Why Did NRA Political Victory Fund Endorses Alabama Incumbent?

Endorsements probably shouldn’t matter all that much in politics, but the truth is that most people don’t devote all that much time into looking into the candidates. They get slammed by commercials for and against each candidate, leaving them a confused mess in the primaries, only to become a team sport in the general election, often without much more than a few articles or soundbites about what they actually stand for.

So, endorsements matter because it’s a stamp of approval from someone you might trust. The issue is that some people trust some sketchy sources.

The NRA’s Political Victory Fund, though, is a big endorsement for anyone who supports gun rights, and an endorsement in Alabama raised a couple of eyebrows, including mine.

The political action committee for America’s largest pro-gun rights organization has endorsed U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) in Alabama’s upcoming Republican runoff election for U.S. Senate.

On Monday, the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund released a letter of support for Moore, touting his fight against the “Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries gun control agenda.”

“On behalf of our millions of members around the country, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is proud to endorse your candidacy for the United States Senate in Alabama…,” the letter stated. “Finally, thank you for your continued opposition to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries gun control agenda of banning lawfully owned firearms, ammunition, and magazines.”

“Congratulations on your endorsement, and thank you for your support of the Second Amendment,” added the group.

Now, I’ve got no real issue with Moore as a candidate. I haven’t been following his votes closely enough to have an issue with him. This isn’t really about him so much as the fact that he’s in a primary race at the moment against Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL who runs both a non-profit fighting human trafficking and The Shooting Institute, a firearm training center.

When you look at the Political Victory Fund’s website, you’ll see that Hudson has been graded as “AQ,” which is the grade given to someone who doesn’t have a track record in office but answered the questions on the NRA’s questionnaire in a pro-gun manner. In other words, everything about Hudson suggests he’s very pro-gun, possibly even more pro-gun than Moore.

So, as a friend asked, why did Moore get endorsed and endorsed now?

The simple answer for why Moore got the endorsement is that he’s actually got a track record. While Hudson is probably as pro-gun as they come, especially with his family’s livelihood tied to training people to shoot, the reality is that he’s still an unknown, and in politics, the unknown can be a dangerous place.

After all, Tony Gonzales ran both as a Republican and a veteran, which would have suggested he’d be pro-gun, especially coming from Texas, and how did that work out again?

I do find it a bit curious that they’re endorsing in the runoff process, rather than waiting for the general election, because if Moore loses, things can be a smidge awkward with Hudson going forward, but really, for the NRA, it’s a case of sticking with the incumbent unless there’s a reason not to. When it comes to a single-issue group like the NRA, it’s probably the right call.

Editor’s Note: President Trump and Republicans across the country are doing everything they can to protect our Second Amendment rights and right to self-defense.

Help us continue to report on their efforts and legislative successes. Join Bearing Arms VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.