Smith earns NRA endorsement

The country's most powerful gun lobby endorsed the Republican candidate for Missouri's 8th Congressional District, the candidate's campaign announced Monday.

The campaign of state Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, announced that Smith gained the endorsement of the NRA in the June 4 special election to replace Jo Ann Emerson. Smith earned an "A" rating from the gun lobbying group, according to a news release from his campaign.

Smith has co-sponsored bills this session in the Missouri Legislature prohibiting the publication of information identifying gun owners and preventing the state from creating a registry of gun owners.

"In Jefferson City I have fought against the creation of gun-owner registries and I consistently voted to preserve the rights of law-abiding Missourians to own a gun for sport and protection," Smith said in the news release. "In the U.S. House of Representatives, I will continue to fight against any infringement on the 2nd Amendment."

State Rep. Steve Hodges of East Prairie, Mo. speaks after receiving the nomination of the Democratic 8th District Congressional Committee after the first round of voting Saturday, Feb.16, 2013 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

His Democratic opponent, state Rep. Steve Hodges of East Prairie, Mo., also has expressed his opposition to the creation of a list of gun owners and against sharing information about gun owners with the federal government.

Hodges campaign manager, Jake Breymaier, said his candidate has a strong record of advocating for gun owners' rights.

"The National Rifle Association endorsed Steve Hodges four times as a State Representative and Hodges will continue to support pro-2nd Amendment legislation," Breymaier said in an email responding to Smith's announcement. "Hodges has been a constant advocate for Missouri gun owners and will continue that advocacy in Washington. His voting record proves that he will be a consistent voice for Missouri on this issue."

Smith also has received endorsements from agriculture and business groups and Missouri Right to Life, though Hodges' campaign says its candidate also has a strong pro-business, pro-life and pro-agriculture record, again pointing to past endorsements in previous Missouri House races won by Hodges.

Other candidates on the June 4 ballot are Libertarian Bill Slantz and the Constitution Party's Doug Enyart.

msanders@semissourian.com

388-3652