By Matt Manda
U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), a 26 year U.S. Air Force combat veteran, says “I’ve put my life on the line for the Second Amendment.”
Arizona Republican U.S. Sen. Martha McSally spent two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before being appointed to the upper chamber last year. Prior to serving in Congress, Sen. McSally spent 26 years in the U.S. Air Force including flying A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. The senator was the first female U.S. fighter pilot to fly in combat and the first woman to command a fighter squadron.
Speaking with dozens of members of the firearm and ammunition industry for an NSSF Political Action Committee virtual town hall, Sen. McSally got right to the point when asked by NSSF’s Larry Keane what the Second Amendment means to her.
“I’ve put my life on the line for the Second Amendment,” she said.
Citizens’ Self Defense
Sen. McSally joined the NSSF PAC virtual town hall event as firearm sales continue at record levels. This includes millions of first-time buyers and accounts for growing numbers of women and minority gun owners. NSSF’s Keane pointed to the overlapping concerning circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, shuttered businesses and now the rioting and looting. McSally agreed, adding, “I really believe people are just becoming more mindful of their safety.”
Banking Discrimination, COVID Business Protections
Sen. McSally joined the town hall after leaving the Senate floor where debate wrapped up on the Great American Outdoors Act, which later passed in widespread bipartisan agreement. An avid outdoors enthusiast on top of her firearm qualifications, Sen. McSally tweeted after final GAOA passage, “NEWS: Our historic legislation to restore Arizona’s crown jewel national parks, improve access to our public lands, & reinvigorate our outdoor recreation economy just passed the Senate. This is a huge win for AZ and all of us who love the outdoors.”
Keane asked about firearm industry priorities that might be included in a future COVID-19 pandemic relief package. Sen. McSally discussed the importance of Senate action to prohibit financial institutions and software processing companies from enacting discriminatory actions against lawfully operating businesses. Lastly, she voiced her strong support for additional funding to help with the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) backlog due to elevated firearm purchases, as well as the inclusion of liability protections for business owners as they work to safely bring employees back into stores and reopen the economy through the summer.
Arizona Senate Race
Sen. McSally’s race appears to be ground zero for which party has control of the Senate. She reminded town hall participants of her strong legislative record, hardworking team, and cautioned, “Don’t believe the polls now. We’re in a strong position.”
Keane and Sen. McSally discussed her opponent Mark Kelly, the husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and gun control’s number one ally this campaign cycle. Outside groups like billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety and others are pouring millions of dollars into Arizona to help Kelly, who so far remains largely undefined and in hiding.
Sen. McSally wrapped up the town hall by recalling the successes of the Senate and President Donald Trump in placing more than 200 pro-Second Amendment federal judges on the bench, including two on the Supreme Court, reinforcing just how important it is for industry-supporting Senators to remain in office.
As the November elections draw near, NSSF will continue updating the online voter education resource #GUNVOTE to make sure industry members and Second Amendment voters are educated heading into the polls so they don’t risk your rights.
I do wish people would get their terminology correct when writing about things regarding Military service. The A-10 Warthog IS NOT a fighter aircraft! You disrespect the real Fighter Pilots, who worked tirelessly to get that position, when you call someone who flew/flies an “Attack Aircraft” a fighter pilot! No disrespect to pilots who fly attack aircraft, this is a high achievement and one of the most dangerous jobs in the military as they brave deadly anti-aircraft fire to complete their missions! That said, they are NOT fighter pilots, who are a breed above all others!
For a guy in hiding Kelly did ok. It’s interesting in a red state (formally red?) this lady got beat twice. In fact, a lot of people split their vote. For Trump and against her. I wonder why she’s that disliked. Maybe she could move to another red state and wait for another senator to die and get appointed as that seems like her only way to succeed.
The Supreme Court has stated that the Police are under no obligation to protect you from criminals. That means that you must protect yourself. The left wants to take the ability to protect yourself away from you. So they want you to have no way of protecting yourself against criminals who dont care about laws. What is wrong with these people? What’s good is bad what’s bad is good for these leftists.
We saw what happened in cities with the rioters. The Police were too busy & too overworked to help the people they serve. No 2A equals complete anarchy.
The freaks on the left think that if guns are outlawed, the criminals would turn them in too. That will never happen.
McSally is a better choice in these trying times.
Don’t be delusional in thinking there is any other choice for us Arizonans. McSally is THE only option as Mark Kelly is a true gun hating liberal. He believes no one should own an AR-15 for any reason. Does no one here remember the political stunt he tried to pull with purchasing an AR from a Tucson gun store? If not, look it up. He is literally the worst of the worst for us 2A advocates. If you have to even think about which to vote for as a 2A supporter then you obviously shouldn’t be voting as you’re mentally deficient.
Hello
As a Az resident for 59 yrs and as registered Democrat since i was 18 yrs old. This will be the year that i switch too the Republican Party. It has sadden me that Democrats have been lying too the Az Residents and Our Country. I’m a Retired Correctional Officer with 25 years and 12 years as a miner. Plus, my Grandson and i do alot of hunting and UBR Match Shoots…
Respectfully
Manny
Krinkov545: The Constitution forbids the establishment of an “official” religion. Indeed, that also protects non-believers from it. The Constitution now allows women to vote and hold any office in the land. We don’t live in Israel or the Vatican so keep it to yourself in terms of what’s OK in this nation where faith is concerned.
I come from AZ, my adopted state for over 40 years now. Sen. McSally is spot on for Arizona and what the majority of Arizona people believe in. Mark Kelly sounds and looks pretty & I guess if you have all the money of the Democats using you as a tool to try to capture McSally’s senate seat that helps but he is just that, a pretty tool who would be used until the Democratic party has no use for him anymore, which will be on November 5th this year I reckon. McSally just tells it like it is and my prayer is that our Governor will make sure, really sure, that our elections are not stuffed with illegals and others who are not registered legally to vote in Arizona. We were the last of the 48 to join the union because we needed to know it was the right thing to do. It was and now we will fight with whatever tools the good Lord gives us to keep AZ free of all this progressive socialist manure trying to stink us up. God bless America and the best president we have had in a long time
No question for me as an Arizonan.
I don’t expect ANYONE to agree with me on all things so the odd issue here and there with Col. McSally bothers me not a bit.
It’s her *general* positioning and 1st and 2nd Amendment in particular that sway me to her.
Yup, it’s gonna be Republican straight down the line for me this time in Arizona and Federally as well.
Eating our own over particulars is EXACTLY what the other side wants in order for them to have the House and Senate numbers – either in their favor or manageably low for their perverse and anti-Constitutional agenda.
And this is from a registered Republican who deliberately withheld his vote from McCain. Didn’t vote for him but didn’t vote for his opponent either.
Todd.
The state of Wyoming (hard to believe) started this when they were the first to give woman the right to vote. Then the amendment was passed to give it to all woman, This was a terrible mistake, as woman are easily misled and or manipulated, which has been proven over and over again. They are wired by God to be nurturers and have no business being in a man’s position of protector and provider. Now I will have to admit there are many men today who appear to be men physically but are more like woman in action, and the case could be made that they have lost their way and should be considered women and not hold office or vote. Now I hope I was politically correct enough to not get any panties tied in a knot nor to offend those sissy men.
Skip, I agree, men have become emasculated by design in this country. Fortunately God did put a caveat in His word when Deborah was judge and so many other women held prominent rolls for the same reasons. I like this women and she is heads above Kelly. I pray God will heal our country and put real men back in rolls of leadership, but I am not holding my breath.
Are you kidding me? We want Dem gun grabber Kelly in office in AZ? There’s a very good chance the Senate may flip to Dem control this year. And if basement Biden wins, that’s a Dem controlled Gov. Anarchy, rioting & looting is who we want running the Country? No thanks. I don’t think people realize how important this next election is for the future of America. If you value the principles that this Country was founded on, Rep. is the only way to vote. The Dems & the Left want to tear it all down & are currently doing just that.
I certainly don’t want Kelly in that Senate seat. Nor do I want any other democrat there. McNally seems a reasonably good person and has a leaders background. I’ll give her my vote.
