Guns Ablazing - Who has NRA support? - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

North Dakota U.S. House candidate Pam Gulleson says her opponent Kevin Cramer is distorting her record on guns and she has released a document from the National Rifle Association to back up her claim.

On Wednesday, she doubled down, releasing her votes on gun control during her time in the North Dakota legislature.

"Just take a glance at my record, and you'll see that I have always been a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights to bear arms, especially concealed carry measures. I've had at least an A rating with the NRA every time I've run for office," said Gulleson. "Kevin Cramer is simply trying to distract the public from the fact that he's for sale to the highest bidder in this race."

GULLESON PRO-GUN VOTES

 2005 – 58^th Legislative Assembly

 SB 2219 CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subsection to section 62.1-04-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to concealed weapon permit information.

03/10 House Second reading, passed, yeas 088 nays 000 (PG=YEA)

03/22 Senate Filed with Secretary of State

SB 2219 BILL TEXT: Information collected from an applicant under this section is confidential information. However, the information may be disclosed:

a.         To a governmental agency or court for a law enforcement purpose, including the investigation, prosecution, or punishment of a violation of law.

b.        To a court to aid in a decision concerning sentence, probation, or release pending trial or appeal.

c.             Pursuant to a court order or a judicial, legislative, or administrative agency subpoena issued in this state.

 HB 1205: CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT TESTING: A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 62.1-04-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to concealed weapon permit testing.

01/19 House Second reading, passed, yeas 074 nays 014 (PG=YEA)

01/19  Second reading, passed, yeas 079 nays 011 (PG=YEA)

04/05 Conference committee report adopted, Second reading, passed, yeas 061 nays 031 (PG=YEA)

04/18 House Filed with Secretary of State.

HB 1205 BILL TEXT REMOVED THIS (PROFICIENCY TEST) LANGUAGE: "…and a proficiency test consisting of a course of fire to be designated by the criminal justice training and statistics division of the attorney general's office. The purpose of the proficiency test is only to ensure a minimal level of competency in the loading and unloading of the firearm or dangerous weapon, use of safety devices and basic firearm or dangerous weapon functioning, and minimal accuracy."

FULL TEXT OF BILL: http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/59-2005/bill-index/bi1205.html

 2001 – 57^th Legislative Assembly

 HB 1160 CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE FEE DISPOSITION

02/01 House Second reading, passed, yeas 096 nays 000  (PG=YEA)

04/04 Second reading, passed, yeas 092 nays 002 (PG=YEA)

03/06 House Filed with Secretary of State

HB 1160 BILL TEXT: "The license fee for a concealed weapons license is twenty-five dollars. Ten dollars of this fee must be credited to the state general fund and fifteen dollars of this fee must be credited to the attorney general's operating fund up to a total of fifty seventy-five thousand dollars each biennium. Any collections from fifteen dollars of this fee in excess of the fifty seventy-five thousand dollars credited to the attorney general's operating fund each biennium must be credited to the state general fund. The license fee must be paid before the license is issued by the director of the bureau of criminal investigation."

-- original story ---

If you are a gun owner, it is pretty confusing if you are trying to decide which of the North Dakota U.S. House candidates has your best interests at heart.

Monday, Republican candidate Kevin Cramer issued a news release touting a meeting he had with a representative of the National Rifle Association and "expressing dismay" over his opponent's opposition to concealed carry. "Everybody who wants to exercise this basic right should understand why my opponent does not think they should be allowed to carry concealed weapons," said Cramer.

Democrat Pam Gulleson responded by accusing Cramer of distorting her record.

 "I'm a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I have an A+ rating with the NRA, and I support national Right-to-Carry reciprocity legislation. It's outrageous that Cramer would claim anything otherwise. Cramer is showing himself to be the kind of politician who will take money from special interests and tell lies about his opponent," said Gulleson.

Cramer's evidence: A blank space on a survey from http://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/7722/pam-gulleson/, a voter resource site.

Cramer said he had met with Clayton Pederson, the National Rifle Association's top gun for North and South Dakota.

A call to the NRA to confirm who the story has so far not been returned.