The Steelmans' new gunThe Steelmans' new gun

 

 

 

 

Getting to Ammo Alley from Jefferson City is pretty easy — you get on Highway 63 North and then take a hard right.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Steelman did just that this afternoon, visiting the rural Hartsburg gun shop with the two goals: to buy a rifle for her 13-year-old son and broadcast her commitment to the Second Amendment.

Steelman, currently the state treasurer, breezed into the store shortly after 3 with her son, Michael, and a couple campaign aides in tow.

She staked out a place in the middle of the store — near the scopes, in front of the Glocks, an aisle or two back from the coon urine scent and the big plastic turkey — and gave a short speech explaining her purpose.

“Our Second-Amendment right, the right to keep and bear arms, is very important to me,” she said. “As governor I will protect that right, as I will protect every right in our Constitution.”

Michael, looking deferential (or maybe just bored), stood at her side with his arms folded.

Steelman noted her support as a state senator for the concealed carry law, which was first vetoed by then-Gov. Bob Holden and later approved by current Gov. Matt Blunt.

She pointed to Holden’s veto as evidence of the governor’s role in supporting or opposing gun rights.

When pressed, however, she said she had no specific policy goals regarding gun rights.

Her speech finished, Steelman and her son got down to the business of selecting and purchasing a rifle.

Her two older sons had received hand-me-down guns from their father, former state Rep. David Steelman, she said. Michael celebrated his 13th birthday this month and was due for a piece of his own, but the family was now “all out of guns.”

A trip to Ammo Alley was the only solution (especially in an election year).

The store’s owner, Doug Alley, ushered the pair into a long-gun showroom, and explained the finer points of several new and used rifles.

Michael said he was looking for something small, like a .22, that he could use for target practice and small game (varmint?) hunting.

After some discussion and much posing —mother and son both took turns holding up guns up to shoulder level and peering through the sights — they settled on a Marlin 917S bolt-action 17HMR rifle with a black synthetic stock, full pistol grip and 22-inch stainless steel barrel (pictured).

A background check and $303.74 later, Michael Steelman had a brand new gun and his mom had, she hopes, increased credibility with her NRA card-carrying constituents.