Novick Takes Aim

The Novick campaign today sighted both Sen. Gordon Smith and Rep. Jeff Merkley in its crosshairs, in response to an article in the Willamette Week on the Senator’s support of repealing restrictions on carrying loaded guns in national parks.

Novick, as well as Candy Neville and John Frohnmayer, oppose Smith’s stake in the movement to allow loaded firearms in places such as Yellowstone and Yosemite. Novick even called the idea of someone carrying a loaded gun in Crater Lake “silly.”

"I believe there is an individual right to bear arms under the Constitution, but permitting loaded weapons in our national parks just doesn't make sense,” said Novick.

The Novick campaign is calling as much attention to Merkley’s response as to the issue itself; the Representative declined to take a position, and his spokesman Matt Canter told the Willamette Week that Merkley "would have to discuss the issue further with these Democrats before he would move to make weapons more accessible.”

"Jeff Merkley's refusal to offer a straight answer to the question only underscores that contrast between the leading candidates in this primary," Novick said regarding the article.