National Rifle Association Endorses Congressman Graves

“Accordingly, you are rated an ‘A’ and endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund for your tested and proven support for our Second Amendment rights.”

National Rifle Association (NRA) has endorsed Republican Congressman Tom Graves’ (GA-09) re-election campaign in the July 20th primary. Graves received the nod from the NRA because of his strong commitment to Second Amendment and support of pro-gun legislation.

“On behalf of the National Rifle Association, thank you for your unwavering commitment to the Second Amendment and our hunting heritage during your brief tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives and your long and active service in the Georgia General Assembly,” said Charles Cunningham, Director of Federal Affairs for the National Rifle Association. “Accordingly, you are rated an ‘A’ and endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund for your tested and proven support for our Second Amendment rights.”

In the seven and half years he was in the Georgia General Assembly, Graves was one of the go-to-guys for the NRA introducing, co-authoring and supporting legislation that protects and expands gun rights for law-abiding citizens.

In Congress, Graves has co-sponsored key legislation important to the NRA and its members that strengthens the Second Amendment.

“As a Congressman, you have acted very quickly and supported important pro-gun federal reforms through co-sponsorship of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, the Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act, the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act and legislation to force reform at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” added Cunningham.

“Receiving the NRA’s endorsement is a big boost to our campaign,” said Congressman Graves. “Our Second Amendment right is under constant attack by the Washington liberals appealing to a narrow constituency and in Congress I’m fighting for law abiding citizens who wish to defend themselves and for the preservation of our hunting heritage.”

Graves is the Lifetime Member of the NRA and avid sportsman.

Congressman Graves was elected to Congress in a Special Election Runoff on June 8th to fill the 9th District’s unexpired term, receiving 56.5 percent of the vote. He also finished first in the May 11th Special General Election.

The Graves campaign has been endorsed by Georgia Right to Life, Concerned Women of America, FreedomWorks, RedState’s Erick Erickson, the Club for Growth PAC, Jim Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, Republican Whip Eric Cantor, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence, Congressman Patrick McHenry and the House Conservative Fund, Congressman Paul Ryan and former 9th District candidates Bert Loftman and Eugene Moon.

For more information about Congressman Graves’ re-election campaign, visit www.GravesForCongress.org.

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Graves was elected to the U.S. Congress in a special election on June 8th, 2010, to fill the 9th District’s unexpired term. He serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security as well as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee and the Republican Whip Team.

Graves previously served four terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and is recognized statewide as a conservative leader. He received a 2009 “National Legislator of the Year” from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a 2009 “Guardian of Small Business” Award from the National Federation of Independent Business, the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” Award from the Georgia Retail Association, the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” from the 9th Congressional District of Georgia and was nationally recognized as the “Legislative Entrepreneur of the Year Award” by the Freedom Works Foundation for his tireless effort to stem the tide of expansive government and reduce the tax burden on Georgians. Georgia Trend named Graves to its 2009 “40 under 40, Georgia’s Best and the Brightest.”

Graves grew up in White, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance. Graves is a small businessman, past member of the Gordon County Board of Elections and an active member of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Julie, a native of Marietta, and the couple has three children, JoAnn, John and Janey. They attend the Belmont Baptist Church in Calhoun.