Put union truck driver Jerry Long in the driver’s seat in Springfield as a new state representative, and he would have no problem down-thumbing any bill that would enact more gun control.
“We don’t need more gun-control laws," Long said recently in a Facebook post. "We need to enforce the laws we have, and what we really need is to train more law-abiding citizens to proficiently use a firearm and give them the freedom to carry,” Long.
The Republican from Streator is running for the District 76 State House seat. Long is a life-long NRA member and family man who also served in the U.S. Air Force and worked as a Teamsters logistics transporter.
The 56-year-old previously ran as a 2014 GOP candidate for the District 76 seat, but was narrowly defeated by Democrat Frank Mautino, the state's current auditor general, who represented District 76 from 1991 to 2015.
In his current run for office, Long sees very clear differences between himself and opponent Jacob Bramel of Marseilles, the other Republican running for the District 76 seat in this election.
In fact, regarding gun control, Long is unabashedly candid about Bramel’s stance.
“On this issue, my opponent panders for votes," Long said. "He openly says that he wants what the people want, so if more people here wanted to take away gun rights, he would support that? Ladies and gentlemen, pandering is not leadership. Leadership is about principle, not poll testing."
Long thinks that it’s time for a change in the 76th District.
“I don’t bring all this up out of dislike for my opponent or to attack him personally, but we deserve better,” Long said.
Specifically, Long supports making it easier for law-abiding citizens to be able to exercise their right to carry guns and also supports phasing out the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.
“The FOID card is redundant and unnecessary, and I will not support any legislation that takes away due process from law-abiding gun owners,” Long said.
Additionally, Long would like to see local school districts have the right to employ retired police officers and military personnel who are proficient with the use of a firearm to protect students and teachers.
“Let’s face it: America is one Supreme Court justice away from putting our gun rights in serious jeopardy," Long wrote. "We know that the Democratic Party’s nominee for president would love nothing more than to rewrite the Second Amendment."
Long said that when his opponent was pressed about the issue around a Supreme Court nominee, Bramel dodged the question and said he couldn’t do anything about it.
“That shows a lack of understanding of the role of a state representative," Long said. "I would work hard to lobby our U.S. senators to make sure they knew that the people of our district want a Supreme Court nominee who will uphold the Second Amendment."
Long, a free-market conservative who believes in unions – but said some public-employee unions have strayed from personal responsibility – has been endorsed by the Chicago Tribune.
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