Republican Glen Sturtevant Receives Endorsement, “A-” Rating from NRA; Gun Group Pulls It “After Realizing [It] Would Do More Harm Than Good”

From the Ghazala Hashmi for State Senate campaign:

STURTEVANT RECEIVES NRA ENDORSEMENT AND A- RATING WHILE FEIGNING SUPPORT FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION 

RICHMOND, VA – Yesterday, Senator Sturtevant received the endorsement of the NRA and an A- rating for his work blocking common-sense gun violence prevention legislation in the Senate for four years straight. This endorsement comes as Sturtevant attempts to distance himself from the NRA, which polls poorly in his blue-leaning suburban district. Seeing that his record voting against gun safety reform could spell the end to his political career, Sturtevant has attempted to pose as a champion for gun violence prevention in recent ads.

“To pretend to be an advocate for gun violence prevention measures, while welcoming the support of the NRA, which lobbies against such gun safety laws, is the height of hypocrisy,” said campaign manager Philip Stein. “This endorsement makes it clear where Sturtevant stands on gun safety reform as we point out in our most recent ad, ‘Wonder.’ There is a clear choice in this election for voters who care about addressing the epidemic of gun violence in Virginia: They can vote for Senator Sturtevant, who has voted year after year against common-sense gun safety laws and who has been endorsed by the NRA, or they can vote for Ghazala Hashmi who has promised to stand up for common-sense gun safety reforms and who has been endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence.”

After realizing that their endorsement would do more harm to Sturtevant’s re-election chances than good, the NRA took down the endorsement from their website this morning, but a screenshot is attached.

Ghazala Hashmi immigrated to the United States from India 50 years ago, and she has lived in the 10^th district for nearly 30 years. Hashmi wants to bring her diverse background, fresh ideas, and extensive experience to the Capitol, because as an educator of 25 years she understands the struggles that so many people in her district and across the Commonwealth face as they try to get ahead in life. Ghazala is focused on standing up for quality public education, affordable health care, and common-sense measures to reduce gun violence. The 10^th district is the best pick up opportunity Virginia Democrats have in the Senate this year and thus their strongest chance to win back control of the chamber. For more information please visit www.ghazalahashmi.com