Fairfax, Va. – Senator Mary Landrieu is scheduled to participate today in the pro-gun control politicians' favorite decoy -- a skeet shoot -- with Senator Joe Manchin, the sponsor of the most recent Obama-Bloomberg gun control initiative that Landrieu voted for.
Senator Manchin betrayed gun owners last year when he played a key role in advancing the gun control agenda of President Barack Obama and billionaire anti-gun Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Both Landrieu and Manchin have been generously rewarded for their gun control efforts and votes by anti-gun billionaire Michael Bloomberg where they have been the guest of honor at separate $1,000-a-plate fundraisers hosted at his opulent Manhattan mansion.
"Senator Landrieu is desperate. The fact that she thinks that she can vote to take away our gun rights in Washington and then fly in for a photo-op shooting skeet shows how out of touch she has become with Louisiana," said Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund.
Landrieu voted for the Obama -Bloomberg gun control agenda and Bloomberg endorsed her candidacy. To date, the Bloomberg-funded Majority PAC has spent millions of dollars in support of Landrieu's re-election.
"It's pretty arrogant to think you can show up in Louisiana, take a few pictures with a gun, and fool voters into believing you support the Second Amendment. The fact is Mary Landrieu has a history of supporting gun control," said Cox.
Below are some highlights of Mary Landrieu's record in opposition to the Second Amendment.
"Senator Landrieu is desperate. The fact that she thinks that she can vote to take away our gun rights in Washington and then fly in for a photo-op shooting skeet shows how out of touch she has become with Louisiana," said Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund.
In April 2013, Landrieu Voted For The Manchin-Toomey Legislation To Expand The Background Check System To Include Firearms Purchased At Gun Shows And Over The Internet. “Manchin, D-W.Va., amendment no. 715 that would expand an existing background check system to include firearms purchased at gun shows and over the Internet. It would allow gun show sales to proceed if a background check does not prompt a response within 48 hours and reduce that to a 24-hour wait four years after enactment. It would exempt family transfers and some private sales. The amendment would restrict law enforcement grant funds for states that do not provide all available records to the national background check database. It would ban the creation of a national firearms registry, allow active-duty military members buy guns in their home state and create a commission to study the causes of mass violence in the United States.” (S. 649: CQ Vote #97: Rejected by a vote of 54-46: R 4-41; D 48-5; I 2-0, 4/17/13, Landrieu Voted Yea)
Landrieu Has Repeatedly Voted to Confirm Anti-Gun Supreme Court Justices
- Landrieu voted to Confirm Sonia Sotomayor, Obama's Nominee To Be An Associate Justice Of The U.S. Supreme Court. “Confirmation of President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor of New York to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.” (CQ Vote #262: Confirmed 68-31: R 9-31; D 57-0; I 2-0, 8/6/09, Landrieu Voted Yea)
- Landrieu Said She Was Impressed With Sotomayor, Adding She “Will Be Both Fair-Minded And Impartial.” Landrieu: “Throughout the confirmation process, I have been impressed with Judge Sotomayor’s intellect and knowledge of the law. Her character and unparalleled experience will serve her well has she addresses the challenge this position will bring. Judge Sotomayor will be both fair-minded and impartial, and I expect her to have a long and distinguished tenure on the United States Supreme Court.” (Senator Mary Landrieu, “Landrieu Votes To Confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor As Supreme Court Justice,” Press Release, 8/6/09)
- In McDonald v. City of Chicago, Sotomayor ignored the "settled law" of the Heller decision and signed a dissenting opinion that declared, "I can find nothing in the Second Amendment's text, history, or underlying rationale that could warrant characterizing it as 'fundamental' insofar as it seeks to protect the keeping and bearing of arms for private self-defense purposes."
