James "Jim" T. Marter
U.S. House of Representatives, 14th Congressional District
Illinois 14th District (Oswego area)
“I will STAND and FIGHT to protect our 2nd Amendment. Member NRA, ISRA, GOA, www.GunsSaveLife.com The RIGHT to KEEP and BEAR Arms SHALL NOT be Infringed”
Your Choice This November
Vote Republican — defend the Constitution
Lauren Underwood is one of the most reliably anti-gun members of the U.S. House and gun owners in Illinois's 14th District should be deeply concerned about her record. She cosponsored the federal Assault Weapons Ban (H.R. 1808) and voted to pass it, backed universal background checks under H.R. 8, and sits on the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force — earning her endorsements from Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety, and the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense distinction. Her record extends beyond the Second Amendment: she voted to repeal the Hyde Amendment to force taxpayer funding of abortion, and she voted for the Equality Act, which critics warned contained sweeping religious-liberty overreach. On issue after issue, Underwood sides with Washington mandates over the constitutional freedoms of her constituents.
- Second Amendment: Underwood was an original cosponsor of the federal Assault Weapons Ban (H.R. 1808) — signing on March 11, 2021 — and voted YES on its passage on July 29, 2022 (Roll Call 410, which passed 217-213), a bill that would ban the sale, possession and transfer of high capacity magazines and assault-style weapons by both name, such as the AK-47, and features, such as a pistol grip. She also supported H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would require a background check on every gun sale or transfer, and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, and voted to pass the Protecting Our Kids Act. She is a member of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce and is endorsed by GIFFORDS and by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, after receiving the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction — the gun-control lobby's stamp of approval.
- First Amendment: Underwood supported the bipartisan passage of the Equality Act (H.R. 5) in the House of Representatives, legislation that Rep. Adam Kinzinger publicly opposed because, in his words, it had concerning overreach in regards to religious liberties. She also voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act and other measures that religious employers and pro-life advocates have long warned would compel participation in practices that violate their conscience.
- Fifth Amendment: According to the NRCC, Underwood voted to eliminate the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits government-funded abortions — forcing taxpayers to subsidize a practice millions of Americans consider a moral outrage, an uncompensated taking of conscience. She has also supported efforts to limit access to guns for those who have committed domestic abuse and stalking, as well as others with existing legal actions regarding threats of violence — the language of red-flag/ERPO regimes that strip firearms without full criminal due-process protections.
- Tenth Amendment: Underwood's legislative agenda is a direct assault on state authority over firearms: she cosponsored and voted for H.R. 1808, a federal ban that would prohibit the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices nationwide — overriding the choices of states where these firearms are lawfully owned by millions. She likewise backed H.R. 8, which prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check, federalizing what has traditionally been a matter of state law.
Why We Vetted James "Jim" T. Marter
- Republican nominee for IL-14 running on 'Faith, Family & Freedom' and cutting the size and scope of the federal government
- Endorsed by U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood and Mike Bost; named a 'Champion of Freedom' by the Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce
- Publicly backed the REINS Act and calls for transparency and accountability in the House, framing big government as a threat to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
The Scorecard
Second Amendment
10/10James's answer
“The founders did not specify which firearms where illegal, because all means of self-defense and the right to bear arms were deemed legal! It's a complete total infringement on the 2nd Amendment and 100% unconstitutional. It's violated the God given right to SELF DEFENSE since passage.”
James's answer
“ILLINOIS being the ONLY state to have this gun owner registration, It's a complete total infringement on the 2nd Amendment and 100% unconstitutional. It's violated the God given right to SELF DEFENSE since passage.”
James's answer
“Another trampling of individual rights, where the due process clause has been violated, and tossed out! It's 100% unconstitutional. It's violated the God given right to DUE PROCESS since passage.”
James's answer
“ILLINOIS Democrats and BILLIONAIRE KING extremist JB PRITZKER are co-conspirators with foreign criminal cartels, gangbangers, and common Illinois criminals and thieves. This is a get out of jail free card for violent criminals and the worst of the worst, Illinois Democrat Judges are shockingly letting these dangerous criminals roam free. It's a danger to all Illinoisians and must be repealed!”
James's answer
“I support constitutional carry 100% It's a God given right to SELF DEFENSE!”
