Highlights:
- JD Vance flip-flopped on his support for red flag laws.
- In 2018, before running for Senate, Vance supported red flag laws.
- In 2022, Vance criticized red flag laws.
- Vance repeatedly attacked red flag laws and other common sense gun safety measures in the wake of the Uvalde mass shooting.
- JD Vance opposed gun safety measures.
- Vance repeatedly attacked efforts by the Biden administration to reduce gun violence.
- Vance suggested the Biden administration was full of “gun grabbers.”
- Vance called Biden’s actions to fight gun violence “the worst kind of political showmanship.”
- Vance said Democrats who supported gun safety measures were using “hysterical attacks” to gain power.
- Vance opposed enhancing background checks for gun purchases.
- Vance opposed an effort to ban bump stocks.
- Vance opposed a ban on ghost guns.
- Vance voted to disapprove of a firearm brace rule.
- The resolution would have overturned a Biden administration rule that tightened regulations on pistol braces.
- The Biden administration rule required gun owners to register pistols with braces, or be required to surrender the firearm or remove the brace.
- Supporters of the Biden administration rule argued it was necessary after pistol braces were used in several mass shootings.
- The resolution would have overturned a Biden administration rule that tightened regulations on pistol braces.
- Vance opposed a bipartisan gun safety package.
- Vance said the legislation would be a “slippery slope.”
- The legislation enhanced background checks.
- The legislation included increased penalties for gun trafficking and expanded prohibitions on domestic abusers obtaining guns.
- The legislation expanded community mental health services.
- Vance called to abolish the ATF.
- Vance repeatedly attacked efforts by the Biden administration to reduce gun violence.
- JD Vance opposed the right of private businesses to set their own policies on gun ownership or purchases.
- Vance argued that Blackrock and payment processors making it more difficult to purchase guns was an “unholy alliance between government and business.”
- JD Vance refused to blame guns for gun violence.
- Vance issued a statement opposing “gun confiscation” immediately following the Uvalde massacre.
- Vance suggested school entry points, not guns, should be the post-Uvalde focus.
- Vance blamed gun violence on other potential causes than guns, including population density, social media, and “fatherlessness and drug addiction.”
- Vance issued a statement opposing “gun confiscation” immediately following the Uvalde massacre.
- JD Vance campaign on a stark pro-gun image.
- Vance campaigned at gun shows and shooting ranges.
- JD Vance received endorsements and “A” ratings from gun rights groups.
¶ Vance Flip-Flopped On His Support For Red Flag Laws
¶ 2018: Before Running For U.S. Senate, Vance Supported Red Flag Laws
2018: Vance Supported Red Flag Gun Laws, Arguing, “We Should Make It Easier To Take Those Guns Out Of The Hands Of People Who Are About To Use Them To Murder Large Numbers Of People.” According to the American Journal News, “The author and venture capitalist appeared at a March 2018 Darke County Republican Party dinner as the featured speaker. According to a local newspaper report on the event, Vance appeared to endorse new laws to disarm those who are an imminent danger to others. ‘We should make it easier to take those guns out of the hands of people who are about to use them to murder large numbers of people,’ he argued at the time. ‘We've got to have the right balance between protecting citizens, protecting our schools, and protecting the kids that go to them, but also protecting our really important and fundamental constitutional liberty.’” [American Journal News, 3/21/22]
¶ 2022: Vance Criticized Red Flag Laws
2022: Vance Spoke Out Against Red Flag Laws. According to the American Journal News, “Vance's campaign issues page contains similar language. ‘Joe Biden and anti-democracy multinational companies are trying to find new ways to take guns away from law-abiding citizens. They're making it harder to buy firearms and ammunition, and imposing new, unconstitutional regulations on American citizens,’ Vance's campaign website reads. ‘I will fight the gun grabbers, whether they're federal bureaucrats enacting regulations or multinational companies punishing people for exercising their rights.’” [American Journal News, 3/21/22]
¶ Vance Repeatedly Attacked Red Flag Laws And Other Common Sense Gun Safety Measures In The Wake Of The Uvalde Mass Shooting
In Response To A Post From Biden Promoting Common Sense Gun Safety Legislation, Including Red Flag Laws, Vance Tweeted, “None Of These Would Improve The Gun Violence In This Country.” According to a tweet from JD Vance, “None of these would improve the gun violence problem in this country. All of them satisfy the urge to ‘do something’ without actually doing anything useful, at great cost to the rights of people who follow the law. Let's take just one example, ‘red flag’ laws.” [Twitter, @JDVance1, 6/2/22]