- “On The Issue Of Gun Control, Sotomayor Defended Her Appellate Panel’s Decision That A Supreme Court Ruling That Had Overturned The District’s Gun-Control Law Does Not Apply To States That Want To Restrict Gun Ownership. She Said The Panel’s Decision Simply Followed What The Supreme Court Said.” (Amy Goldstein, Robert Barnes and Paul Kane, “Sotomayor Emphasizes Objectivity,” The Washington Post, 7/15/09)
- “In A 2004 Criminal Case, U.S. v. Sanchez-Villar, A Three-Judge Panel That Included Sotomayor Wrote That ‘The Right To Possess A Gun Is Clearly Not A Fundamental Right.’” (Declan McCullagh, “Gun Rights Groups Are Wary Of Sotomayor,” CBS News, 5/27/09)
- “In A Letter To Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) And Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Last Week, The NRA Cited Two Controversial Decisions In Sotomayor’s Past: Maloney v. Cuomo, In Which She Ruled The Second Amendment Did Not Apply To State And Local Governments, And United States v. Sanchez-Villar, In Which She Found That Gun Ownership Is Not A Fundamental Right.” (J. Taylor Rushing, “Baucus: ‘No Idea’ How He’ll Vote On Sotomayor,” The Hill, 7/31/09)
- Landrieu Voted to Confirm Elena Kagan, Obama’s Nominee To Be An Associate Justice Of The U.S. Supreme Court. “Confirmation of President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan of Massachusetts to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.” (CQ Vote #229: Confirmed 63-37: R 5-36; D 56-1; I 2-0, 8/5/10, Landrieu Voted Yea)
- Landrieu: “I Am Proud To Support Elena Kagan To Serve Our Nation On The U.S. Supreme Court. During our meeting and throughout her confirmation hearings, Kagan demonstrated her intellect, knowledge of the law and willingness to listen to different viewpoints to find a consensus.” (Senator Mary Landrieu, “Landrieu Votes To Confirm Kagan As Next Justice Of The U.S. Supreme Court,” Press Release, 8/5/10)
- “Elena Kagan Said As A U.S. Supreme Court Law Clerk In 1987 That She Was ‘Not Sympathetic’ Toward A Man Who Contended That His Constitutional Rights Were Violated When He Was Convicted For Carrying An Unlicensed Pistol.” (Greg Stohr and Kristin Jensen, “Kagan Said She Was ‘Not Sympathetic’ Toward Gun-Rights Claim,” Bloomberg, 5/13/10)
- “The Man's 'Sole Contention Is That The District Of Columbia's Firearms Statutes Violate His Constitutional Right To “Keep And Bear Arms,”‘ Kagan Wrote. 'I'm Not Sympathetic.’” (Greg Stohr and Kristin Jensen, “Kagan Said She Was ‘Not Sympathetic’ Toward Gun-Rights Claim,” Bloomberg, 5/13/10)
Landrieu's Support of "Universal" Background Checks
"It's pretty arrogant to think you can show up in Louisiana, take a few pictures with a gun, and fool voters into believing you support the Second Amendment. The fact is Mary Landrieu has a history of supporting gun control," said Cox.
In 2004, Landrieu Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Required Background Checks On All Firearm Transactions At Gun Shows. “McCain, R-Ariz., amendment no. 2636 that would require criminal background checks on all firearm transactions at gun shows where at least 75 guns are sold. Exemptions would be provided for dealers selling guns from their homes as well as members-only gun swaps and meets conducted by nonprofit hunting clubs.” (S. 1805, CQ Vote #25: Adopted 53-46: R 8-43; D 44-3; I 1-0, 3/2/04, Landrieu Voted Yea)
In 1999, Landrieu Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Required Background Checks At Gun Shows, And Directed The Attorney General To Hold Background Files Collected On Gun Owners For 90 Days.
- “Lautenberg, D-N.J., amendment that would require criminal background checks on all gun sales at gun shows, prohibit non-federal licensees from participating in gun shows and direct the U.S. attorney general to hold background files collected on gun owners for 90 days.” (S. 254, CQ Vote #134: Adopted, with Vice President Gore casting a ‘yea’ vote 50-50: R 6-49; D 44-1, 5/20/99, Landrieu Voted Yea)
- “The Lautenberg Amendment Requires Mandatory Background Checks For All Gun Sales At Gun Shows And Pawnshops.” (“Senate Passes Juvenile Crime Bill,” CNN, 5/21/99)
- The “Controversial Amendment” Was Passed Only With Vice President Gore’s Vote. “It includes a controversial Democratic amendment to close the so-called ‘gun-show loophole,’ that passed a divided Senate earlier in the day, with Vice President Al Gore casting the deciding vote.” (“Senate Passes Juvenile Crime Bill,” CNN, 5/21/99)
In 1998, Landrieu Voted Against Destruction Of Records After Background Checks For Purchase Of Handguns. Landrieu Voted Against Requiring That “Law Enforcement Agencies To Immediately Destroy Any Information On Individuals Allowed To Purchase Firearms After The Check.” (S. 2260, Roll Call Vote #217: Adopted 69-31: R 55-0; D 14-31, 7/21/98, Landrieu Voted Nay)
In 1996, Landrieu Said She Opposed Repealing The Assault Weapons Ban And The Background Check And Waiting Period Requirements Of The Brady Law. “‘While I support the right of citizens to possess firearms for personal safety or recreation, I stand with police and law enforcement officials in opposing efforts to repeal the assault weapons ban and the background check/waiting period requirements of the Brady law,’ Landrieu said.” (Bill McMahon, “Hopefuls Differ On Gun Issue,” The [Baton Rouge, LA] Advocate, 9/1/96)
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.
