The National Rifle Association on Friday announced it would endorse Kris Kobach — a fervent opponent to firearm restrictions who is unapologetic about his public display of weaponry — in the governor's race.

Hailing Kobach as a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment, the lobbying group for firearms manufacturers praised the secretary of state for his opposition to a gun control agenda and an attempt to ban concealed weapons in hospitals.

“Kobach strongly supports our 2nd Amendment freedoms, and Kansans can count on him to protect our fundamental right to self defense,” said Chris Cox, chairman of the NRA's political action committee.

The NRA endorsed Kobach's opponent, Gov. Jeff Colyer, in the GOP primary, relying on an "incumbent-protection rule." Kobach's campaign produced an unscientific survey of gun owners showing a majority favored Kobach in the race.

He has pushed back against criticism about his use in parades of a Jeep with a replica machine gun mounted on it, dismissing angry objections as an attack from the fringe left.

In an interview for Capitol Insider, the podcast on politics by The Topeka Capital-Journal, he said Kansas has gun-friendly laws, "but they're not friendly enough."

"I am humbled and honored by the NRA's endorsement," Kobach said. "I will always defend our 2nd Amendment rights."

Rick Parsons, spokesman for independent gubernatorial candidate Rick Kloos, said he would add the NRA endorsement to the "list of things that did not surprise us this month."

"Kloos is a 2nd Amendment advocate who believes that all law abiding citizens should have the right to keep and bear arms," Parsons said. "He also believes in common sense gun measures and proper training."

Jeff Caldwell, the Libertarian running for governor, took issue with the group's partisan tendencies.

"The NRA is a Republican organization that does not want competition," Caldwell said. "I asked them to send me a questionnaire to fill out multiple times for their endorsement, and I never received one."

The Second Amendment has been a touchy issue for the Democratic candidate, state Sen. Laura Kelly, who fell from favor with the NRA in 2016 when she voted to ban concealed guns from college campuses. She has continued to support restrictions, explaining in debates that she realized the state had gone too far.

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