Gun groups back Owens, Doheny

The National Rifle Association has endorsed U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, in the race for New York's new 21st Congressional District.

And Gun Owens of America, a gun rights group that has been critical of the NRA, has endorsed Owens' opponent, Watertown businessman Matt Doheny, who will be on the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines in the Nov. 6 election.

In its endorsement, NRA said Owens "has a proven record of defending the Second Amendment."

"Because of his strong support of our rights, Owens has earned an 'A+' rating and endorsement from the NRA-PVF," Chris W. Cox, chairman of NRA's Political Victory Fund, said in a prepared statement.

Owens said he's proud to get the NRA's endorsement.

"Our region is home to thousands of sportsmen and I consider it my responsibility to defend their Second Amendment rights," he said in a press release.

An A+ rating is the NRA's highest rating for an incumbent. Doheny did very well, too, receiving an AQ rating from the NRA. According to the organization's website, that rating is given to "a pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues."

In endorsing Doheny, GOA's vice-chairman, Tim Macy, said the former Wall Street financier is a "stalwart advocate for the peoples' right to keep and bear arms, and as a Representative of the 21st Congressional District, he will fight hard to keep those rights."

Here's the rest of the press release from GOA: “Unlike the incumbent representative, Matt will stand 100% in support of gun owners’ rights. Rep. Bill Owens claims to be pro-gun, but isn’t always willing to put his words into action. “For example, he voted against repealing ObamaCare, despite warnings from gun owners that a federally controlled medical database could be used by government bureaucrats to disarm law-abiding citizens. This is not just a hypothetical concern; already, more than 150,000 military veterans have lost their gun rights due to issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “The incumbent also voted for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. A vote for Owens simply puts Pelosi one step closer to the Speaker’s chair, where she can push her agenda of renewing the semi-auto ban, gun owner registration, and more. “The choice for gun owners is clear. Matt Doheny understands that the Second Amendment requires more than just a Representative who will vote right when it is convenient. This November, voters in the 21st District can send a Representative to Washington who will defend the Second Amendment to the fullest.”