NRA Statement on Elena Kagan's Confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court

Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President,
National Rifle Association & Chris W. Cox, Executive Director,
National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action

On Thursday, August 05, 2010, the U.S. Senate confirmed Elena Kagan to the highest Court in the land. To NRA members and gun owners nationwide, Ms. Kagan presents a clear and present danger to the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Her political record reveals that she does not believe the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right and, in her recent testimony, she refused to acknowledge respect for the God-given right of self-defense. That is why, more than a month ago, the NRA announced its strong opposition to Elena Kagan's confirmation to the Court. In that announcement, it was made very clear that this vote matters and will be considered in the NRA's candidate evaluations.

The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental, individual right that applies to all law-abiding Americans. Nonetheless, during the hearings Ms. Kagan refused to state her support for the Second Amendment, saying only that the matter was "settled law." When asked about the Heller decision, Justice Sonia Sotomayor used the phrase "settled law" repeatedly during her confirmation hearings to win support. Justice Sotomayor then worked to destroy the Second Amendment in the McDonald case. We have no doubt that Ms. Kagan shares the same view of the Second Amendment.

Roll Vote: Senate confirms Kagan as 112th justice
By The Associated Press (AP)

The 63-37 roll call Thursday by which the Senate confirmed Elena Kagan as the 112th justice and fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

A "yes" vote is a vote to confirm the nomination.

Voting yes were 56 Democrats, 5 Republicans and 2 independents.

Voting no were 1 Democrat and 36 Republicans.

Democrats Yes

Akaka, Hawaii; Baucus, Mont.; Bayh, Ind.; Begich, Alaska; Bennet, Colo.; Bingaman, N.M.; Boxer, Calif.; Brown, Ohio; Burris, Ill.; Cantwell, Wash.; Cardin, Md.; Carper, Del.; Casey, Pa.; Conrad, N.D.; Dodd, Conn.; Dorgan, N.D.; Durbin, Ill.; Feingold, Wis.; Feinstein, Calif.; Franken, Minn.; Gillibrand, N.Y.; Goodwin, W.V.; Hagan, N.C.; Harkin, Iowa; Inouye, Hawaii; Johnson, S.D.; Kaufman, Del.; Kerry, Mass.; Klobuchar, Minn.; Kohl, Wis.; Landrieu, La.; Lautenberg, N.J.; Leahy, Vt.; Levin, Mich.; Lincoln, Ark.; McCaskill, Mo.; Menendez, N.J.; Merkley, Ore.; Mikulski, Md.; Murray, Wash.; Nelson, Fla.; Pryor, Ark.; Reed, R.I.; Reid, Nev.; Rockefeller, W.V.; Schumer, N.Y.; Shaheen, N.H.; Specter, Pa.; Stabenow, Mich.; Tester, Mont.; Udall, Colo.; Udall, N.M.; Warner, Va.; Webb, Va.; Whitehouse, R.I.; Wyden, Ore.

Democrats No

Nelson, Neb.

Republicans Yes

Collins, Maine; Graham, S.C.; Gregg, N.H.; Lugar, Ind.; Snowe, Maine.

Republicans No

Alexander, Tenn.; Barrasso, Wyo.; Bennett, Utah; Bond, Mo.; Brown, Mass.; Brownback, Kan.; Bunning, Ky.; Burr, N.C.; Chambliss, Ga.; Coburn, Okla.; Cochran, Miss.; Corker, Tenn.; Cornyn, Texas; Crapo, Idaho; DeMint, S.C.; Ensign, Nev.; Enzi, Wyo.; Grassley, Iowa; Hatch, Utah; Hutchison, Texas; Inhofe, Okla.; Isakson, Ga.; Johanns, Neb.; Kyl, Ariz.; LeMieux, Fla.; McCain, Ariz.; McConnell, Ky.; Murkowski, Alaska; Risch, Idaho; Roberts, Kan.; Sessions, Ala.; Shelby, Ala.; Thune, S.D.; Vitter, La.; Voinovich, Ohio; Wicker, Miss.

Independents Yes

Lieberman, Conn.; Sanders, Vt.