AUSTIN — The National Rifle Association has again endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a nod that his opponent is using to call attention to Paxton's now 3-year-old indictments.

On Friday, the gun-rights group's political arm issued multiple emails throwing its support behind Paxton, a Republican, and applauding his "A+" NRA rating. The NRA has endorsed Paxton before and featured him at its convention this year in Dallas.

"Ken Paxton has been strongly committed to protecting constitutional rights in Texas," Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund, said in an email. "He has been a champion for law-abiding gun owners."

Paxton has supported laws to legalize the open carry of handguns and to let Texans with a license to carry bring concealed weapons to public colleges and universities, the NRA noted. Paxton's campaign added that he has also put legal pressure on the city of Austin and Waller County for banning guns in their government and court buildings, respectively.

The endorsement quickly garnered criticism from Paxton's Democratic opponent, Justin Nelson. In a tweet responding to the news, Nelson pointed out that Paxton's 2015 felony indictments prohibit the attorney general from purchasing or selling guns.

"Fun Fact: Because he's indicted, Ken Paxton can't buy a gun!" Nelson tweeted, citing the federal law that makes it illegal for a "person who is under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" to ship, transport or receive firearms and ammunition.

Paxton was indicted in July 2015. He stands accused of two first-degree felonies for allegedly breaking state securities laws and one third-degree felony for allegedly acting as an investment adviser representative without being registered with the state. If convicted he faces up to 99 years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

Paxton has twice beaten similar fraud charges brought by the federal government. His state cases have been delayed multiple times, and his trials are unlikely to kick off before the November election.

Fun Fact: Because he's indicted, Ken Paxton can't buy a gun! https://t.co/Tp6QnbJN7F — Justin Nelson (@NelsonForTexas) September 7, 2018

Gun law experts agree that federal law prohibits Paxton from buying or selling guns, but they disagree on whether he has to give up any guns he may already possess.

T. Edwin Walker, a Houston attorney and gun rights advocate, said federal law bars indicted people only from buying and selling firearms. He added that Paxton may not carry a concealed handgun but may carry a firearm openly in areas where a license is not necessary.

"He can still possess the ones he has," Walker said. "He just can't go out and buy new ones."

But Justin Sparks, a criminal defense attorney and former Tarrant County assistant district attorney, said Paxton is barred from having guns period.

"It's possession as well," Sparks said. "If you are under indictment, you cannot possess, purchase or sell guns."

Paxton's charges, which he says are false and politically motivated, do not affect his wife's right to possess or purchase guns. Angela Paxton, who is running for Texas Senate, is known for singing a song she wrote titled, "I'm a pistol packin' mama, and my husband sues Obama," at campaign events.

The gun possession issue last came up when then-Gov. Rick Perry was indicted in 2014. Famously pro-gun, Perry fatally shot a coyote in 2010 while out jogging.

Paxton campaign spokesman Matt Welch did not respond to Nelson's tweets about Paxton's gun rights, but provided this response to The Dallas Morning News regarding the NRA endorsement:

"Attorney General Paxton is extremely proud of his support from the 5 million members of the National Rifle Association, our country's staunchest defender of our 2nd Amendment rights, because they know he has fought to defend Texans' gun rights and the freedom to protect their families."

The News asked Nelson, who as political novice does not have an NRA rating, about gun rights. His campaign spokeswoman, Margaret Justus, said, "Justin believes in all amendments to the Constitution, including the Second Amendment.

"The Texas attorney general has an obligation to uphold all of the laws passed by the Texas Legislature that are good-faith constitutional," she added.