Vance Claimed That Red Flag Laws Infringed On The Liberty Of Law-Abiding Citizens. According to a tweet from JD Vance, “So all of us agree that we don't want insane people to go and buy a gun and kill people. The question is how to actually accomplish that goal. Importantly, it's already a violation of federal law to sell a gun to a crazy person. So what do red flag laws do? They allow the government to eliminate peoples' rights without any due process. Say your neighbor calls the police and says you're a bad guy who's about to commit a crime? Or maybe your ex complains about you after an argument? Now the cops can show up and remove your firearms.” [Twitter, @JDVance1, 6/2/22]
Vance Suggested, “We Need To Be Willing To Institutionalize People More” As A Solution To Gun Violence, Claiming, “That Would Be Far More Effective Than Any ‘Red Flag’ Law.” According to a tweet from JD Vance, “Yet we need to be willing to institutionalize people more, both to clean up our streets and also to help some obviously very sick people. That would be far more effective than any ‘red flag’ law. And we'd respect important rights in the process.” [Twitter, @JDVance1, 6/2/22]
¶ Vance Opposed Gun Violence Prevention Measures
VANCE REPEATEDLY ATTACKED EFFORTS BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE
¶ Vance Suggested The Biden Administration Was Full Of “Gun Grabbers”
Vance Criticized The Biden Administration For Elevating A “Gun-Grabber” To Lead The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, And Firearms. According to the Columbus Dispatch Op-Ed by J.D. Vance, “That’s why the Biden Administration’s dull attempts to curb gun violence don’t work and they threaten the very foundation of the rights we are afforded as free, American citizens. Last week, Biden propped up a well-known gun critic to take the helm at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. David Chipman is the worst kind of gun-grabber: uninterested in people’s rights or whether gun seizures even work. In the past, organizations Chipman has represented have argued that the Second Amendment doesn’t even apply to handguns, something that would have surely surprised our handgun-owning founding fathers.” [Op-Ed By J.D. Vance - Columbus Dispatch, 7/20/21]
Vance Pledged To Fight The Biden Administration And “Gun Grabbers.” According to Vance’s Campaign Website, “Joe Biden and anti-democracy multinational companies are trying to find new ways to take guns away from law-abiding citizens. They’re making it harder to buy firearms and ammunition, and imposing new, unconstitutional regulations on American citizens. I will fight the gun grabbers, whether they’re federal bureaucrats enacting regulations or multinational companies punishing people for exercising their rights. When a payments processor attempts to restrict Americans from buying firearms or ammunition, I’ll push back with federal legislation.” [Vance’s Campaign Website, accessed 6/29/22]
Vance: “Biden Is The Worst Gun Grabber In Decades. Between This And The Illegal ATF Database, He’s Declared War On The Second Amendment.” According to Vance’s Twitter, “Biden is the worst gun grabber in decades. Between this and the illegal ATF database, he’s declared war on the Second Amendment.” [Twitter - @JDVance1, 2/3/22]
¶ Vance Claimed Biden’s Actions To Fight Gun Violence Were “The Worst Kind Of Political Showmanship”
Vance Claimed Biden’s Executive Orders On Guns Were “The Worst Kind Of Political Showmanship.” According to the Columbus Dispatch Op-Ed by J.D. Vance, “That’s why the Biden Administration’s dull attempts to curb gun violence don’t work and they threaten the very foundation of the rights we are afforded as free, American citizens. […] Biden has also pushed for executive orders that would restrict ‘ghost guns’ and certain types of firearm braces. This is the worst kind of political showmanship: these restrictions will make it harder for law-abiding Ohioans to exercise their Second Amendment rights and neither will have even a small effect on gun violence in our country.” [Op-Ed By J.D. Vance - Columbus Dispatch, 7/20/21]
¶ Vance Said Democrats Who Supported Gun Safety Measures Were Using “Hysterical Attacks” To Gain Power
AUDIO: Vance Was Against Gun Safety Measures To Prevent Mass Shootings, And Accused Democrats Of Willing To Use “Hysterical Attacks” And Demonization To Get More Power. According to the Mark Blazer Show via SoundCloud, “VANCE: If these guys want to have a gun control debate, that’s fine. I don’t think that gun confiscation and gun control is the solution to what we saw in Texas. But fine, if we want to have that debate, we can have that debate. But they’re going much further than that. They’re demonizing every single person in this country who happens to believe in the Second Amendment. You know, if you’re a Republican, blood is on your hands, this is all your fault. You saw that when Beto, you know, stood up grandstanding in front of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. So, these guys, it’s not just that they disagree on a particular policy solution. The problem is that they’re willing to use hysterical attacks and demonization to get what they want, which is more power.” [Mark Blazer Show via SoundCloud, 5/26/22]
