National Rifle Association PVF and Texas State Rifle Association PAC Endorse Gov. Perry for Re-election

DALLAS – Gov. Rick Perry today accepted the endorsement of the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) and Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) PAC for re-election in 2010.

“It is a significant honor for me to win the endorsement of both the National Rifle Association and the Texas State Rifle Association,” said Gov. Perry. “Their principled defense of the Second Amendment has gone a long way toward keeping our citizens safe. Thankfully, we have organizations like the NRA and TSRA that work tirelessly to defend those essential rights, strengthening our democracy in the process.”

Gov. Perry has supported and signed numerous pieces of legislation to strengthen Texans’ Second Amendment rights, which include:

• Creating reciprocal or unilateral agreements with 42 other states where Texans can legally carry a concealed weapon.

• Allowing Texans to defend themselves when threatened in their homes instead of retreating, known as the Castle Doctrine (SB 378, 2007)

• Extended the term of a CHL license from four to five years (HB 225, 2005)

• Cut license renewal fees in half for senior citizens (HB 1038, 2005)

• Preventing the confiscation of firearms and ammunition from law-abiding citizens during a future state of emergency or natural disaster (SB 112, 2007)

• Clarifying an individual’s right to carry a handgun in a motor vehicle (HB 1815, 2007)

• Reducing fees by 50 percent and lowering the age from 21 to 18 on a concealed handgun license for veterans and members of the military (HB 322, 2005)

• Ending the prohibitions imposed by many cities and counties that prevented concealed handgun license (CHL) holders from carrying on public property (SB 501, 2003)

• Expanding the way one can pay for a CHL to include check, cash or credit card – previously only a cashier’s check or money order was allowed (HB 1483, 2005)

• Protecting shooting ranges from junk lawsuits (HB 1837, 2001)

"The Second Amendment right to bear arms is one of our most valued rights for Texas gun owners, hunters and concealed handgun licensees across the state; and it is because of Gov. Perry’s commitment that we are in his debt," said Alice Tripp, TSRA PAC Legislative Director. "With our 40,000 members, we could not have a better friend making sure our rights are protected and our state government is steered in the right direction."

“Under Gov. Perry’s leadership, Texas has effectively become safer because of the implementation of some of the most gun owner friendly laws in the nation,” said NRA-PVF chairman Chris Cox. “Gov. Perry truly understands the importance of the Second Amendment and the critical role it plays in upholding our nation’s safety and freedom, and the National Rifle Association PVF is proud to endorse him in his effort to continue leading the state of Texas.”

For more than 125 years, the National Rifle Association has preserved and defended our nation’s inalienable right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. It is the premier firearms education organization in the world, providing generations of Americans with programs focused on firearms safety, education and responsibility.

The Texas State Rifle Association supports the rights of law abiding Texans to own, enjoy and use firearms as guaranteed by the Constitutions of the State of Texas and the United States of America. They advocate protecting and defending the inalienable rights of the individual Texan to acquire, possess, transport, carry, transfer ownership and enjoy the right to lawful use of firearms for self preservation, for the defense of family and property and the common defense of the Republic and the individual liberties of the people.

The Texas State Rifle Association PAC and National Rifle Association PVF join the following organizations in their endorsement of Gov. Perry in the general election:

Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas PAC
Associated General Contractors of America Texas Building Branch PAC
Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas
Automotive Parts and Services Association
BEEF-PAC of Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Boating Trades Association of Texas PAC
Career Colleges and Schools of Texas
“C” Club of Houston
Exotic Wildlife Association
Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Recreational Fishing Alliance
Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas
Pasadena Police Officer’s Union
Sheriff Arvin West, Hudspeth County
Sheriff Clint McDonald, Terrell County
Sheriff Danny Dominguez, Presidio County
Sheriff Eusevio Salinas, Zavala County
Sheriff Rene Fuentes, Starr County
Sheriff Rick McIvor, Jeff Davis County
Sheriff Ronny Dodson, Brewster County
Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., Zapata County
Sheriff Thomas Herrera, Maverick County
Southwest Movers Association
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association
Texas Alliance for Life PAC
Texas Allied Poultry Association
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association PAC
Texas Apartment Association
Texas Association for Interior Design
Texas Association of Business BACPAC
Texas Association of Dairymen PAC
Texas Association of Manufacturers
Texas Association of Licensed Investigators
Texas Association of Realtors ®
Texas Beverage Association
Texas Broiler Council
Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association
Texas Chapter of the American College of Cardiology Heart PAC
Texas Chiropractic Association
Texas Civil Justice League PAC
Texas Crane Association
Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association PAC
Texas Economic Development Council PAC
Texas Egg Council
Texas Forestry Association Forestry PAC
Texas Home School Coalition PAC
Texas Hospital Association HOSPAC
Texas Locksmiths Association
Texas Medical Association TEXPAC
Texas Medical Defense PAC
Texas Municipal Police Association
Texas Nursery and Landscape Association PAC
Texas Ophthalmological Association
Texas Optometric Association PAC
Texas Organization of Residential Care Homes
Texas Pest Control Association
Texas Pharmacy Association PharmPAC
Texas Pharmacy Business Council
Texas Podiatric Medical Association
Texas Poultry Federation
Texas Poultry Improvement Association
Texas Process Servers Association
Texas Quarter Horse Association
Texas Recreational Fishing Alliance
Texas Recreational Vehicle Association
Texas Retailers Association PAC
Texas Right to Life PAC
Texas Society of Anesthesiologists PAC
Texas Society of Professional Engineers
Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
Texas Travel Industry Association
Texas Turkey Federation
Texas Wildlife Association
Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas PAC