Mark Kelly Wants to Bring California Gun Laws to Arizona

 

Sure, US Senate candidate Mark Kelly loves the Second Amendment. Just ask him.

I am a supporter of the Second Amendment, I am a gun owner,” the Democrat said at last week’s campaign debate with Sen. Martha McSally (R–AZ). “Our rights and traditions are so important.”

“I probably own more firearms than your average Arizonan,” he told another interviewer.

But Kelly’s actions show disdain for gun rights. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which Kelly co-founded, endorsed California as the best model for gun laws while giving Arizona an F.

Californians fleeing their state might vote for the same failed policies in their new home of Arizona. If so, Mark Kelly is their guy. Arizonans who view the basket case to our West as a cautionary tale need to think twice.

Politicians love making promises almost as much as they love breaking them once they arrive in DC. It’s voters’ duty to trust but verify these oaths, although the trust part is optional.

The record clearly shows that Kelly has spent years pushing gun control legislation and promoting the Second Amendment’s worst enemies.

For Kelly, the issue of gun control is personal. His wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords, was shot by a mentally ill man in 2011, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury. The gunman killed six others, all with a weapon he legally bought following a background check.

Kelly’s activism is understandable, but he should be honest about it. He is free to push all the gun control measures he wants; Arizona voters are free to disagree.

Following the Tucson shooting, Kelly and Giffords founded a gun control group called Americans for Responsible Solutions. In 2017, they renamed it Giffords, including a legal arm and political action committee.

The group’s mission is “fighting to end the gun lobby’s stranglehold on our political system.” Their long list of political endorsements includes some of the most passionate opponents of our Second Amendment rights.

The Giffords group endorsed Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018, celebrating California for having the strictest anti-gun laws in the nation.

“I’m so honored to receive the support of Gabby and Mark — two incredible advocates and selfless public servants,” Newsom said. “I have long admired their work across the country fighting to end gun violence, and I’ve been proud to partner with them to strengthen our gun safety laws here in California.”

Newsom is eager to push his “gun safety” laws on Arizona with another ally in the U.S. Senate.

Kelly and Giffords also endorsed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker that year for his attacks on the Second Amendment. Needless to say, Arizona has plenty of former Land of Lincoln residents as well. They fled for a reason.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Reps. Jerry Nadler (D–N.Y.) and Adam Schiff (D–Calif.) earned the coveted Kelly/Giffords endorsement. While Mark Kelly might not mention the words “Democrat” or “progressive” in his ads, he sure likes far-left candidates.

They even endorsed Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D–Wash.), who praised Seattle’s violent CHAZ as “planting the seeds of justice.” The next day she called for “decriminalizing homelessness” and to “re-imagine and rebuild law enforcement across the country in order to finally put an end to police brutality, militarization, and anti-Blackness.”

Most Arizonans don’t want autonomous zones “planting the seeds of justice” in Phoenix, Tucson, or Flagstaff, and perhaps Kelly agrees. His group’s endorsement says otherwise.

Just like Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Mark Kelly fills his ads with waving flags, pickup trucks, and paeans to tradition and the Constitution. But if the past is prelude, a Senator Kelly will push Sacramento and Seattle laws on the freedom-loving voters of Arizona.

I suspect Arizonans don’t want to see their state turned into California. Mark Kelly hopes they do.

Article originally published at azcentral.

Published in Elections, Guns, Politics
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 22 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. SteveSc Member
    SteveSc
    @SteveSc

    How about no?

    As a 38 year Arizonan, my state is being Californicated….

     

    • #1
  2. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    • #2
  3. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Mark Kelly will not represent Arizona. He will represent the DNC, and China. He’s another Flake. Arizonans will rarely see him if he’s elected. Jeff Flake was rarely seen in Arizona during his time in the Senate.

    • #3
  4. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    California without a beach.

    Here’s hoping Arizona resists the “temptation.”

    • #4
  5. JustmeinAZ Member
    JustmeinAZ
    @JustmeinAZ

    SteveSc (View Comment):

    How about no?

    As a 38 year Arizonan, my state is being Californicated….

     

    Yeah. We’re thinking about moving to Florida.

    • #5
  6. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):

    SteveSc (View Comment):

    How about no?

    As a 38 year Arizonan, my state is being Californicated….

     

    Yeah. We’re thinking about moving to Florida.

