NRA praises Owens for gun control votes – U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, is receiving praise from the National Rifle Association as he gears up for his 2014 re-election campaign.  The NRA Institute for Legislative Actions sent an email to NRA members in New York this week urging them to contact Owens, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and thank him for voting against several “anti-gun amendments” that House members attempted to attach to a House Commerce, Justice and Science budget bill during the committee process in November.  The NRA said gun control advocacy groups have criticized Owens because of his votes against the amendments.