TAMARA HARRIS EXPOSES WHAT GETTING AN “A” ON THE NRA REPORT CARD REALLY MEANS
TAMARA HARRIS EXPOSES WHAT GETTING AN “A” ON THE NRA
REPORT CARD REALLY MEANS
Harris: “I will never take money from the NRA Political Victory Fund. I will get an ‘F’ on the NRA scorecard and that’s one F that I will wear proudly.”
(New Jersey- May 7, 2018)–Tamara Harris, the Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, is standing up to one of the country’s most powerful lobbying groups in an effort to expose how the organization attempts to sway public policy.
In a special interactive session held on Facebook Live on May 5th, Harris detailed her answers to some questions on the National Rifle Association’s candidate survey, which the group uses to determine which elected officials or candidates to endorse or support financially. She also challenged other candidates and elected officials to publicly explain their answers.
“The NRA is a very powerful lobby that uses their endorsements of candidates to reduce the public safety of American citizens,” Harris said. “I will never take money from the NRA Political Victory Fund. I will get an ‘F’ on the NRA scorecard and that’s one F that I will wear proudly.”
Harris has been an outspoken advocate for common-sense gun control throughout her campaign, especially in the wake of the tragic Parkland, Florida, mass school shooting. In the Facebook Live session, she detailed her objections to numerous questions on the NRA questionnaire, which asks candidates to indicate their level of support for desired NRA policy outcomes:
● Question 1: Do you agree with the NRA and therefore would vote for concealed carry reciprocity?
A: I would be a strong “no” vote against concealed carry reciprocity. New Jersey has strict standards for getting a handgun license and does not automatically recognize licenses from other states. I believe we must protect the right of New Jersyans to determine our own gun laws.
● Question 3: Do you agree with the NRA and support comprehensive mental health reform? Or do you disagree with the NRA and not support reforming America’s mental health system?
Answer: This is not an either-or proposition. The NRA is claiming that anti-gun activists ignore mental health in favor of supporting gun control, but this is patently false. I will not allow the NRA to shift blame for the epidemic of mass shootings onto the mentally ill. Our country has a gun problem that it needs to address.
● Question 4. Do you agree with the NRA and support prohibiting the CDC from using taxpayer funds to advocate or promote gun control or disagree with the NRA and would repeal the prohibition against the CDC?
Answer: I would vote to allow the CDC to study the gun violence epidemic and advocate for gun control, because those measures work. Gun violence is a public health issue.
● Question 23. Do you agree with the second amendment?
Answer: I will support your right to own a gun in self-defense if you commit to protect the public from this epidemic of gun violence.
· Question 24: Are you or have you ever been an NRA member?
Answer: No. This is a major difference between the other candidates and I. I am the only candidate who has made it clear that I am not, and have never been an NRA member.
To learn more about Tamara’s views on the NRA and gun safety, see the full Facebook Live recording at:
