Arizona: Jon Kyl for U.S. Senate

As Arizona`s junior senator, Jon Kyl has toiled steadfastly in both the House and the Senate focusing solely on the interests and protection of his constituents.

Representing a state with a proud pro-gun legacy, Kyl remains an important pillar of Second Amendment support in the legislature--support that would quickly be eroded if an anti-gun majority won the Senate this November. That`s why it is vital that Jon Kyl be returned to his seat in the U.S. Senate this Election Day.

Though he`s been a champion of gun rights on many an occasion--opposing extension of the Clinton "assault weapons" ban and passage of Campaign Finance Reform that muzzles groups like the NRA, while supporting the arming of pilots and the Civilian Marksmanship Program--perhaps Kyl`s most enduring legacy so far is his strong, vocal support of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

"I received an overwhelming number of letters, postcards, e-mails and phone calls requesting my support for a very important piece of legislation, S. 397, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act," Sen. Kyl wrote in an open letter to the gun owners of Arizona posted on the Tucson Rod & Gun Club website. "I was an original co-sponsor of the bill and, as a member of Senate leadership, actively pursued moving it through the Senate . . .

"When this legislation came to a vote [in 2004], a number of anti-gun amendments were added to it that made it impossible to pass. [Last] year we were able to defeat amendments like the gun show `loophole,` the `assault weapons` ban and a .50-caliber rifle ban . . ."

The Levin Amendment, another "poison pill" amendment that was defeated, attempted to weaken the prohibitions on civil liability actions, which was the purpose of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Kyl argued eloquently against the amendment and helped secure its demise.

"This amendment was tabled last year and it should be again defeated or tabled," Kyl said during debate in the Senate. "It is an amendment which would, in effect, be a poison pill for the entire bill . . .

"This is a highly regulated industry by law, by federal law and state law and even some local laws. And most of the acts that would meet the definition of gross negligence would already be in violation of law, and if they are in violation, they are not exempted from this legislation. We don`t try to exempt any gun manufacturer for conduct which is in violation of the law," Kyl argued.

"So, in fact, if the gross negligence or reckless conduct of a person was the proximate cause of death or injury--that is the allegation--you are in court irrespective of this bill, and clearly it totally undercuts the purpose of this bill (Protection of Lawful Commerce)."

Kyl was also instrumental, through testimony he made during confirmation hearings, in securing John Ashcroft`s position as attorney general--a confirmation that led to the Justice Department`s reaffirmation that the Second Amendment secures an individual right to bear arms.

In rebutting Sen. Ted Kennedy`s assertion during the hearings that Ashcroft`s position on the Second Amendment was "outside the mainstream," Kyl stated, "Mr. Chairman, while there is certainly room for us to debate the Second Amendment and gun control issues--and we`ve had robust debates about that--I think it goes too far to characterize a position held by President Madison, (then) Sen. Ashcroft, Sen. Feingold and a lot of other scholars on the issues, as outside the mainstream . . .

"And, in fact, I suggest it may say more about Sen. Kennedy`s locus in the spectrum of American public opinion."

In addition to protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners, Kyl has worked in the Senate to increase the safety of law enforcement and public service personnel as well as to protect all citizens from the threat of terrorist attack.

Kyl sponsored the Law Enforce-ment Officers` Protection Act of 2005, which would mandate tougher sentencing penalties for those who murder or attack police officers, firefighters, judges, court employees, ambulance crews, other public-safety officers or their families.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kyl serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security.

Kyl is also chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, making him one of the six key leaders of the Senate Republican leadership and ensuring that his constituents` voices are given due and ample consideration in the Senate.

It`s infinitely clear that Sen. Jon Kyl remains one of Arizona`s--and the nations`--foremost defenders of the Second Amendment. But another reason Kyl must be re-elected this November is the anti-gun vacuum that will be left in the U.S. Senate if Kyl and other staunch pro-gun senators fail in their congressional bids this fall.

"Someday soon, when we look back on the elections of 2006," Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President, said, "we`ll see this November as one of the most critical moments in the history of gun rights--either as the moment when America once and for all demanded that the Second Amendment stand as written, or the moment when the Second Amendment was ultimately betrayed.

"If the Second Amendment is to survive, we need Jon Kyl in Washington." LaPierre said.