U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn talks with members of the Tennessean's editorial board. Ayrika L Whitney, The Tennessean
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U.S. congresswoman Marsha Blackburn and a U.S. Senate candidate addresses the opioid crisis facing the state during the Healthy Tennessee conference at the Hermitage Hotel Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn.(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessean)Buy Photo
The National Rifle Association endorsed Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee's U.S. Senate race Wednesday, and went on the attack immediately, slamming her Democratic opponent Phil Bredesen as a "vote for anti-gun leadership."
The NRA announced its support of the conservative Williamson County congressman in a news release that hailed Blackburn's opposition to "the Pelosi/Schumer/Bloomberg gun control agenda."
“Marsha Blackburn is a champion of our Second Amendment freedoms and has always stood strong to protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans,” Chris Cox, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund, said in a statement.
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The endorsement was expected given the group's overwhelming support of Republicans, including President Donald Trump, as many Democrats nationally call for action on guns amid a series of high-profile mass shootings.
The NRA said Blackburn voted against legislation "that would criminalize the private transfer of firearms between lifelong friends and many family members." The group also commended her support for the Carry Reciprocity Act, which would require all states to recognize the handgun carry permits of other states.
Cox, the NRA chairman, also took aim at Bredesen, saying he "opposes constitutional freedoms of law-abiding gun owners and would be a rubber stamp for Chuck Schumer’s gun control agenda in Washington, D.C."
"He can’t be trusted to defend our Second Amendment rights."
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Cox's comments came despite the NRA endorsing Bredesen during his 2006 reelection for
