The Chart Online

Actor Heston supports U.S. Senate candidate
Jacob W. Brower

Associate Editor

"Moses" made an appearance at the John Q. Hammons Center on Oct. 22 in an effort to lead Joplin-area conservatives to the promised land - the voting booth.

Charlton Heston, president of the National Rifle Association and academy-award winning actor, spoke in support of former U.S. Rep. Jim Talent (R-Mo.), a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Jean Carnahan (D-Mo.) U.S. senators Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Conrad Burns (R-Colo.) also spoke at the event.

Heston urged the approximately 400 gathered to vote for Talent, who was officially endorsed by the NRA. Talent, Heston said, is a champion of "law-abiding citizens' right to bear arms."

"I remember when I went to Italy to [film] Ben Hur; I worked for a full month with actors so I would know how to drive a chariot," said Heston, who also starred in The Ten Commandments, Soylent Green and Any Given Sunday. "The director said, 'Chuck, you just stay in the chariot - I'm going to make damn sure you win the race.

"That's the position we're in - let's stay in the damn chariot."

Heston, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, only spoke for a few minutes. He said he expects to finish out his current term as NRA president through April.

Talent said, if elected, blocking gun control legislation will be one of his top priorities in the Senate.

"I believe the wealth of a state and community belongs to the people who produce it," said Talent, who has served eight years each in the U.S. and Missouri Houses of Representatives. "I believe in the right of law-abiding adults to bear arms as provided by the Second Amendment. If we outlaw guns, we will empower those who hurt us and disempower those who only wish to protect themselves."

State Rep. Chuck Surface (R-Joplin), who attended the rally, said he believes the event was successful.

"It was a great rally," said Surface, who was elected to the Missouri House in 1984 - the same year as Talent. "I've had the pleasure of knowing Jim for a number of years, and I know we wouldn't be able to pick a better candidate for the job."