¶ Vance Opposed Enhancing Background Checks
Vance Argued Against Enhancing The Background Check System For Gun Purchases. According to WKBN, “Vance and Ryan also gave insight into their views on gun control. ‘Way too many people who are suffering severe mental health problems have no access to the treatment they need,’ said Vance. ‘The background check system does need a lot of work but with the laws that are already in place and with their enforcement not with additional laws…they had multiple felonies and passed a background check. That suggests the problem is not the background system needs to be enhanced, but the background check system needs to be fixed.’” [WKBN, 6/22/22]
¶ Vance Opposed An Effort To Ban Bump Stocks
Vance Called An Effort To Reinstate A Ban On Bump Stocks “A Huge Distraction.” According to The Hill, “Senate Democrats are making a push this week to ban bump stocks after the Supreme Court overturned a Trump-era federal rule that banned the device, which allows semiautomatic weapons to fire off hundreds of rounds per minute. ‘I think it’s a huge distraction,’ said Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), who is believed to be on Trump’s shortlist to be his running mate. ‘This is week three of Chuck Schumer focusing on fake problems instead of real problems.’” [The Hill, 6/17/24]
¶ Vance Opposed A Ban On Ghost Guns
Vance Spoke Out Against A Biden Administration Effort To Ban Ghost Gun Kits. JD Vance tweeted, “The Constitution would like a word...” [Twitter - @JDVance1, 4/11/22]
¶ Vance Voted To Disapprove Of A Firearm Brace Rule
2023: Vance Voted To Disapprove Of A Rule From The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, And Explosives That Expanded The Definition Of “Short-Barreled Rifle” To Include A Pistol With A Stabilizing Brace. In June 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Vance voted for a joint resolution that would “provide for congressional disapproval of the January 2023 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives rule that expands the definition of a ‘short-barreled rifle’ to include a pistol equipped with a stabilizing brace attachment. The rule also subjects such firearms to heightened regulations under the National Firearms Act, including taxation, identification and registration requirements, and as of May 31, 2023 required owners to register, modify or destroy such firearms. Under the provisions of the joint resolution, the ATF rule would have no force or effect.” The vote was on passage. The Senate rejected the joint resolution by a vote of 49 to 50. [Senate Vote 171, 6/22/23; Congressional Quarterly, 6/22/23; Congressional Actions, H.J. Res. 44]
¶ The Resolution Would Have Overturned A Biden Administration Rule That Tightened Regulations On Pistol Braces
The Resolution Would Overturn A Biden Administration Rule That Tightened Federal Regulations On Pistol Braces. According to Congressional Quarterly, “House Republicans passed a joint resolution Tuesday that would overturn the Biden administration’s rule to tighten federal regulations on pistol braces, an effort that faces a veto threat from President Joe Biden.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/13/23]
¶ The Biden Administration Rule Required Gun Owners To Register Pistols With Braces, Or Be Required To Surrender The Firearm Or Remove The Brace
The Rule Required Gun Owners To Register Pistols With Braces That Turn The Firearm Into Short-Barreled Rifles Or The Gun Owners Could Surrender The Firearm Or Take Off The Brace. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The rule from the ATF requires gun owners to register pistols with stabilizing braces that turn them into short-barreled rifles. Other options for gun owners include surrendering the firearm or taking off the stabilizing brace from the firearm.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/22/23]
¶ Supporters Of The Biden Administration Rule Argued It Was Necessary After Pistol Braces Were Used In Several Mass Shootings
Democrats Argued Pistol Brace Regulation Was Necessary To Prevent More Deaths After They Were Used In Several Mass Shootings. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The pistol braces were targeted by regulators after they were used in several mass shootings and Democrats have argued that the regulation is needed to prevent more deaths. The Biden administration said the president would veto the resolution if it passed Congress.” [Congressional Quarterly, 6/13/23]
¶ Vance Opposed A Bipartisan Gun safety Package
