Matt Lundy is a liar: Democrat panders to gun owners in order to earn good grades and endorsements

When Democrat Matt Lundy needed gun owners' votes, he knew exactly what they wanted to hear.

When asked about the two key components addressed in HB45/SB17 in Buckeye Firearms Association's 2010 candidate survey, Lundy told gun owners he was with them all the way.

This is EXACTLY what legislation being considered in his chamber (HB45/SB17) would do, and EXACTLY why we asked the questions. Without those answers to those questions, Lundy (and many other legislators) would not have qualified for the "A" grade BFA gave him, let alone the endorsement that came along with it. And while we don't know the questions the NRA-PVF asked him, it's a safe bet he told a similar story, because he earned an "A-" grade and an endorsement from them as well.

The fact is, Matt Lundy gave gun owners his word that if they voted for him, he'd be with them when they needed his vote.

Sadly, it took just 36 days from the election for Lundy to expose the possibility that he had lied on his BFA candidate survey (and therefore to Ohio gun owners), and just three months to confirm it.

Just one month after his re-election last November, during the 128th General Assembly's lame duck session, Lundy and other House Representatives were asked to sign and vote for a discharge petition that would have forced a vote on that session's version of the Restaurant & Car Carry Rules Fix legislation (SB239). Despite his clear answers on the survey, Lundy voted no. But since even some Republicans had expressed concerns about the precedent set by implementing the rare procedural move, we couldn't be sure his vote meant that he had lied.

Two months later however, when the House committee he sits on began hearings on a newly-introduced version of the same legislation, Lundy revealed himself as a firm opponent to the very legislation he had committed in writing to support.

In committee, Lundy got extremely defensive when colleagues asked lobbyists who were testifying against the legislation to offer proof such laws were causing problems in other states. Hoping to address his concerns, Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine called him repeatedly, and left messages asking that if he had any questions or concerns to call back. Lundy never returned the phone calls. When it came time for the committee to vote, he demonstrated his true anti-gun beliefs and introduced three poison pill amendments (all were defeated) including one that sought to make the names of concealed handgun license-holders public record.

While we desire to keep our survey results confidential so that candidates can feel comfortable providing honest answers, we will never provide cover for a candidate who tells us what we want to hear on our survey in order to earn a good grade, an endorsement, and most importantly gun owner's votes, only to break that agreement as soon as they get elected.

Therefore, Buckeye Firearms Association has made the decision to publish this article, issue a press release to hundreds of news outlets in Ohio, email thousands of pro-gun voters, and share these facts in a newspaper advertisement published this week in newspapers that cover his district, the Lorain Morning-Journal and the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Whether a gun owner or not, all Ohioans deserve 100% honesty from candidates and elected officials on their positions. Pandering to a group for an endorsement, and then turning their back on that pledge, is something only the worst of the worst in politics will do. All Ohioans deserve better than Lundy gave.

If Matt Lundy will lie about one thing, how many more lies has he told, and just not (yet) been caught?

Text of Buckeye Firearms Association Press Release:

Buckeye Firearms Association Accuses Representative Matt Lundy of Lying to Get Endorsement

DELAWARE, OH - Buckeye Firearms Association has publicly accused Matt Lundy, Representative for Ohio House District 57, of lying to get their endorsement.

"He told us in no uncertain terms that he would support our bills," said Jim Irvine, Chairman of Buckeye Firearms Association. "Now that he's in office, he appears to be working against us. If that's not lying, I don't know what is."

Before endorsing any candidate, Buckeye Firearms Association researches each candidate to determine their position on gun issues and pending legislation. Part of that research is a detailed questionnaire asking direct, specific questions to find out exactly where a candidate stands and whether he or she plans to help when bills come up for a vote.

"Our intention is to keep survey results confidential," said Irvine, "so that candidates can feel comfortable providing honest answers. But we will never provide cover for a candidate who tells us what we want to hear on our survey to earn an endorsement and gun owners' votes, only to break that agreement after getting elected."

This week, Buckeye Firearms Association is running ads in The Morning-Journal and The Chronicle Telegram, newspapers serving Lundy's district. The ad reveals Lundy's answers on two key points related to HB45 / SB17, legislation to fix rules related to carrying a concealed handgun in restaurants and transporting a firearm in a vehicle.

Here is the complete text of the ad:

Ohio District 57 Representative Matt Lundy LIED!

When Democrat Matt Lundy needed gun owners' votes, he told them what they wanted to hear. But now in office, he is not honoring his promises.

On the Buckeye Firearms Association 2010 Candidate Survey, we asked him about two key components addressed in HB45/SB17 (pending car and restaurant carry legislation).

Lundy told gun owners he was with them all the way. Here is how he answered our specific questions:

Question 15 - Complying with confusing and unnecessary car carry restrictions continues to be a serious problem for Concealed Handgun License holders. Will you support legislation that protects Ohio license holders and out-of-state visitors by removing these restrictions?

Lundy answered, "Yes."

Question 16 - It is a felony to carry a firearm into restaurants and other locations that serve alcohol for consumption on premises. Will you support eliminating that restriction for concealed handgun license holders?

Lundy answered, "Yes. But only if the license holder is not consuming alcohol, intoxicated, or under the influence."

Without his "Yes" answers, Lundy would not have qualified for the "A" grade we gave him, let alone the endorsement that came with it.
Matt Lundy gave gun owners his word that if they voted for him, he would be with them when they needed his vote.

Now that we need his support on these issues, he is turning his back on us and the Ohio gun owners he represents.

Just one month after his re-election last November, Lundy was asked to vote for a discharge petition that would have forced a vote on car and restaurant carry rules fix legislation.

Lundy voted "No."

Two months later, when the House committee he sits on began hearings on a new version of the same legislation, Lundy appeared passionate in his opposition to the bill.

When it came time for the committee to vote, he introduced three poison pill amendments, including one to make the names of concealed handgun license holders public record.

While we wish to keep survey results confidential, we will never provide cover for a candidate who lies to get our support and win an election.

Whether a gun owner or not, you deserve honesty from candidates and elected officials on their positions.

If Matt Lundy lied about supporting the rights of gun owners in Ohio, what else has he lied about?

Buckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots political action committee (PAC) dedicated to defending and advancing the right of Ohio citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation. We work to elect pro-gun candidates and lobby for pro-gun legislation.