US gun lobby endorses Mitt Romney

Whitehouse hopeful Mitt Romney has received the formal backing of the National Rifle Association. Source: AAP

REPUBLICAN US presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced that he has received the formal backing of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Romney's campaign made the announcement on Thursday in a press release issued by his campaign office in Boston timed to coincide with a campaign rally in Virginia.

The release quoted Romney as saying he would do everything in his power as president to defend and protect the right of all law-abiding Americans to bear arms.

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution "protects a basic and fundamental individual right to bear arms," said Romney.

"And it is the NRA that protects the Second Amendment."

Romney's running mate, Senator Paul Ryan, is also quoted in the news release, saying the Second Amendment is essential to the functioning of a free society.

"As a lifelong hunter, I am a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights," said Ryan.

"Not only do millions of Americans own firearms, but recreational hunting and shooting adds billions to our economy every year and supports thousands of jobs."

NRA Political Victory Fund chair Chris Cox said it was important to have "a friend of our Second Amendment freedoms and hunting heritage in the White House".

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US gun lobby endorses Mitt Romney