Zinke is man of his word
Being part of a family that manufacturers firearms in Montana and has been selling them all over the world for the last 24 years, I have more than a cursory awareness of Second Amendment issues. I also have a good understanding of the proponents and opponents of gun rights in this state.
In light of the latest wave of negative attacks against Ryan Zinke, I felt it was time to speak up. The National Association for Gun Rights, a group with no serious credentials claiming to be a gun rights association, has recently been making allegations that Ryan is anti-gun. That is simply a preposterous statement.
The National Association for Gun Rights has emailed Montana voters claiming Ryan Zinke is against the Second Amendment. I don’t mind any organization throwing their support for a particular individual; that’s the American way. I do however have a problem with the negative manner in which the National Association for Gun Rights did it.
This group does not have a single lobbyist in Washington and has done little to support the Second Amendment but has done a lot to degrade the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation. That is simply not the Montana way. In fact other organizations like this will actually hold their recommendations until after the primary, giving voters the chance to see for themselves who the candidates are.
Montana voters have every right to consider which candidate they want to represent them in Washington. What I ask is that Montana voters give careful thoughts to what they read from outside sources like the National Association for Gun Rights.
Our way of life in Montana is being challenged every day in Washington from all sides. So look deeper when you read the information being brought to you from “outside Montana.” Remember organizations like the NRA, which actually fights for our rights, also have representation in our state.
Ryan Zinke is the only candidate running who has fought in combat to protect our rights. Can anyone really believe that a former commander at SEAL Team Six is against guns? Not to mention that Ryan is a founding member of the Montana Firearms Institute, and we have worked with him to ensure our gun culture in Montana remains secure.
I have discussed with Ryan his voting history and while even in our own party we don’t always agree on everything, I do feel confident that he will not only support and defend our constitutional rights, but also protect our way of life in Montana. And he’ll do it the way we expect our leaders to do it, with honor, respect and common sense.
It is a testament to Ryan Zinke’s character and integrity that he has shrugged off the relentless negative attacks and kept his pledge to run a positive campaign. He is a man of his word, and I know that if Montana voters elect him to Congress he will be a constant advocate for the gun owners of the Big Sky state.
Jeff Sipe, of Kalispell, represents the Montana Firearms Group.