Buckeye Firearms Association 2008 Primary Endorsements

Buckeye Firearms Association is proud to announce our endorsements for the March 4th Ohio primary elections.

The impact you can make on these races cannot be overstated. Due to the limited number of people who vote in primary elections, each vote counts as a greater percentage of the total votes cast. In past years strong pro-gun candidates have lost by as few as 10 votes. Can there be any doubt that there were at least 10 pro-gun voters in those districts who stayed home because it was "only a primary"? Can there be any doubt that one hour of time by a pro-gun volunteer could have influenced the votes of enough people to change the outcome?

Over the years, the endorsement decision-making process has become tougher and tougher because so many candidates, from both parties, are decidedly pro-gun. This is certainly a good problem to have.

Whenever possible, we prefer NOT to chose among two pro-gun candidates, but rather vet all the applicable candidates in the primary race as "good". In doing so, we can thus encourage voters to make their decisions based on other issues important to them, knowing that their right to bear arms for self-defense is respected by both candidates.

But at times even with this option, we are faced with some difficult choices. A perfect example is the Republican primary for House District 35. Ron Maag won out due to his strong pro-gun credentials that include being a concealed carry license holder and NRA-certified instructor. His opponent, John Rabenold is also pro-gun candidate, but Mr. Maag's history of leadership and grassroots action made him the stand-out.

Another difficult decision was whether or not to endorse incumbents in the Ohio Senate. With a host of Emergency Action Items still left un-addressed, and with a poll of BuckeyeFirearms.org readers ran more than 3 to 1 against issuing endorsements to incumbent Senators until action is taken on these important items, the decision has been to withhold endorsements for incumbent Senators at this time.

Even so, in a year where so many endorsement decisions were this difficult, we feel our slate of pro-gun candidates is the strongest possible.

Only by electing a strong pro-gun majority in the House and Senate can we hope to see continual improvement in Ohio's gun laws. It is imperative that Ohio's gun owners vote their gun rights in the upcoming elections so we can continue to see a decrease in the number of statute mandated victim's zones, a positive change in Ohio's use of deadly force laws that stack the deck in favor of the law-abiding and tort reform to protect people who use justifiable deadly force.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR 2008 PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS

Please make sure to vote on March 4th. Feel free to print a copy of our endorsed candidates and bring it to the voting booth. Make copies for your pro-gun friends so they know who the best candidates are as well.

Thank you,

James Irvine, Chairman
Chad Baus, Vice-Chairman
Buckeye Firearms Association