A Look at Thomas Massie’s Challenger’s Second Amendment Stance

When it comes to pro-gun lawmakers, there aren’t many who compare with Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. While there are plenty of areas for many Republicans to take issue with–Massie is a libertarian, not a conservative, so that creates some friction–his position on guns isn’t one of them. I mean, his issue with national reciprocity is that we shouldn’t have to have a permit, which is why he proposed national constitutional carry.

Sounds pretty pro-gun.

However, he’s on the outs with President Donald Trump, and Trump wanted Massie primaried. Enter Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, a farmer, and businessman who has Trump’s support.

Now, we don’t get into other issues that might come up in an election, just guns. However, Gallrein has no record on guns. Where does he stand?

Over at Firearms News, David Codrea reached out to ask. Here was the response:

Here is Mr. Gallrein’s unedited response:

My view of the Second Amendment is straightforward: the Second Amendment is absolute and non-negotiable. It must be proactively protected from infringement. 

Throughout the last several years we have seen partisan, activist judges attempt to water down or even make the Second Amendment obsolete. We have a duty as a citizenry and a country to ensure that never happens. President Trump has done an excellent job of highlighting these kinds of radical judges. To curb their influence and power, Congress must take proactive steps by passing laws that protect and shield the Second Amendment from these rogue judicial actors. 

Despite having the toughest, most radical gun control laws in the country, many of our major liberal cities continue seeing spikes in crime. I support a nationwide recognition and reciprocity of concealed carry between states and jurisdictions. I also support trained, qualified and designated staff in our schools being able to use a firearm to stop attacks and protect our students and staff. 

He went on to list his firearm collection and his lifetime membership in the NRA, as well as his NRA instructor credentials, which Codrea specifically asked about.

However, there were some other things Codrea asked about that weren’t specifically answered, such as what Congress should do about gun-free zones and what kind of role Congress should play with regard to the supposedly pro-gun DOJ continuing to side with the Biden-era positions on Second Amendment cases.

That doesn’t inherently mean anything, though, because Codrea asked a whole lot of questions. Plus, as Gallrein just announced his candidacy a month ago, it’s possible that he simply hasn’t formulated any position on those issues.

What I will say, though, is that his position on national reciprocity does come short of Massie’s, but is in line with where most Republicans are willing to throw their support. Yet even there, it still seems to hint that he’s not as pro-gun as Massie.

Again, few are. 

Is he actually pro-gun as opposed to just anti-gun control? Support for national reciprocity suggests that he is. The same is true of his support for armed school staff. 

All in all, he’s probably as pro-gun as he would need to be as a member of Congress. 

However, it doesn’t look like he’s held public office before, and thus, we don’t actually have a record to examine, while we do with Massie. Will Gallrein pull a Kinzinger and decide to be anti-gun down the road? There’s no way to predict that, but I’m skeptical he would, considering where he would represent. That would be the surest way out of office if he did.

But I don’t see anything to suggest he’s more pro-gun than Thomas Massie, and that’s kind of important in this day and age.

Editor’s Note: The mainstream media continues to lie about gun owners and the Second Amendment. 

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