Republican gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, elaborated on points made by a representative from his campaign at Dunk’s Barbecue Thursday night.

“Right now, it’s a difficult time,” said Austin Carson, who works as a campaign coordinator for Chapman.

He said Chapman believes the government exists for the sake of the people, not the other way around. He said Chapman has an A-plus rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA), has been endorsed by Georgia Right to Life and is an advocate for private property rights.

In a later interview, Chapman elaborated on Carson’s points.

“I think it means, for me, that open, transparent and accountable government is the best kind,” he said when asked about his position on the relationship between the people and the government. He said the government exists to serve the people; people do not exist to serve the government.

When asked about the NRA, Chapman said he supports the legal right of citizens to bear arms for personal defense and sporting purposes like hunting. He said he grew up in that environment and it meant a lot to him.

The preservation of this right is a concern for many people, not just those who live in rural Georgia, he said.

As far as the Georgia Right to Life endorsement is concerned, Chapman said he has children and a grandchild.

“I think it’s just a very important aspect of civil society,” he said when asked about his opposition to abortion.

He then discussed his commitment to property rights.

“Private property rights is another one of these things that’s come under attack in recent years,” he said.

He said the term “public use” has been abused to justify taking property through the use of eminent domain. One of the first bills he wrote was Senate Bill 86, which was intended to prevent the abuse of eminent domain for economic development purposes.