The National Rifle Association and several other gun groups in Montana are lining up behind Montana Supreme Court candidate Nels Swandal.
The NRA’s endorsement apparently just hit the web within the last few hours- you can find it by clicking here.
The Montana Shooting Sports Association had this to say:
Officials of every significant right to bear arms advocacy group involved in Montana have endorsed Judge Nels Swandal for Justice of the Montana Supreme Court. These officials include Gary Marbut, President of the Montana Shooting Sports Association; Matt Egloff, President, Montana Rifle and Pistol Association; Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America; and Alan Gottlieb, Chairman of Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Swandal is also endorsed by the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund.
MSSA president Marbut explained, “We sent judicial candidate questionnaires to both candidates for this important seat on the Montana Supreme Court, especially including questions designed to demonstrate the candidates’ attitudes about government power versus civil rights. Judge Swandal completed and returned our questionnaire with answers that we find agreeable. His opponent declined to answer the questions. We think judicial candidates should be exposed to the same sort of public scrutiny as other candidates. Voters should not be expected to sign a blank check for judicial offices. Based on Judge Swandal’s responses and on his opponent’s non-response, we think Judge Swandal will make an excellent Justice for the Montana Supreme Court. We highly recommend Judge Swandal to Montana voters.”
Meanwhile, a prominent pro-life group is also giving its backing to Swandal. Jeff Laszloffy with Montana Family Action, the policy arm of the Montana Family Foundation, has this:
In compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Minnesota v. White, Judge Swandal was the only judicial candidate to complete Montana Family Action’s Voter Guide questionnaire. Based on these responses, his experience as a district court judge, and his history of fair and impartial decisions on the bench, we believe Judge Swandal will decide cases based on the Constitution, and not on his personal beliefs or political ideology.