Letter: Patrick McHenry and the NRA

Graphic by Lori Deaton

As part of his $3.73 million re-election war chest last year, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-District 10, accepted $42,070 from the National Rifle Association.

McHenry’s opponent raised only $130,010. So, having raised 30 times that, Rep. McHenry certainly had all the money he needed to win.

Moreover, Distict 10 is one of the nation’s most gerrymandered districts. With the playing field so incredibly tilted in his favor, once again Rep. McHenry entered the midterm as he enters most re-election campaigns, justifiably confident of victory.

So, our incumbent congressman could have returned the NRA’s $42,070 and probably not even have missed it.

But he didn’t.

The NRA likes Rep. McHenry. It endorsed him in 2018 and rates him an impressive 93. And this past February, McHenry repaid the favor.

The House passed two gun safety bills: HR 8 requires that gun sellers conduct background checks on every sale, and HR 1112 enhances background checks and extends gun sale waiting periods from three to 10 days.

Rep. McHenry voted against both measures.

Gina Collias (www.ginacolliasforcongress.com) supports both measures. She’s an attorney, businesswoman, mother and now a candidate seeking to oppose McHenry in the 2020 election.

Her campaign isn’t relying on any NRA money. And when she gets to Washington, one of her top priorities will be passing responsible gun safety regulations.

As for our incumbent congressman, who knows how much NRA blood money he plans to accept for the 2020 election. But here’s an idea: Let’s ask him!

Washington D.C., office: 202-225-2576; Hickory district office: 828-327-6100; Gastonia district office: 704-833-0096; Black Mountain district office: 829-669-0600.

— Stephen Advokat
Asheville

Editor’s note: Advokat reports that he is an unpaid volunteer for Gina Collias for Congress. Xpress contacted McHenry’s spokesman but did not receive a response.

 

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8 thoughts on “Letter: Patrick McHenry and the NRA

    • bsummers

      From her website:

      “Unlike the incumbent, I will not accept funds from gun lobbyists at the expense of our kids.”

      • Lulz

        But she will look the other way as violent illegals are released from jail as political pawns. At the expense of others. But that’s standard leftist dogma these days.

  1. Lulz

    LOL good. Even more of a reason to vote for him.

    Don’t like guns, don’t buy one. Don’t want to admit your pilled up kids that never get out and have no social skills, show mental illness behaviors and need help yet never get it are the root cause, well continue to believe that taking away rights is a solution. And is still won’t change.

    When I was Asheville High I went through the main entrance to enter the building. Not the one there currently. And guns were just as around then too. But the difference is there were consequences for bad behaviors and actions. AND YOU KNEW IT. After all if you can have the cops called on you 45 times and still end up shooting a school up, it ain’t the guns that are the problem. It’s the parents and the system that is. Wish I could get in trouble with the cops that many times and have nothing done, pay no consequences, and look at the who thing as a farce.

  2. C-Law

    Guns are distraction.

    The only issue that matters now is the medical monopolies and the utter destruction of our economy that is swiftly approaching because neither party and no legislative, executive, or judicial branches at the state or national level have the will to do a damn thing about it.

    What does Collias propose to do to put an end to the medical monopolies?

  3. SpareChange

    I once thought McHenry was less of a Trumpublican (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Trumpublican) than Meadows. He initially showed some capacity to at least be more circumspect about openly defending Trump’s often indefensible words and actions. But in his capacity as acting Majority Whip, and more recently as an increasingly vocal Trump apologist, he has proven himself to be less and less deserving of support from real conservatives and other critically thinking Republicans, Independents and moderates.

    For their part, the Collias campaign does itself no service by focusing on obvious wedge issues like the NRA and guns. No significant bloc of voters is going to be moved one way or the other based on information such as that provided in the letter. Those wanting stricter regulation of guns or who express concerns about the influence of the NRA are already predisposed to vote against McHenry. The task at this point is to win over those who have supported him in the past, but who might be open to persuasion that his now unwavering support for Trump is disqualifying.

    • Mike

      Shhh… I’m hoping the next Collias fan letter writer will come right out and use the “magic words” (deplorable and irredeemable) to characterise those who might own firearms and/or will not denounce the NRA ;-)

      • Lulz

        LOL or even better, we’re going to shut down certain industries and act befuddled when
        we lose working class votes. As if voting for Trump or starving can compete with one another.. In reality though those people are sub human to the leftist and as such, can simply die

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