by Martin Walsh
A conservative woman who banned Muslims from her gun range has announced plans to throw her hat int the political ring.
Jan Morgan, owner of the Gun Cave Indoor Firing Range in Hot Springs,
announced on Dec. 31 that she will be running for governor of
Arkansas. Morgan will be challenging incumbent Asa Hutchinson in the
Republican primary in 2018.
Hutchinson was elected in 2014.
Morgan has been very critical of Hutchinson, saying the governor
“campaigns like a conservative Republican but governs like a liberal
Democrat,” according to the Texarkana Gazette. Prior to announcing a run for governor, Morgan made headlines in 2014 when she had a direct message for radical Islamic extremists, and banned Muslims from her firing range, as Fox News reported at the time. “ I refuse to train the next Islamic terrorist,” Morgan wrote on her site JanMorganMedia, explaining her decision.
Citing safety concerns, Morgan said that the
religion of Islam
represents and promotes a “theocracy, terrorist organization, not a
religion.” Naturally, the story drew major attention, including a
lengthy (and reasonably fair) interview in
The Washington Post.
According to
The Arkansas Times, Morgan
has been a stalwart for the Second Amendment and will likely make that a
top issue for her campaign. Morgan said she plans to hold an event
toward the end of the month to speak with voters and discuss the issues
they care deeply about. If elected, Morgan would become the first
female governor of Arkansas. While Morgan would be an ardent advocate
for several conservative issues, her candidacy would make her a
lightning rod in national politics.
It’s unclear how Morgan will fare against Hutchinson, but one could
certainly assume it’s going to be an interesting, and possibly raucous
Republican primary.
Get ready for fireworks, Arkansas.