    The plan for the Dems, is to make the manufacturing and sales of guns uneconomical.   This can be done through the creation of liability for the seller/maker of guns and ammo.  This can also be done by taxing the crap out guns and ammo.  Neither of those will be stopped by the 2nd Amendment or Heller.  If the Dems take the Senate and remove the filibuster, the die will be cast. 

    • #6
  7. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.:

     

    I suspect Arizonans don’t want to see their state turned into California.

    Since he is running for Federal office, he is technically  looking to turn the whole country into California, but only Arizona can stop him.

    • #7
  8. Bryan G. Stephens, Trump Avenger Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens, Trump Avenger
    @BryanGStephens

    Doug Watt (View Comment):

    Mark Kelly will not represent Arizona. He will represent the DNC, and China. He’s another Flake. Arizonans will rarely see him if he’s elected. Jeff Flake was rarely seen in Arizona during his time in the Senate.

    He represents Gary I am sure.

     

    This is what proud Republicans voting for Biden want.

    • #8
  9. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Hopefully this sign of enthusiasm today in Phoenix for Trump translates into a victory for McSally.

    • #9
  10. JustmeinAZ Member
    JustmeinAZ
    @JustmeinAZ

    Brian Watt (View Comment):

    Hopefully this sign of enthusiasm today in Phoenix for Trump translates into a victory for McSally.

    I would have preferred a 20,000 person rally – more votes.

    • #10
  11. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    I recently left Arizona basically because I found a place with a lot of space for my stuff, that I could afford.  But after 30 years I’d also had enough of the summer heat; and the leftism seemed to be getting out of control.

    • #11
  12. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    SteveSc (View Comment):

    How about no?

    As a 38 year Arizonan, my state is being Californicated….

    I remember that being a thing back in the 1960s and 70s, when I was growing up in Oregon.  “Don’t Californicate Oregon.”  I think they also had some billboards at the border, “Welcome to Oregon, enjoy your visit!  And then go back home.”

    • #12
  13. JimGoneWild Coolidge
    JimGoneWild
    @JimGoneWild

    kedavis (View Comment):

    SteveSc (View Comment):

    How about no?

    As a 38 year Arizonan, my state is being Californicated….

    It was this, “Welcome to Oregon, enjoy your visit.”

     

    • #13
  14. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    Three astronauts have come out against him. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2020/10/04/heres-why-three-astronauts-are-endorsing-mcsally-and-not-mark-kelly-n2577451

    • #14
  15. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    JimGoneWild (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    SteveSc (View Comment):

    How about no?

    As a 38 year Arizonan, my state is being Californicated….

    It was this, “Welcome to Oregon, enjoy your visit.”

     

    I’ve seen the “And then leave” billboard myself, but it might have been considered a “joke.”

    • #15
  16. JustmeinAZ Member
    JustmeinAZ
    @JustmeinAZ

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Three astronauts have come out against him. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2020/10/04/heres-why-three-astronauts-are-endorsing-mcsally-and-not-mark-kelly-n2577451

    Well I do wish they would do some TV spots.

    • #16
  17. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Three astronauts have come out against him. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2020/10/04/heres-why-three-astronauts-are-endorsing-mcsally-and-not-mark-kelly-n2577451

    Well I do wish they would do some TV spots.

    Mark Kelly needs to be the astronaut equivalent of swift-boated.

    • #17
  18. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: For Kelly, the issue of gun control is personal. His wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords, was shot by a mentally ill man in 2011, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury.

    If Kelly were honest, he be pushing for more treatment of the mentally ill and for laws allowing involuntary confinement for those deemed dangerous to themselves or society.  But noooooooooo . . .

    The Democrats have found if they run former military candidates who promise to protect 2nd Amendment rights, they win more races than they lose.  If Kelly wins, Arizona – and the rest of the country – loses . . .

    • #18
  19. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser
    @Buckpasser

    I’ve lived in either AZ or CA since I started college in ’74.  Everything is moving left.   I’m going to give FL a shot next month.

    • #19
  20. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Stad (View Comment):
    If Kelly were honest

    He seems to be staying bought so far, so…

    • #20
  21. Chris Member
    Chris
    @Chris

    Good luck, Arizonans. 

    • #21
  22. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    It’s entirely possible that Arizona no longer deserves someone like Martha McSally.

    • #22
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.