National Rifle Association Rates Fairfax Candidates Running from McLean Districts

The National Rifle Association gave A's to Repubican candidates running for seats in the Virginia General Assembly that contained McLean and  generally F's to their Democratic opponents.

In the Senate districts including McLean:

31st District: Republican Caren Merrick: A-. Democrat Barbara Favola: F.

32nd District: Republican: Patrick Forest AQ . Defined by the NRA as: A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire.

Democrat and incumbent Janet Howell: F.

In the House of Delegates Districts:

34th District: Republican and incumbent Barbara Comstock: A.

Democrat: Pamela Danner: ? Defined by the NRA as: Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire.

35th District:  Democrat and incumbent Mark L. Keam: C.

Keam is running unopposed.

48th District: Democrat and incumbent Robert H. Brink: F.

Brink has no Republican opponent. Two independents are running against him:Janet Murphy - IG, Kathy D. Gillette-Mallard - I. They were not rated by the NRA.

Sen. Janet Howell said of her rating:" I have always supported reasonable gun control measures.  Currently, anyone can go to a gun show and purchase weapons without undergoing a background check for criminal records or mental health problems.  We must stop this practice. Virginia is known as a gun running state because of the gun show loophole. I opposed allowing people to carry concealed weapons into places serving alcohol. . . The NRA opposes these common sense measures and so opposes me."

Patrick Forrest said, "I believe in the Second Amendment and i also believe in aggressive, reasonable control of gun use and ownership. Hunters and law-abiding citizens shold have the ability to possess weapons but reasonable restrictions should be allowed."

Adam Scott, Barbara Favola’s campaign manager, said: “Barbara Favola supports common-sense gun laws. She is opposed to allowing firearms to be carried in bars, community centers, and other public places. She also stands with police officers and opposes so-called ‘cop killer’ bullets and assault weapons being available for purchase in the Commonwealth.” 

He also said:"Caren Merrick is supported by the Tea Party, the NRA, and anti-choice extremists who want to chip away at a woman’s right to choose in Virginia."

Patricia Thiergartner, Caren Merrick's campaign manager said: "We filled out a survey - like we have for several organizations.  The NRA gave us an A- rating based on the responses to that survey.  Caren's father was a Marine and growing up he taught her proper gun ownership and safety.  Our campaign's focus however is on jobs and the economy, transportation, and education."

Amanda Isaacson, campaign manager for Barbara Comstock said: “Like the bipartisan majority of state and federal legislators such as Senator Mark Warner and Senator Jim Webb, as well as the Democrat Minority Leader of the House of Delegates, Delegate Comstock supports the 2nd amendment.  Delegate Comstock has the same rating as these Democratic leaders.  Her opponent has supported all of these Democrats. Locally, Democrat Delegate David Bulova (son of Fairfax Board Chairman Sharon Bulova), Delegate Mark Keam, and Senator Chap Petersen all voted the same as Delegate Comstock did on a vote that our opponent has been cynically attacking us about.  It seems our opponent’s problem is with her own party.”  
  

Pamela Danner: "I support the second amendment and I support a citizen's right to own firearms, but I also believe in common-sense regulations.  I would not have supported, as my opponent did, HB 69 (2010) which declared that firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Virginia and retained within the borders of Virginia are not subject to federal law or regulation under the authority of Congress to regulate interstate commerce.  During House floor debate on this legislation, Delegate Dave Albo questioned whether that would legalize fully automatic machine guns in Virginia."

Bob Brink said, “I don’t believe that the issues that  the NRA espouses are in the interest of people who live in congested urban areas such as Northern Virginia."

The NRA Political Victory Fund, specifically endorsed some Fairfax candidates, but none in the races involving McLean.

Here's the overall look at the ratings for the Fairfax County General Assembly races:

A+: 3 Republicans, 0 Democrats
A: 15 Republicans, 3 Democrats
A-: 2 Republicans
AQ: 9 Republicans
B+:1 Republican, 1Democrat
B:  1 Republican
B-: 1 Republican
C+:0 Republicans, 2  Democrats
C:  1 Republican, 1 Democrat
D:  0 Republicans, 6 Democrats
F:  0 Republicans, 11 Democrats
?:  3 Republicans, 4 Democrats

Here's what the ratings mean according to the NRA:

A -  Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.

C- A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues.

F - True enemy of gun owners' rights.