Now that Rep. Ed Markey has officially begun his campaign for Senate in Massachusetts, it's clear that gun safety will be one major issue that Markey plans to fight on.
His statement about what he is fighting for says it all:
“With Senator Kerry’s departure, Massachusetts voters will decide once again whether we want a Senator who will fight for all our families or one who supports a Republican agenda that benefits only the powerful and well-connected,” Markey said. “I refuse to allow the Tea Party-dominated Republican Party to lead us off the fiscal cliff and into recession. I won’t allow the [National Rifle Association] to obstruct an assault weapons ban yet again. I will not sit back and allow oil and coal industry lobbyists to thwart our clean energy future or extremists to restrict women’s rights and health care.
(emphasis is mine)
After the NRA gave its sick joke of a press conference after the Newtown school massacre, Markey released a pretty strong statement after it, and tweeted a few of his strong words from it too.
“On the same day families lay three more children to rest in Newtown, the National Rifle Association wrongly called for increasing the number of guns around vulnerable children. The NRA says it wants armed guards in our schools and playgrounds, but what it ultimately wants is to guard its outmoded ideological interests. It is time we end the stranglehold the NRA has on gun control policy in our country. This group has wielded disproportionate political influence and has fought any meaningful Congressional gun control efforts tooth and nail. The NRA may as well stand for ‘No Restrictions Allowed’.
Markey already has a strong record on taking on the NRA and
standing up for gun safety. In Massachusetts, his "F" record from the NRA is a badge of honor. Going
further back, Markey voted yes to the
Brady Handgun Bill. Markey wanted a
72-hour Background check, as opposed to a
24-hour one. He would represent Massachusetts on gun issues as Senator.
The Republican, Scott Brown recently may have changed his mind on the assault weapons ban, but he still has a C rating from the NRA for 2012 and Scott Brown pledged himself to Grover Norquist, who sits on the NRA board. Scott Brown doesn't have what it takes to really stand up to Grover and the NRA. As a state Senator, he had an A lifetime rating from the NRA.
Brown also cannot hide from this quote back in 2011:
Boston.com: Scott Brown says he won't support federal gun crackdown. 14 January 2011. "I'm not in favor of doing any additional federal regulations relating to any type of weapons or federal gun changes. I feel it should be left up to the states.
It's clear that the people of Massachusetts cannot trust Scott Brown to vote the right way on gun safety and stand up to the NRA. Ed Markey has shown that he already has.
Ed Markey links:
Ed Markey for Senate campaign site
Contribute to Ed Markey's Senate Campaign