Vance On The Bipartisan Gun Safety Package: “I Think This Is A Bad Idea. I Would Not Support The Legislation.” According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “The Republican and Democratic candidates running to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate differ when it comes to the tentative gun-control deal announced this week by Republican and Democratic senators. During an interview with a right-wing radio host on Tuesday, J.D. Vance, a Republican writer and investor, said he wouldn’t vote for the bill, whose supporters include Sen. Rob Portman, the retiring Republican Vance is running to replace. […] ‘I think that the big issue here is that we’re talking about giving a massive amount of bureaucratic power to federal and state governments after two years of basically seeing people abuse that power in a different domain,’ Vance said. ‘So I think this is a bad idea. I would not support the legislation.’” [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/15/22]
AUDIO: Vance Said He Would Have Voted Against The Bipartisan Gun Deal, Calling It “A Mistake.” According to the Todd Walker Show via SoundCloud, “WALKER: JD, let’s play a little bit of hypothetical. Let’s pretend you were in the Senate here last month or so and got to vote on this bipartisan gun bill. Would have been like the man you’re trying to replace Rob Portman and voted yes? Or, would you have voted no? VANCE: No, I think the bill is a mistake, and I would have voted no.” [Todd Walker Show via SoundCloud, 6/28/22]
VIDEO: Vance Said He Would Not Have Voted For The Bipartisan Gun Reform Legislation. According to Fox 8 News via YouTube, “HOST: Vance says he would have voted against the recently enacted bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun legislation. VANCE: The problem is there are provisions in the bill that I think would simultaneously affect the rights of law-abiding citizens and wouldn’t take guns out of the hands of mentally ill people.” [Fox 8 News via YouTube, 6/1/22]
¶ Vance Said The Legislation Would Be A “Slippery Slope”
AUDIO: Vance Opposed The Bipartisan Gun Reform Package, Citing Red Flag Laws As A “Slippery Slope.” According to Breitbart News via SoundCloud, “VANCE: I think that first of all, from what I’ve seen of this bill, I would not support it. I think the red flag laws, in particular, they certainly are a slippery slope.” [Breitbart News via SoundCloud, 6/14/22]
¶ The Bipartisan Gun Safety Package Enhanced Background Checks
The Bipartisan Gun Safety Package Enhanced Background Checks. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “In general terms, the bipartisan Senate bill would enhance background checks for buyers under age 21.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/15/22]
¶ The Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislation Increased Penalties For Gun Trafficking And Expanded Prohibitions On Domestic Abusers Obtaining Guns
The Bipartisan Gun Safety Package Increased Gun Trafficking Penalties And Expanded Prohibitions On Domestic Abusers Getting Guns. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “In general terms, the bipartisan Senate bill would […] provide major funding to help states pass and implement crisis intervention orders known as red flag laws that allow law enforcement to temporarily remove weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves or others. It would increase penalties for gun trafficking and straw purchasing, and expand the current prohibition on domestic abusers getting guns to include romantic partners.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/15/22]
¶ The Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislation Expanded Community Mental Health Services
The Bipartisan Gun Safety Package Expanded Community Mental Health Services. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “In general terms, the bipartisan Senate bill […] would also expand community mental health services for children and families and provide money for school violence prevention efforts, training and the implementation of safety measures at primary and secondary schools.” [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/15/22]
¶ Vance Called To Abolish The ATF
Vance Called To Abolish The ATF. According to Vance’s Press Twitter, “NEW: @JDVance1 has earned the TOP RATING (AQ) from @BuckeyeFirearms #OHSen JD Vance will be a champion for gun rights in the U.S. Senate. First step, ABOLISH THE ATF.” [Twitter, @JDVancePress, 4/14/22]
¶ Vance Opposed The Right Of Private Businesses To Set Their Own Policies On Gun Ownership Or Purchases
¶ Vance Opposed The Right Of Private Businesses To Set Their Own Policies On Gun Ownership Or Purchases
