THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410270461
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The National Rifle Association has endorsed Republican challenger Walter Jones Jr. in his effort to unseat incumbent Democrat Martin Lancaster in North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District.
Along with its endorsement, the NRA has sent letters to all of its members asking them to support Jones in the Nov. 8 election.
Tanya K. Metaksa, executive director of the organization's Institute for Legislative Action, wrote to NRA members, urging them to ``throw out of office those politicians who have tried to kill our firearms freedoms.''
``Martin Lancaster has a very disappointing record on firearms, consistently voting for the `Brady Bill,' '' the letter said. ``Walter Jones Jr. is a strong Second Amendment supporter, and he will give North Carolina gun owners better representation in Congress.''
The mailing includes a bumper sticker that reads, ``Protect Freedom, Elect Jones.''
The letter urges NRA members to: ``Put the enclosed bumper sticker on your car or truck; volunteer to be a campaign worker, and go to the polls Nov. 8 and cast your votefor firearms freedom - vote for Walter Jones Jr. for Congress.''
A spokesman said NRA membership figures are not released, but he said there generally is an average of 10,000 to 12,000 members in most congressional districts.
Lancaster's support of the Clinton administration-backed crime bill also played a role in the NRA endorsement. Lancaster supported the crime bill, but opposed an assault weapons ban. Lancaster has said he sought to have the assault weapons ban considered as a separate piece of legislation.
Meanwhile, Jones has gone on the attack against the eight-year incumbent, complaining about a Lancaster campaign ad accusing him of threatening to cut Social Security and veterans' benefits.
``I have stated my position throughout the campaign that I would never vote to cut Social Security benefits, Medicare or veterans' benefits,'' Jones said. He said the Lancaster commercial is ``designed to terrorize our elderly citizens.''
Lancaster, who earlier this year received the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, has said the Republican Party's ``Contract with America'' would have what he termed a ``disastrous impact on veterans.''
Lancaster has charged that if the GOP proposals become law, some 250,000 veterans would not be able to receive treatment at VA hospitals, there would be a loss of 5.4 million outpatient visits, the average monthly payment to service-disabled veterans could possibly be reduced from $466 to $373, and service to poor and homeless veterans would be ``curtailed or eliminated.''
``He signed the contract, didn't he?'' said Lancaster campaign spokesman Warren Hepler. ``We've got correspondence with the Congressional Budget Office that says these reductions are possible under what the Republicans want to do.''
Jones is to appear today at a private fund raiser in LaGrange.
Lancaster is scheduled to appear this afternoon with Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, and later with Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen in New Bern.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION NORTH CAROLINA by CNB