo Wagonner, would allow Alabamians to obtain their concealed carry permit in any county in the state. Currently, although the sheriffs of each of Alabama’s 67 counties are required to remit permits to any law-abiding citizen who applies, the fees charged by their offices can vary widely. “A CWL (concealed weapons license) issued in Jefferson County ($7.50 a year) confers the exact same right across the state as a CWL issued in Baldwin County ($25.00 a year),” argued the NRA-ILA in a recent action alert. “Yet, over a 5-year period those rights cost approximately $85.00 more in Baldwin County. The permittee receives no additional benefit for this more expensive permit. As a result, the counties that charge excessive fees are simply generating revenue from a small group of law-abiding residents.” SB 304 sailed through its hearing in the committee for Governmental Affairs, earning a unanimous vote for favorable report. While the two bills may appear a sure thing, with their up swell of support from one of the nation’s most powerful political outfits and sponsorships from some of the Alabama Senate’s most senior members, similar bills have been handily defeated after outrage from the Sheriffs Association and other law enforcement groups. The legislature will reconvene on April 5.