Vance Argued That Private Businesses Should Not Be Able To Set Their Own Policies On Gun Purchases Or Gun Ownership. According to the American Journal News, “In a July 20, 2021, opinion piece in the Columbus Dispatch, Vance similarly argued that private businesses shouldn’t be able to set their own policies on gun purchases or gun ownership. ‘Worryingly, perhaps the biggest threat to the Second Amendment comes not from the Biden Administration, but from some of our biggest companies. Blackrock, one of the world's largest money managers, recently began buying large numbers of single-family homes. And they have threatened to make it hard for their renters to own firearms. Meanwhile, many of the biggest payments processors in the world have made it impossible to buy firearms, and credit card companies have openly discussed doing the same. This is insane: giving our biggest companies the right to dictate which rights American citizens are allowed to exercise.’” [American Journal News, 7/8/22]
¶ Vance Argued That Blackrock And Payment Processors Making It More Difficult To Purchase Guns Was An “Unholy Alliance Between Government And Business”
Vance Lashed Out Against Private Companies, Such As Blackrock Or Payment Processors, Threatening To Make It Difficult For Consumers To Buy Firearms Calling It An “Unholy Alliance Between Government And Business.” According to the Columbus Dispatch Op-Ed by J.D. Vance, “Worryingly, perhaps the biggest threat to the Second Amendment comes not from the Biden Administration, but from some of our biggest companies. Blackrock, one of the world’s largest money managers, recently began buying large numbers of single-family homes. And they have threatened to make it hard for their renters to own firearms. Meanwhile, many of the biggest payments processors in the world have made it impossible to buy firearms, and credit card companies have openly discussed doing the same. This is insane: giving our biggest companies the right to dictate which rights American citizens are allowed to exercise. Yet the Biden administration won’t offer an ounce of push back. Indeed, they may even cheer as our multinational corporations tell Americans and Ohioans how to live their lives. Unfortunately, the unholy alliance between government and business won’t stop at the Second Amendment.” [Op-Ed By J.D. Vance - Columbus Dispatch, 7/20/21]
Vance Refused To Blame Guns For Gun Violence
¶ Vance Issued A Statement Opposing “Gun Confiscation” Immediately Following The Uvalde Massacre
Vance Released A Statement On The Uvalde School Shooting In Which He Said “Many Will Grasp For Easy Solutions, As They Often Do In Moments Like These. We Should First Learn The Full Truth” And Argued Against “Large Scale Gun Confiscation.” According to a press release from JD Vance via Twitter, “Many will grasp for easy solutions, as they often do in moments like these. We should first learn the full truth but whatever we learn, many will call for large scale gun confiscation. This approach would be a mistake.” [JD Vance Press Release via Twitter, 5/25/22]
Vance Suggested The Country Needed To Deal With Mental Health, Not Guns, Following The Uvalde Massacre. According to a press release from JD Vance via Twitter, “Finally, we need to deal with the mental and spiritual sickness that drives so many young Americans to kill, and put forward more resources to combat serious mental health problems. This will do far more to make our schools safer than empty moralizing from politicians.” [JD Vance Press Release via Twitter, 5/25/22]
¶ Vance Suggested School Entry Points, Not Guns, Should Be The Post-Uvalde Focus
Vance Suggested, “We Need To Bolster School Security And Make It Harder To Get Into Schools In The First Place” As A Solution To Gun Violence. According to Vance’s Twitter, “There’s so much more to do. American schools are clearly seen as soft targets by evil people. Is this sad? Yes. Do I wish it weren't so? Of course. But it's reality. So, we need to bolster school security and make it harder to get into schools in the first place.” [Twitter, @JDVance1, 6/2/22]
¶ Vance Blamed Gun Violence On Other Potential Causes Besides Guns
¶ Vance Claimed That Gun Violence In America Was A Result Of Population Density Not Gun Ownership
Vance: Gun Violence Is A Result Of Population Density Not Gun Ownership. According to the Columbus Dispatch Op-Ed by J.D. Vance, “You hear often that the United States has high rates of gun violence because it has the highest rates of gun ownership in the world. On its face, this sounds reasonable: we do have high rates of gun violence, and we do have sky-high rates of gun ownership. But it’s helpful to zoom in, and when you do, you find that the areas of our country with the highest gun ownership rates have the lowest homicide rates. Wyoming, for instance, has an extremely low murder rate, despite having among the highest rates of gun ownership in America. Violence in our country is much more about density than guns. That’s why the Biden Administration’s dull attempts to curb gun violence don’t work and they threaten the very foundation of the rights we are afforded as free, American citizens.” [Op-Ed By J.D. Vance - Columbus Dispatch, 7/20/21]
¶ Vance Blamed Gun Violence And Suicides On Social Media
