Stark Contrast Between Goodlatte and Opponent in 6th District Debate
On Monday, Sixth District Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte debated his general election opponent, Harrisonburg real estate agent and city councilman, Kai Degner, in Lynchburg. The debate was arranged by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and E.C. Glass High School.
The contrast between Degner and Goodlatte was clear, beginning with gun rights.
Degner and Goodlatte had this to say, as reported by WSLS 10 news:
“To see [gun rights] also not enforced in regards to criminals and people with mental health issues who are getting access to guns because the current laws aren’t being enforced doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me,” Goodlatte said.
During the debate, challenger Kai Degner was vocal about his opponent’s ties to the National Rifle Association.
“We should reduce the number of people unnecessarily dying from guns, while also protecting people’s constitution [sic] right to bear arms,” said Degner.
When asked how he planned to reduce gun violence, Degner responded “I think you have to look at each specific legislation, I will not give you a soundbite on the gun-violence thing.” Degner went on to say gun violence is a complex issue and that he would discuss in detail if doing an in-depth interview.”
On Degner’s website, he doesn’t even list an opinion on the 2nd Amendment. During the debate, Degner attacked Goodlatte on his support of the NRA. As a member of the National Rifle Association, I become leery every time an elected official attacks the NRA. Also, it bothers me that Degner takes a wishy-washy “let me look at the bill before I decide to take your guns or not” type of approach. The 2nd Amendment is not a negotiable thing. They made the 2nd Amendment the 2nd Amendment for a reason.
Goodlatte is the antithesis of Degner on this issue. Goodlatte holds an A+ from the National Rifle Association. As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, his committee is tasked with all gun legislation and he has set the gold standard for representing gun owners during his time in office. Unlike Degner, Goodlatte does not believe that the 2nd Amendment is something that we can look at each piece of legislation and make up our minds later. The laws that are on the books need to be enforced before we go out to make more laws.
Speaking of making more laws, Degner also admitted he wants more regulations. And he also spoke about how he raised taxes as a city councilman in Harrisonburg nine times! What was even more shocking was that he wasn’t ashamed of taking other people’s money to fund the deficits that he and his fellow council members had created.
Between support for free college and cutting defense spending to promoting more tax and spend policies, Degner espouses a radical left-wing agenda that is at times left of Hillary Clinton.
There are many elections where electing the Republican or Democrat would not make a dime’s worth of difference. The Sixth District Congressional race is far from that.