Get the silly women out of political office 100% and back in the house. Men are set by God to rule, lead and head the family, church and state. Women in charge is wicked and unbiblical and that’s why this nation is a disaster.
One word.
Bigot.
No, actually he is right, but… if you want to be biblical about it, it also says, when a man can not be found to lead, then a woman must take over. So what really has happened, is that men have gotten so sorry, women have filled the gaps. I always joke the biggest mistakes in the 20th century was giving women the vote and the invention of automatic transmissions and power steering.
Women are geared to ‘nurture’. Therefore they usually think-‘rehabilitate’. Every felon is therefore just a work in progress and if given the chance, will morph into an angel.
Men think ‘neuter’. (There are males who think like women, they have been conditioned like Pavlov’s dog.) Men know that people are bad; they lie, steal, assault and murder because they like to commit mayhem.
You neuter the rabid dogs running in the streets of our nation. The only criminals who are ‘rehabilitated’ are those who become true Christians. The rest just recycle from jail to jail, prison to prison until they are neutered permanently.
Men are not perfect, but we are geared for protection and security.
Troll much? “IF” you’re not a lib troll then you’re a fool. We need every vote we can get to save America from becoming a communist nation and you attack women voters? I hope you’re a troll because our side simply can’t have fools like you spouting BS.
I respect her service and I want to like her, but she’s not exactly a rockrib conservative. She’s been wishy washy on immigration too and don’t think for one second that illegal immigration doesn’t affect gun control. We don’t need another John McCain who occasionally says the right things then stabs you in the back. We also can’t tolerate another Democrat because you know they will destroy your rights. Hmmmm… decisions, decisions….
From how you describe her, it sounds like many other questionable or suspicious (R) candidates too.
When a (R) candidate is questionable or suspicious for any important reason, then it seems the best decision may be to either vote for the Independent candidate, or skip voting on that particular office, if no Independent candidate is running for it.
If there is the option for a write in candidate, then that would be ideal.
Yep, just go and do that GIVING THE RACE TO THE DEMOCRAT. People have to step up and challenge inbthe primaries but in the general, support your party or you WILL lose your 2A rights. Just ask citizens in Virginia about that.
Yep, just go and do that GIVING THE RACE TO THE DEMOCRAT. People have to step up and challenge in the primaries but in the general, support your party or you WILL lose your 2A rights. Just ask citizens in Virginia about that.
No candidate is perfect but given the alternative she is a whole lot better, don’t sit on your hands, vote this November, protect the 2nd Amendment, keep the liberals out or we’ll have total anarchy.
“decisions decisions” ?
Are you kidding me? She may not be the perfect conservative candidate but just consider what the democrats are offering up? You think THAT is better? Lol.
McSally is a die hard Trump supporter. She has her paid ads on FB all the time. When I see em I go on there and ask her the same question I ask every candidate that wants my vote. “Is our 2nd Amendment as written, the highest law of our land?”. To date Martha McSally can’t be troubled to answer. For that reason alone, I can’t be troubled to drop a ballot for her. It’s that simple. Debbie Lesko, went above and beyond. She came on and said “How dare you question my Conservative record!” Debbie then went on a rat about her NRA rating and blah blah blah. I mentioned the fact that Trump is the only president ever endorsed by the NRA and that he’s got a terrible record of backing anti Constitutional gun legislation. She then disappeared and let her’s and Trump supporters use vile language and personal attacks against me that as far as I’ve ever seen God fearing Conservatives have never used heretofore. Looked a lot more like unhinged Obama supporters of the previous administration to me. There’s one candidate running out of district 15 for the Arizona state house named Justin Wilmeth. He took time out of his day to answer my question in no uncertain terms, which he understands he will be held to. He is a candidate I can back fully without reservation because he said that our 2nd Amendment is absolutely the highest law of our land, and that he intends to fight relentlessly for it in our state house. Too bad he’s not running for the senate.
McSally is DEFINITELY no McCain. McCain had a big hand in trying to take down Trump. The democratic in this race is a liar and the adds are totally deceiving on McSally’s record.