“NRA stands with President Bush on November 2nd,” said Wayne La Pierre, NRA executive vice-president. “If you believe in freedom and want to preserve the Second Amendment for future generations, vote to re-elect President Bush and Vice President Cheney.”

In response to this announcement, Michael Barnes, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said, “Time and time again, President George W. Bush has caved in to the gun lobby, and failed in his responsibility to keep Americans safe. He has chosen the extreme ideological policies of the National Rifle Association over the need to protect American citizens from gun violence every single time. Not once has the President opposed anything on the NRA’s legislative agenda. This is truly tragic, and it will lead to Americans, including police officers, losing their lives.” The Brady Campaign announced it’s endorsement of Senator John Kerry earlier this month.

Since President Bush has been in office, he has supported legislation to give the gun industry immunity from lawsuits, banned access to crime gun records, and secured laws requiring the immediate destruction of Brady background check information, which could be used by law enforcement to prevent crime. In addition, President Bush did nothing to prevent the 1994 federal assault weapons ban from expiring on Sept 13 which allowed for the production and sale of military style semi-automatic assault riffles to the general public.

Senator Kerry has also received endorsements from the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) and the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), as well as from the Humane Society, and PETA.

In the United States Senate, John Kerry has opposed the gun industry immunity bill, supported background checks at gun shows, and co-sponsored the renewal of the assault weapons ban. During the October 13 Presidential Debates, Kerry called President Bush’s inability to secure a renewal of the ban a “failure of presidential leadership.”

“John Kerry has long stood firm against a gun lobby that continues to push an alarming agenda that is out of touch with mainstream gun owners,” said Josh Horowitz, Executive Director of CSGV. “We at CSGV applaud his crime prevention plan and are proud to announce our full endorsement of Senator Kerry for President.”

All told, the NRA expects to spend about $20 million dollars on this election in support of President Bush. Prior to their endorsement, they had already spent approximately $1 million on advertising efforts against Senator Kerry.