NRA in Louisville: McCain addresses grievances with conservatives; warns on Dems

LOUISVILLE - The remarks of presumptive Republican presidential nominee and U.S. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at today's National Rifle Association Leadership Forum not surprisingly revolved around gun rights.

The senator has not had a perfect record with the NRA, and has come under their criticism in the past for supporting background checks for firearms purchased at gun shows. He addressed this history today and stuck to his position on the matter.

"Over the years, I haven't agreed with the NRA on every issue. I have supported efforts to have NICS [National Instant Criminal Background Check System] background checks apply to gun sales at gun shows," said McCain. "I recognize that gun shows are enjoyed by millions of law-abiding Americans. I do not support efforts by those who seek to regulate them out of existence. But I believe an accurate, fair and instant background check at guns shows is a reasonable requirement."

The remarks were met by little response from the crowd of thousands gathered in Louisville for the event.

McCain also touched on a second historically contentious issue he has had with conservatives: his support of campaign finance reform.

The NRA is a major donor to candidates for federal office, having provided over $16 million in contributions to individual candidates since 1990 -- over 80 percent of which went to Republicans.

McCain's push of his coveted 2002 campaign finance reform package angered many large donors likeas the NRA due to the ban it imposed on unlimited "soft money" contributions to political parties.

"I supported campaign finance reform because I strongly believed our system of financing campaigns was influencing elected officials to put the interests of "soft money" donors ahead of the public interest," said McCain. "It is neither my purpose nor the purpose of the legislation to prevent gun owners or any other group of citizens from making their voices heard in the legislative process."

"Those disagreements do not detract from my long record of support for the Second Amendment and the work we have done together to protect the rights of gun owners from the political attitudes of the moment in Washington that view the Second Amendment as a once quaint custom that must now yield to the judgment of modern enlightened opinion," McCain continued.

The past disagreements seemed to have little impact on the largely conservative crowd. After a day full of speeches on gun related issues, McCain received a warm reception from the audience, which welcomed him with a standing ovation.

In addition to his consideration of past divides between himself and the NRA, McCain positioned himself as the best candidate for their policy preferences in the 2008 election.

McCain categorized the recent show of support for gun rights from Democratic Presidential candidates and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) as "theoretical," when contrasted to his own.

"We have real differences with the Democratic candidates for president. They have learned something since 2000. They don't talk about their plans for gun control. They claim to support hunters and gun owners," said McCain "But just because they don't talk about gun control doesn't mean they won't support gun control. Let's be clear. If either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama is elected President, the rights of law-abiding gun owners will be at risk. They have both voted as Senators to ban guns or ban ammunition or to allow gun makers to be sued out of existence."

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