The National Rifle Association has a new letter grade rating for politicians it really doesn’t like.
The association has long awarded candidates letter grades on a scale from “A” to “F” based on their voting track records on guns.
Legislators with voting records that are aligned with the interests of the NRA earn A+ grades, while those who don’t support all pro-gun laws, or who supported moderate restrictions on gun ownership, earned Bs and Cs.
Candidates who consistently oppose its agenda earn “F” ratings, according to the ranking system.
The NRA is now awarding “Fx” grades to Florida candidates endorsed by Everytown For Gun Safety and its affiliates.
Candidates with Fx ratings “requested and received the endorsement of Bloomberg’s anti-gun groups,” the NRA’s website says.
Senator Bill Nelson, Congressman Ted Deutch, and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum have each earned “Fx” grades for their efforts to advocate for restrictions on guns.
All three candidates have applauded the efforts of the Parkland school shooting survivors turned teenage activists.
Opponents of the NRA see the new rating as a victory and indication that the push for tighter gun laws is gaining momentum.
John Feinblett, president of Everytown For Gun Safety, is among those who see the rating as a positive sign.
“If there was ever any doubt that Everytown was the counterweight to the NRA, I think this proves it once and for all,” he told the Daily News.
Everytown, founded in 2014, has endorsed more than 100 state and federal candidates in the 2018 midterm elections.
The group announced Monday that it would spend $2 million on its candidates in Florida before the midterm elections.
“Candidates are running on their safety records. They know voters care deeply about the issue of gun safety and they know voters will vote with them. These new grades will be a badge of honor that will resonate with the public,” Feinblett said.
