In the United States, midterm elections are just around the corner and gun rights may be on the line. Here are six races that could have national and state-level implications for gun owners.
The 2022 election is nearly upon us — in some states, early voting is already underway. There is a great deal at stake as Americans cast their votes in federal, state and local elections. Record inflation, the risk of an economic recession and an epidemic of crime in America’s cities are all top-of-mind issues.
For many of us, gun rights are always on the ballot but, given the weak-on-crime policies we are seeing across much of the nation, the ability to lawfully protect oneself seems especially critical now. In many cases, the choice between pro and anti-gun candidates is crystal clear. On one side, you have individuals who are unapologetic in their desire to ban entire categories of firearms, sue gun manufacturers out of business and repeal laws that protect basic rights to self-defense. On the other, we have elected officials who are willing to stand up for individual rights and personal freedom when it comes to firearms ownership. With those issues in-mind, we picked out three key federal and state races to watch this November.
U.S. Senate
Florida: Rubio v. Demings
Florida has become less of a swing state in recent years but polling suggests that the state’s U.S. Senate race is closer than the other statewide contests. This race pits incumbent Republican Senator Marco Rubio against Democrat Representative and former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings. Rubio has been a consistent pro-gun vote going back to his days in the Florida Legislature and has continued that course while serving in the Senate. Demings pays lip service to gun owners, vowing to “protect our communities and the Second Amendment at the same time.” Unfortunately, her record says otherwise.
When the long-awaited SCOTUS decision on NYSRPA vs. Bruen was announced, Demings released a statement condemning it. “The Supreme Court’s decision in this case will gut communities’ ability to protect our schools, churches, and communities from gun violence,” she said. “… Members of Congress need to show the basic courage to stand up to the gun lobby.” Demings’ voting record is clearly anti-gun. She co-sponsored federal red flag legislation, supported a bill that would raise the purchase age of a semi-auto rifle from 18 to 21, supports reclassification of rifle-caliber handguns under the National Firearms Act (NFA), and more. The choice for pro-gun voters in the Sunshine State is clear.
