Jeb Bush ‘conflated’ story about receiving NRA award, campaign says

Jeb Bush “conflated” a story about receiving the National Rifle Association’s “Statesman of the Year” award from former NRA President Charlton Heston, his campaign said Monday.

The Republican presidential candidate has falsely claimed numerous times that he received a rifle from Heston when honored as the NRA’s “Statesman of the Year” in 2003.

“You know who you’re lookin’ at here? You’re looking at the guy who won the NRA Statesman of the Year award,” Mr. Bush said last month at a town hall in Milford, New Hampshire, CNN reported. “Not the Florida award. The national award. And I got a rifle from Charlton Heston, I got a rifle from Moses.”

According to BuzzFeed News, no such award by the NRA exists. Mr. Bush was a keynote speaker during the NRA’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, in 2003, but there is no evidence to suggest he received any award. His campaign contacted BuzzFeed on Monday, admitting that Mr. Bush “conflated” the story.

“In recounting the story, Jeb was mistaken and conflated multiple events unintentionally. Heston met with Jeb at that NRA convention and was the head of the NRA at the time, but it was Kayne Robinson who presented Jeb with the rifle for being keynote speaker,” Tim Miller, communications director for Mr. Bush’s campaign, said in a statement. “Heston had previously said he supported Jeb’s re-election at a 2002 campaign event. Jeb was lauded by the NRA on multiple occasions for his Second Amendment record, including signing legislation that the NRA dubbed the ’Six Pack Of Freedom.’ Jeb has a lifetime A+ rating from the NRA.”

Mr. Robinson was the new NRA president in 2003 after Heston stepped down after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Heston was still at the convention but had to leave early, Mr. Miller said. Marion Hammer, former president of the NRA, told CNN she was there and had personally introduced Mr. Bush and Heston before Heston left.