The NRA has released its ratings of the 2018 candidates. In Maine, there were no surprises on the Democrat side. All received a well deserved “F”.
On the Republican side, there was an expected confusion. Confusion, because two of the candidates in the Republican Gubernatorial Primary are only recent converts to conservatism or, at least, their brand of it. Mary Mayhew not so recent as Shawn Moody, who clung to his dubious shroud before a last second conversion to join the GOP primary.
Both have received an “AQ” rating from the NRA. What that means is that the candidates, or their campaign team, have filled out the questionnaire correctly but have no record to back it up. In other words, they are a question mark.
Which begs a different question: Why would gun owners and 2A advocates trust the defense of their Natural Born Right to self-defense to candidates who have no such record to be judged on? Why leave such an important issue to chance?
It’s easy to see that 2nd Amendment is the divining issue of this election cycle. So it stands to reason that any candidate claiming to hold conservative values must claim his or her steadfast embrace of a 2A value system, but who has the record to prove it? If there is a profession that epitomizes the old saw, “Talk is Cheap”, it would be politics.
Remember, Al Gore once convinced the people of Tennessee he was Pro-Gun and how did that turn out? Mayhew and Moody could very well be the virtue their questionnaire signals but what record do they have to prove it? Are we willing to put our trust in hope and chance?
On the topics of ratings, along with his questionable “A” rating, Shawn Moody should be rated “MIA” in campaign participation. Moody has been a no-show for at least six candidate forums. Perhaps the politician, who is not-a-politician, is so confident in his fancy new finish over the old LePage political machine that he thinks he can cruise to the finish line or maybe he’s decided to take a page out of the old Mike Michaud playbook, hide in the shadows, and coast to a win.
At any rate, there is only one candidate who has been giving an “A+” rating by the NRA. They did so because he is the only candidate with a record that backs up his campaign promise to defend our God-given right to self-defense. That candidate is Garrett Mason.
The 2nd Amendment protects all of our Natural Born Rights. This is never an issue to be left to chance; not to question marks, no-shows, or shadow games. There is one true consistent defender of 2A principles with a record to prove it and he is Garrett Mason.
The Maine Conservative Voice 
If the Author of the above ARTICLE is correct? Then Garret Mason has my vote Period.
No link. Take this with a grain of salt.
No, Roger the ratings are out. You want to tell me you can’t access the NRA site. So sad to hear that Roger. Let me help. Didn’t realize the NRA was such an obscure group. Nobody knows about them right? https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/Maine/
What happens, Roger, when the ratings have been out for almost 24 hrs and everyone is asking what “AQ” means and you are disparaging my credibility? Where is yours? Do your research! Although it might be difficult on Moody the Manchurian.
Take a deep breath folks. I am an NRA Life, Patron, Benefactor and Endowment member. I know what AQ stands for. It says I have not yet voted in the legislature. I hope to correct that forthwith as our forefathers used to say.
MASON – ONLY A+ rating amongst ALL eleven 2018 gubernatorial candidates !
https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/maine/