Carney courts sportsmen's vote

FACTORYVILLE — An orange "Sportsman For Carney" baseball hat on his
head, the 10th Congressional District Congressman peered over his
shotgun barrel. U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, aimed at
two crossing skeets.

He missed twice. His first misses of Saturday morning drew a few digs
from the crowd watching.

"Who put the Styrofoam birds in there?" the first-term Democrat incumbent joked.

More than 50 people attended Saturday's "Sportsmen for Carney" at
Factoryville Sportsmen's Club in Wyoming County.

The skeet exhibition allowed Carney to highlight his stance on the
Second Amendment issues and support of outdoors sports. Carney faces
Republican Chris Hackett this fall in what is expected to be a close
race.

Carney's and Hackett's stances on gun issues are not far apart.
Hackett, who has a conceal and carry permit, has said while
campaigning that "the Second Amendment ensures the protection of our
other rights," and doesn't support restrictions for legal gun owners.

Carney is a member of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus, which
opposes banning firearms to "lawful citizens." He also co-sponsored
the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2007, which would
create a national standard on conceal and carry laws, when crossing
state. That bill his he still in committee. Carney said his support of
hunters' and gun owners' rights shouldn't come as a surprise.

"You have to kind of separate the demagoguery of Democrats and guns,"
Carney said. "A lot of Democrats I know, I'm a Blue Dog, we're all gun
owners and hunters. Guns and sporting as somehow a political issue is
totally alien to me. What do you mean Democrats can't be pro-gun, are
you crazy?"

Similar to his "Republicans for Carney" event in June, Carney's
campaign hoped Saturday's event would show Carney's centrist, shared
views of the people in the 10th District. Many of the sportsmen who
attended Saturday's event were registered Republicans.

Joe Swartz, a registered Republican from Mill City in Wyoming County,
said he voted for then Republican incumbent Rep. Don Sherwood in 2006.
His grandson had Carney as a political science teacher at Penn State
University at Scranton in 2004. Swartz, 71, said he doesn't always
vote straight ticket Republican, but he still had to be convinced
Carney shared his views.

"I know the man," Swartz said. "He seems like the kind of man who
doesn't care about the party. He cares about doing what's best for his
(constituents) … We've got a bigger battle in Washington than
overseas. They need to remember they serve the people, not
themselves."

After three rounds of 25, Carney hit 17, 19 and 19 targets.
Technically, he was campaigning, but Carney called it a good break
from his bid for re-election and work in Washington, D.C.

"Not my best," Carney said. "It was an OK round. I should've hit that
last one … It's just nice to come out here with friends and enjoy the
outdoors."

cjones@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110