A recent letter claims that Dr. Vikel Murthy was not confirmed as surgeon general only because Speaker Harry Reid did not bring his nomination up for a vote. This letter seriously misrepresents the facts.
A Senate committee approved Murthy's nomination for surgeon general when Murthy testified that he would not use the position to push for more gun control. Despite this, Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA, sent an open letter to both senators Reid and McConnell explaining the NRA's strong objection. In general, this was that Murthy had advocated the medical consensus that guns have a significant potential for harming other people and therefore ownership qualified as a "public" health risk. The NRA also announced that they would "score" (grade) senators on their vote. Physician-Sen. Rand Paul put a hold on the nomination. Republicans scurried into line enough to prevent the 60 votes necessary for cloture (ending debate with a call for a vote). This made the bill dead in the water. Both Reid and Boehner often do not bring up bills for a vote when there is no chance of passage.
The NRA's strong public opposition to Murthy is a fact. This is most important because these actions confirm the NRA's willingness to derail anyone or any initiative if they see any potential for any further gun control. Professional competence in any field, professional or otherwise, is trumped by NRA gun rights purity scoring.
If the above NRA support letter is typical of like-minded in the 8th District, such folks show little regard for truth about the NRA. One candidate for the House seat claims the above NRA priorities and means of impacting democratic government are important district moral values. Voters in the 8th District have a chance to accept or reject this notion on Nov. 4.
Dick Peterson
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