CANTON -- A Canton hunting and fishing equipment dealer has been appointed to a gun owners’ group supporting Republican congressional candidate Elise Stefanik.

Joe Russell of Hilltop Hunting and Fishing in Canton is the St. Lawrence County representative, according to a press release from Stefanik’s campaign office.

Stefanik says she has earned the highest political rating possible for a first time candidate from the National Rifle Association, a Washington-based gun owner’s organization that lobbies in Congress and in state legislatures for a minimum of restrictions on gun ownership, and supports candidates that profess to agree with the NRA.

In announcing her acquisition of the rating, Stefanik also announced the founding of her Second Amendment Coalition Group, which she says will work with the campaign to build support across the 21st Congressional District among gun owners and 2nd Amendment supporters.

Stefanik says she is the only candidate in this congressional race who attended anti-SAFE Act rallies in 2013.

Stefanik, an Albany County native now living in Willsboro, is facing a primary battle with Matt Doheny of Watertown to represent Republicans in the North Country’s 21st Congressional District primary June 24.

The winner of the primary goes on to face Democrat Aaron Woolf and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello in November's election.