It seems to me that when politicians flout their "experience" they're offering a snake oil that folks, for some reason, purchase wholesale.
Character matters. Here is an experiment for those candidates who claim to support the Second Amendment: Ask the candidate to have a citizen supporter pal around with the candidate while Open Carrying a handgun (to make it more interesting, I would prefer a .45) while having the duo shadowed by an observer who is recording the two walking about as the campaign unfolds for the day.
Then review the video and analyze the body language.
If the candidate looks all relaxed and calm and friendly, okay -- but if he looks like he fears catching Ebola, then that's all I need to know about his commitment in defending the RKBA.