Candidate Profiles:
McCain / Palin (R) | Obama / Biden (D)

2008 Candidate Profile: McCain

John Sidney McCain III

DOB: August 29, 1936

Occupations:

• U.S. Senator from Arizona (1986 - present)
• U.S. Congressman from Arizona's 1st Congressional District (1982-1986
• Captain in the U.S. Navy
• Prisoner of War (1967-1973) during the Vietnam War

Party Affiliation: Republican

Spouse: Cindy McCain

Education: 

BS, United States Naval Academy, 1958
National War College, 1973-1974

Other:

The Armed Services Committee
The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
The Indian Affairs Committee

"We need to focus on halting the spread of violent crime and punishing violent criminals who abuse their Second Amendment rights, while preserving those same rights for law-abiding Americans."

More Views and Comments on Firearms

"A few years ago, Congress passed a law to make sure people undergo a simple background check before buying a gun... Problem is, there's a dangerous loophole because right now the law doesn't cover most of America's gun shows."

McCain favors outlawing cheaply made handguns called Saturday night specials, and favors mandating safety locks on certain guns. He said he is intrigued by new technology that electronically identifies a person handling a gun, allowing only the owner to fire it. McCain rallied Senate Republicans behind a Democratic measure requiring background checks at gun shows.

McCain said he was open to voting for an assault weapon ban, depending on the details.

Voting Record

McCain / Feingold Campaign Finance Reform
Sponsor: John McCain

The amendment purpose is to ban broadcast, cable or satellite television and radio issue advertising by groups. An electronic media blackout would be enforced 60 days before a general election and 30 days before a primary election (or runoff) if the government determines that the advertising content "refers" to a Federal candidate. Restrictions adversely effects how groups communicate on legislation and voting records of politicians.

McCain / Lieberman Gun Show Bill
Sponsor: John McCain

The bill requires a person operating a gun show to obtain a federal license, mandates registration of attendees and grants power to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to create any additional gun-show regulations they deem appropriate.

• Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)

• Voted YES on loosening license and background checks at gun shows.

• Voted to table or kill a motion to require that: all gun sales at gun shows be completed by federally licensed gun dealers: background checks be completed by buyers, gun show promoters to register with the Treasury. (May 1999) 

• Voted YES on The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - S. 397.

• Senator McCain voted in favor of protecting the firearms industry from frivolous lawsuits seeking to hold manufacturers, retailers and distributors responsible for the criminal actions of others.

• Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks.

• Voted to table or kill an amendment to make it unlawful for gun dealers to sell handguns without providing trigger locks. Violation of the law would result in civil penalties, such as suspension or revocation of the dealer's license, or a fine.  (July 1998)

• Voted YES on more penalties for gun and drug violations.
  The Hatch amendment would increase mandatory penalties for the illegal transfer or use of firearms, fund additional drug case prosecutors and require background checks on purchasers at gun shows. (May 1999)

• Introduced the Youth Violence Prevention Act
  Prevents juveniles from illegal access to weapons and punishes those who would assist them in doing so; prohibits juveniles who commit acts of gun violence from purchasing guns in the future; sentences juveniles convicted of violent crimes under adult guidelines; punishes juveniles who illegally carry or use handguns in schools. (May 1999)

• Voted against Brady Bill & Assault Weapon Ban
  McCain spoke generally of the need for some tighter gun controls on hardened criminals and children. In Congress, he pressured his colleagues to require background checks for buyers at gun shows, and he supported a requirement that trigger locks be sold with handguns. But the Senator opposed the two major gun-control measures of recent years, the 1994 ban on several types of assault weapons and the Brady Bill, which required a 5-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
  

  Todd S. Purdum, New York Times, p. A14, Aug 17, 1999

Other

Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police

McCain participated with the anti-gun "Americans for Gun Safety" group, airing ads in favor of ending the gun-show "loophole."

McCain supports the following principles regarding gun issues:

• Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.

• Favors allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms

• McCain says, "There are penalties for criminals who use firearms."
  

  Source: Project Vote Smart, July 1998

A Message from NSSF President, Steve Sanetti

2008 Election
Action Items for Sportsmen:

Get Registered
Exercise your constitutional rights. Register to vote.

Be Informed
Learn where candidates stand on hunting, shooting and your firearm freedoms.

Cast Absentee Ballots
Going to be out of town on a hunting trip or on business Nov. 4? Learn how to apply for an absentee ballot in your state.

Mobilize
Share your knowledge of the candidates and their views on hunting issues and firearm freedoms with fellow sportsmen and sportswomen.

Make the Choice
On Election Day, choose the candidate you feel confident will protect your hunting and shooting heritage and firearm freedoms.