James's answer
“Under the 2nd Amendment STATES do NOT have authority to limit features or capacity or how many rounds a magazine can hold. It's another infringement on the 2nd Amendment and 100% unconstitutional.”
James's answer
“Bad guys don't abide by GUN FREE ZONES; it takes a village of idiots to think this is a good idea! GUN FREE zone laws need to be repealed.”
James's answer
“Another ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT plan to BAN the 2nd Amendment forcing FFL, Dealer & Manufacturer Regulation, Illinois gun shops, gunsmiths, and manufacturers to pay state licensing, taxes, insurance mandates, (RUNNING up COST of ownership to ALL citizens) and make them subject to lawsuits via liability laws. It's just another GUN ban scheme in the end.”
James's answer
“Another ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT plan to BAN the 2nd Amendment forcing RUNNING up COST of defending oneself for all Illinois citizens!”
James's answer
“Another ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT plan to BAN the 2nd Amendment forcing dealers and individuals to submit to bizarre gun purchase limits.”
Why this score: We score Marter a perfect 10 on the Second Amendment because his public posture consistently treats the right to keep and bear arms as unconditional and non-negotiable — the standard we expect of a constitutional originalist facing Illinois's PICA regime, FOID scheme, and expanding carry restrictions. On the full slate of issues in this section, from repealing the gun and magazine bans to rolling back red flag laws and honoring constitutional carry, we see no daylight between his position and the plain text of the amendment.
First Amendment
10/10James's answer
“The 1st Amendment is NOT up for DEBATE. What the SOCIAL media giants are doing is unconstitutional and targeted at interfering in Elections. It's about as anti-AMERICAN as you get!”
James's answer
“The 1st Amendment is NOT up for DEBATE. Religious FREEDOM especially Judeo-Christian faiths are under attack by the LEFT, the #FAkeNEWS and the government controlled by DEMOCRATS. I will fight to end all infringements imposed on the FREE exercise of our religious liberties”
James's answer
“I oppose government and corporate efforts to “debank,” deplatform, or demonetize firearm dealers, This is a direct violation of multiple Individual rights and constitutional protections. It's about as UN-AMERICAN as you get! It's what DEMOCRATS - actually communist and socialist do, and it's why they must be defeated.”
James's answer
“I will protect the right to peacefully assemble and organize for gun rights — 2A rallies, gun shows, clubs, and advocacy groups — free from government harassment or shutdown. I am a regular table vendor at Gun Shows, in particular the KANE COUNTY SPORTSMAN show! I've attended publica rallies in defense of FREEDON and the 2nd Amendment at the ILLINOIS State Capital in SPRINGFIELD - IGOLD and many other rallies and events in my District and others in ILLINOIS.”
James's answer
“It's ABSURD that FREEDOM of speech is dictated by the State. I oppose forcing gun stores or firearm owners to post, fund, or distribute government anti-gun messaging as a condition of doing business or exercising their rights.”
Why this score: We score Marter a perfect 10 on the First Amendment because his public posture consistently aligns with a constitutional-originalist defense of free speech, religious liberty, and the right to assemble — including the right to organize openly around Second Amendment causes. Absent any record of supporting censorship, compelled speech, or restrictions on religious conscience, he stands firmly on the side of the enumerated right.
Fourth Amendment
10/10James's answer
“I oppose all forms of unreasonable searches like warrantless digital surveillance, license-plate readers, FLOCK cameras, and government purchase, collection and searches of citizens’ location and financial data.”
James's answer
“I oppose any and all forms of GUN / firearms registry!”
James's answer
“I oppose all forms of SPYING and TRACKING of information and data on gun owners.”
James's answer
“SAFE STORAGE of my FIREARM is where I can get to it quickly when and bad guy is threating me, or my family. I oppose ALL warrantless inspections of gun owners' homes for “safe storage” or compliance. NO search without a real warrant based on probable cause.”
James's answer
“The COMMIE DEMOCRATS are busy implementing their socialist communist takeover control every aspect of our lives agenda. I oppose using license-plate readers, geofence warrants, or purchased location data to surveil people at gun stores, ranges, and gun shows.”
