HAZLETON – Republican Congressional candidate Lou Barletta received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and the endorsements of two other leading national gun rights groups.

Representatives from several leading pro-Second Amendment groups attended at a “day at the range” with Mayor Barletta to present their endorsements.

Firearms Owners Against Crime and Gun Owners of America both strongly endorsed Mayor Barletta at the Mainville Sportsman Club in Columbia County.

Barletta, currently mayor of Hazleton, is challenging incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski.

(* An earlier headline incorrectly stated that Barletta had been endorsed by the NRA.  We regret the error)