Ohio gun owners are getting fired up about the upcoming elections, and for John Kasich and Mike DeWine, this is not good news.

Recent campaign tactics by Republicans have riled gun owners and bolstered support for Democratic candidates Ted Strickland for Governor and Richard Cordray for Attorney General.

"Until recently, Kasich and DeWine have had no use for gun owners in Ohio," said Jim Irvine, Chairman of Buckeye Firearms Association. "But as election day gets closer and the polls get tighter, they're suddenly treating us like long-lost friends. It's like they're saying to gun owners, you're stupid. Ignore our anti-gun records and vote for us."

According to Irvine, the Ohio Republican Party has been sending mailers talking about each candidate's respective stance on guns.

"It's laughable," said Irvine. "In fact, it's outright insulting. Even though Kasich and DeWine are Republicans, they both have a long and infamous record of working against Ohio gun owners. Democrats Strickland and Cordray are proven, steadfast friends."

According to Irvine, Kasich has a terrible voting record. "Kasich voted for handgun restrictions in 1986, voted for a ban on deer hunting in 1992, and voted for the Clinton/Schumer Gun Ban and earned an F rating from the NRA in 1994.

"He went on to vote against stopping the harassment of law-abiding gun owners by the BATFE in 1995, voted against big game hunting in 1997, voted to restrict gun shows in 1999, and voted twice to increase background checks aimed at closing down gun shows.

"Maybe the worst came in 1999," said Irvine shaking his head, "when Kasich voted for the D.C. Gun Ban. It's not just one vote, it's a pattern of hostility toward gun owners. You just can't run from a record like that."

The National Rifle Association's John Hohenwarter observed, "Kasich's stance on the Second Amendment changes from year-to-year like the weather changes from day-to-day."

And what about DeWine? Irvine says it's even worse.

"Mike DeWine was thrown out of his U.S. Senate seat by voters in 2006 after being endorsed by the anti-gun Brady Campaign because his record 'really wowed' them. That's because he consistently cast his votes with the most anti-gun legislators in the Senate.

"In 1999, he voted to require background checks on all guns sold at guns shows yet voted against more penalties for drug and gun crimes. He opposed legislation to protect gun manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers from frivolous lawsuits designed to put them out of business.

"Human Events Online named DeWine among the top 10 anti-gun U.S. Senators because he was consistently the only Republican to stand up on the Senate floor and speak in favor of gutting the Second Amendment."

Political pundits frequently talk about the long memory and voting power of gun owners. So even though voters are focused on jobs and the economy, Ohio's election could actually turn on the gun issue. That would help Ted Strickland and Richard Cordray, two Democrats with a long history of supporting gun rights, be re-elected next week.

This is clear from pre-election polls showing Strickland and Cordray as the only statewide Democratic candidates in statistical dead heats.

Irvine said, "It's shaping up to be a terrible year for Democrats nationwide. But the strong pro-gun history of these two Democrats is what's keeping them in the race."

Buckeye Firearms Association (www.BuckeyeFirearms.org) 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. They work to elect pro-gun candidates and lobby for pro-gun legislation.

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This press release was distributed in support of the Buckeye Firearms Association by Imagine That Creative, Inc.