JOHN KERRYS GUN-VOTING RECORD
According to the National Rifle Associations Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), John F. Kerrys voting record makes him the most anti-gun presidential nominee in United States history. NRA records show that since his election to the U.S. Senate in 1984, Kerry has cast 59 votes (NRA did not score 4 of them) on issues involving firearms rights and hunting.
In addition, Kerry currently is a co-sponsor of S. 1431, which would ban all semi-automatic shotguns, all detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles and many other guns, calling the whole lot assault weapons.
In a 20-year career, Kerry has voted on nine separate occasions on issues directly related to banning semi-auto firearms. In 1990 he voted three times to support a ban on semi-autos. In 1993 Kerry voted for the Dianne Feinstein-sponsored Clinton Gun Ban and further supported the passage of that legislation in 1994 by voting to support the Omnibus Crime bill on three key votes. Finally, in 2004 he voted to reauthorize the Clinton Gun Ban.
Kerry voted in 2004 to ban most center-fire rifle ammunition, including the most common rounds used by target shooters and hunters.
Kerry voted in 1985 to allow BATF to conduct unlimited warrant-less inspections of FFL holders. Kerry was one of only 18 Senators to vote to allow such abuses. In 1993 Kerry was one of 30 Senators who supported an amendment to H.R. 2403 that would have increased the fee for an FFL by more than 37 times.
Kerry voted twice to eliminate the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).
On a number of different occasions, Kerry has voted to regulate gun shows by imposing a background check requirement on private gun owners that goes beyond the requirements for FFL holders operating in a gun store. Kerry twice voted in 1999 to require that all gun sales at a gun show go through an FFL holder.
In 2004 Kerry again voted to regulate gun shows by mandating background checks on guns sold by private individuals at gun shows.
In 1985 Kerry was one of only 26 Senators to support a Kennedy amendment to the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) to continue the ban on the interstate sale of handguns. He also was one of only 15 Senators who voted against final passage of FOPA.
On two occasions, first in 1998 and again in 1999, Kerry voted to ban the importation of high- capacity magazines. On both occasions he voted to support a Feinstein amendment to block importation of magazines manufactured before the ban on these magazines was implemented in 1994. He also voted for the 1993 Crime Bill, that included the ban on these magazines.
Kerry has consistently supported the imposition of a waiting period on gun purchases. In 1985 he voted to require a national 14-day wait. In 1991 he voted for a 7-day wait, and in 1992 he supported a 5-day wait. He also voted in 1993 to specifically allow the continuation of state waiting periods after the advent of the National Instant Check system (NICS), and he voted to strike the sunset of the federal waiting period after implementation of NICS. In all, Kerry voted 11 times to force law-abiding citizens to wait to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Please consider these facts when voting in November.
-Todd Woodard