Vance Blamed Gun Violence And Suicides On Social Media. According to WLWT5, “Both candidates talk about going after the root causes of gun violence in America. They come at the gun issue from differing perspectives. […] Vance reflected on the number of children who are growing up in broken homes. ‘I grew up in a broken home myself,’ he said. ‘I know it’s not always easy. We got to solve that root cause. And I got to say I think something’s really broken with social media and the way that kids are involved in social media these days. It's no coincidence that the age of social media has seen the teen suicide rate skyrocket in this country.’” [WLWT5, 7/11/22]
¶ Vance Blamed “Fatherlessness And Drug Addiction” For Mass Shootings
Vance Blamed “The Culture Of Fatherlessness And Drug Addiction In Our Country” For The Shooting. According to a press release from JD Vance via Twitter, “It’s time to recognize this reality and create single points of entry for schools along with armed guards. We need to address the culture of fatherlessness and drug addiction in our country, focus on the importance of family so that our next generation is guided and empowered with strong support systems.” [JD Vance Press Release via Twitter, 5/25/22]
¶ Vance Campaigned On A Stark Pro-Gun Image
¶ Vance Campaigned At Gun Shows And Shooting Ranges
Vance Tweeted A Picture Of Himself And His Son At A Gun Show With The Caption, “Took The Toddler To A Gun Show This Morning. Saw Some Amazing Weapons, Some Going Back To The Civil War.” JD Vance tweeted, “Took the toddler to a gun show this morning. Saw some amazing historical weapons, some going back to the Civil War.” [Twitter, @JDVance1, 9/11/21]
Vance Held A Campaign Stop At A Shooting Range. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, “J.D. Vance’s Delaware County campaign stop wasn’t exactly subtle. The Republican vying for a chance to succeed outgoing U.S. Senator Rob Portman hosted a town hall at Black Wing Shooting Center, a sprawling shooting range a few miles outside of downtown Delaware. Candidates on both sides of the aisle have been campaigning for months, crisscrossing the state, blanketing social media and elbowing into football game ad breaks. Vance’s stop in Delaware is part of a week-long ‘No B.S. Tour.’” [Ohio Capital Journal, 1/18/22]
¶ Vance Received Endorsements And “A” Ratings From Gun Rights Groups
¶ Vance Received Endorsements And “A” Ratings From Ohio Gun Rights Groups
The Buckeye Firearms Association, An Ohio Gun Rights Group, Gave Vance An “A” Rating. According to Cleveland.com, “Even though Gov. Mike DeWine has signed ‘stand your ground’ and permitless conceal-carry bills, the Buckeye Firearms Association isn’t endorsing the Greene County Republican in the 2022 primary as it did ahead of the 2018 primary. The gun-rights group gave DeWine a ‘B’ rating this year, compared to the ‘A’ grade he got in 2018. Buckeye Firearms didn’t endorse anyone in this year’s GOP primary, though ex-U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and ex-state Rep. Ron Hood each received an ‘A’ grade (Columbus-area farmer Joe Blystone didn’t submit a survey). […] Among U.S. Senate candidates, Republicans Mike Gibbons, Josh Mandel, Jane Timken and JD Vance each received an A grade; GOP state Sen. Matt Dolan got a ‘C.’” [Cleveland.com, 4/6/22]
Vance’s Campaign Touted That Vance Earned The Top Rating From The Buckeye Firearms Association. According to Vance’s Press Twitter, “NEW: @JDVance1 has earned the TOP RATING (AQ) from @BuckeyeFirearms #OHSen JD Vance will be a champion for gun rights in the U.S. Senate. First step, ABOLISH THE ATF.” [Twitter, @JDVancePress, 4/14/22]
¶ Vance Was Endorsed By The National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association (NRA) Victory Fund Endorsed Vance’s Run For Senate. [National Rifle Association’s Website, Accessed 7/22/24]
The NRA Praised Trump’s Selection Of Vance As His Running Mate. According to the National Rifle Association’s Website, “Following President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of his selection of U.S. Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) released the below statements: ‘Now, more than ever, freedom and liberty need courageous and virtuous defenders,’ said Doug Hamlin, NRA Executive Vice President & CEO. ‘President Trump and Senator Vance have the guts and the grit to stand steadfast for the Second Amendment. On behalf of millions of NRA members, I wish them Godspeed as we head toward this historic election in November.’ ‘President Trump has made an outstanding choice in selecting Senator Vance as his vice presidential pick and running mate in the upcoming election,’ said Randy Kozuch, Chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF). ‘Senator Vance has been an unwavering supporter of constitutional freedoms, especially the right to keep and bear arms. In the U.S. Senate, he has consistently stood against the Biden-Harris gun control agenda. Between now and November, the NRA and its millions of members will engage with America’s gun owners about the importance of electing the Trump-Vance ticket.’” [National Rifle Association’s Website, 7/15/24]