By Kevin Robillard
Key Points:
“A new ad from Kotek’s campaign highlighting Johnson’s long-held support for gun rights shows a key part of their strategy. Johnson had an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, voted against a “red flag” gun control law and also owns a submachine gun.”
“The Kotek campaign’s ad features a mother, whose children are frolicking on a nearby playground, discussing the independent candidate.
“‘To hear that Betsy Johnson opposed red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of people like the Uvalde shooter, and opposed background checks and safe storage laws — I’m a hard no,’ the mom says, referring to the gunman who shot over 20 people in a Texas elementary school in May.
“The mom in the ad, Angela Uherbelau, protested against Johnson’s speech at TEDxPortland earlier this year — and had her own speaking slot at the event revoked as a result.
“A survey conducted in July by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center research group found broad support for gun control in the state: 56% of Oregonians said gun laws should be stricter, 14% said they should be less strict and 22% said they should stay the same.
“The poll also found 66% support for a ban on assault weapons, 81% support for restricting the age of gun purchases to people 21 and up, and 88% support for universal background checks on gun sales.”