Why this score: We score Marter a perfect 10 on Fourth Amendment protections because his consistent constitutional-originalist posture aligns with opposing warrantless surveillance, rejecting any firearm registry or database, blocking financial tracking of gun buyers, and refusing warrantless inspections of storage or monitoring at gun-related venues. Absent any record to the contrary, we judge him a reliable vote against government intrusion on privacy and Second Amendment-adjacent data collection.
Fifth Amendment
10/10James's answer
“Civil asset forfeiture, like using PROPRTTY taxes to steal Americans homes with the government seize cash and property without ever convicting the owner of a crime must be ended. It's a STATE sponsored”
James's answer
“I oppose any attempt to deprives a person of liberty or property. no one should lose their firearms without notice and a real hearing.”
James's answer
“I support Restoration of rights lost and due process Fifth Amendment protections!”
James's answer
“I oppose all taking private property without just compensation. Bans that make lawfully purchased firearms or magazines illegal are unconstitutional and I will fight to repeal them.”
Why this score: We score Marter a perfect 10 on the Fifth Amendment because his stated constitutional-originalist commitments align fully with strong due process protections — opposing civil asset forfeiture without conviction, rejecting gun seizures without a hearing, supporting restoration of Second Amendment rights, and refusing uncompensated takings. Absent any record to the contrary, we credit him with the strongest position a candidate can hold on due process and property rights.
Tenth Amendment
10/10James's answer
“I oppose Federal agencies firearm rules which Congress never voted on, and the SCOTUS never held as constitutional.”
James's answer
“I support Second Amendment sanctuary protections — and support resolutions in my county of KENDALL and nearby counties of LaSalle and all counties right to establish Second Amendment sanctuary protections.”
James's answer
“I support strong state firearm preemption so anti-gun DEMOCRAT politicians can't impose their local gun control laws.”
Why this score: We score Marter a perfect 10 on Tenth Amendment federalism because his consistent constitutional-originalist posture aligns squarely with pushing back on federal gun overreach, defending Second Amendment sanctuary protections, and upholding state firearm preemption against local infringement. Absent any record to the contrary, his platform reflects the kind of unqualified deference to state sovereignty on firearms policy that this section is designed to reward.
Constitutional Fidelity & Oath of Office
10/10James's answer
“My oath to the Constitution as binding! I will vote against legislation that violates constitutional protections!”
Why this score: We score Jim Marter a perfect 10 on Constitutional Fidelity & Oath of Office because his public posture consistently frames governance through an originalist reading of the Constitution and a strict view of the oath as binding, not ceremonial. Candidates earn this top mark when their platform treats the Constitution as the fixed standard against which every vote, appointment, and expenditure must be measured — and Marter campaigns squarely on that premise.
Our Take
Jim Marter is running to represent Illinois' 14th District as a Republican who talks openly about defending 'God-given rights,' cutting the size and scope of the federal government, and pushing back on officials who he says want to 'silence your speech, restrict your healthcare options, close your houses of worship, pry into your finances and threaten your job.' That framing lines up naturally with the concerns of constitutional conservatives who care about the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Tenth Amendments, and he has drawn endorsements from members of the House Republican Caucus like Darin LaHood and Mike Bost.
His site leans heavily on themes of limited government, border security, transparency in Congress, and support for Israel, and he publicly supported passage of the REINS Act to rein in the administrative state. His website does not lay out an explicit Second Amendment plank in the text we reviewed, so we'll want to confirm his position on gun rights directly before treating it as settled. For pro-2A and constitutionally minded voters in IL-14, Marter presents as the clear alternative to the incumbent — but voters should press him for specifics on the Second Amendment and due-process issues where the site is quiet.
Background
Jim Marter is the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Illinois' 14th Congressional District, challenging Democrat Rep. Lauren Underwood. Based in Oswego, he hosts the radio program 'Saving the American Dream with Jim Marter' on AM560 The Answer. His campaign centers on defending God-given rights, cutting the size and scope of the federal government, securing the border, and restoring constitutional values. He has been endorsed by Congressmen Darin LaHood and Mike Bost.
Questions & Answers
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This scorecard reflects the opinions of We The Vetted based on the public record, votes, and candidate statements. It is not a paid endorsement and is not coordinated with any campaign. We accept no payment for inclusion; the donation link points to the candidate's own official campaign.