The National Rifle Association is so miffed over Republican Sen. Mike DeWine’s vote on gun liability that the organization may even back a Democrat in next year’s election.
DeWine angered the NRA in July when the Ohio lawmaker was one of only two Republicans to oppose a bill shielding gun makers from liability for damages resulting from the use of their firearms, according to the publication The Hill.
Now gun activists and the state GOP are welcoming talk that Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, may challenge DeWine in 2006.
"Congressman Ryan has been approached by some national and Ohio Democrats and urged to run for the Senate, but at this time he’s focused on serving the people of the 17th District," said his spokesman, Ryan Keating.
But Rick Kaleda, the NRA’s election-volunteer coordinator in Ryan’s district, said: "Personally, as an individual and an ardent Republican, I would love to see anyone run against DeWine, especially Ryan."
The NRA endorsed Ryan in his successful 2002 Democratic primary bid.
A Capitol Hill lobbyist called DeWine "the most activist, anti-gun Republican in the Senate."
The organization Gun Owners of America gave DeWine a grade of F for his voting record on gun issues, The Hill reports. Ryan received a B.
