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Obama & Romney Misfire on Guns
February 04, 2008 11:03 AM
Perhaps no other issue causes politicians to shift to the right as they enter the national arena more so than guns…
And perhaps no other issue so explicitly causes politicians attempting such a leap to shoot themselves in the foot.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was asked about the assault weapons ban on Meet the Press on December 16, 2007.
"I would have supported the original assault weapon ban," Romney said. "I signed an assault weapon ban in Massachusetts governor because it provided for a relaxation of licensing requirements for gun owners in Massachusetts, which was a big plus."
Asked Tim Russert: "So the assault ban that expired here because Congress didn’t act on it, you would support?"
"Just as the president said, he would have, he would have signed that bill if it came to his desk, and so would have I," said Romney.
In the last few hours, Romney contradicted that in a podcast interview with Glenn Reynolds and Helen Smith of Instapundit fame.
"I know that a lot of the gun rights folks aren’t sure about your position on gun rights," asked Smith. "Would you pledge to veto any new gun control bills that come across your desk as President?"
"Yeah," Romney said. "Yeah, I don’t support any gun control legislation, the effort for a new assault weapons ban, with a ban on semi-automatic weapons, is something I would oppose. There’s no new legislation that I’m aware of or have heard of that I would support. In regards to guns, I think we have enough legislation and should enforce the laws as they exist. I was pleased that when I ran for Governor that I received the endorsement of the NRA and I hope to receive their support now."
In addition to that apparent flip flop, it should be noted that the NRA did NOT endorse Romney when he ran for governor, as his campaign acknowledged when he said it last December.
This is a rank untruth Mr. Romney continues to peddle.
Said Mr. Reynolds: "I'm beginning to question his sincerity."
On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, campaigning in Idaho over the weekend said "there are people who say, `Well, he doesn't believe in the Second Amendment,' even though I come from a state — we've got a lot of hunters in downstate Illinois. And I have no intention of taking away folks' guns."
In 1996, however, Obama said in a questionnaire that he "supported banning the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns" -- a fairly extreme position.
"Well he has to speak to his own record, which has obviously changed over a relatively short period of time," shot Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY.
HOWEVER, it should be pointed out that this appears to be yet another example of Obama not being able to get good help.
You guessed it -- his campaign says this questionnaire was filled out incorrectly by a staffer. (Read more on that HERE.)
We've been following Mr. Obama's "The Buck Stops Over There" blame-his-staff trend since last June and, more recently, in December.
Bang bang.
- jpt
February 4, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (58)
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WE NEED NO MORE GUN LAWS .
Posted by: CRAZYHORSE-INDIANA | May 28, 2008 2:10:47 PM
RG,
Will a change in gun laws be obeyed by criminals? Even if we assume criminals will obey gun laws, which they won't and don't, should we then also ban pools because people drown in them? Ban knives because people are stabbed with them? Ban alcohol because people drink & drive? Ban cars because people drive too fast and kill with them? When will people realize that it is not our freedoms that are the problem, it is bad people who are the problem.
Posted by: DD | Feb 19, 2008 5:22:01 PM
Maybe the guns laws should change considering we have had several RECENT shootings at some of the well known colleges in our communities. Oh, no that would be too much to ask...like save our children from themselves. I guess not enough people got shot yet and that's why people think we don't need to change the gun laws. That is a very selfish way to look at this realistic picture of unfortunate shootings. I am a military veteran and I support change in gun laws to reduce the murders on campus we often see and hear able, but don't want to change anything. If you want a different result, you must do something different!
Change the guns laws stupid!
Obama for President.
Posted by: RG | Feb 18, 2008 8:53:19 PM
At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a Trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.
Abraham Lincoln, January 27, 1838
This was so true at one time, but no more. We have become a nation of excuses and alibis. I could care less who becomes our next President, it really makes no difference, and nothing will change. One candidate at last admits that he is bellicose, while the others claim not to be. They are liars!
The country I once loved and would die for is no more. God has turned his back on us and we will pay a terrible price.
Posted by: The best there is | Feb 18, 2008 7:47:23 PM
The 2nd Amendment has NOTHING TO DO WITH HUNTING or SPORTS! It is to prevent Tyrants from taking over the Nation from within. Obama will inable that, a vote for him just sends us one step closer to a revolution.
Posted by: Rusty | Feb 13, 2008 7:08:58 AM
The proof is in the ...brief. See who really supports the 2nd Amm in who signed on with the Congress' amicus brief to the USSC re Heller.
Posted by: ILLHUNTER | Feb 11, 2008 12:26:27 PM
All that needs to be said is this...."Blaming guns for killing people is like blaming your pencil for misspelled words!"
I live downstate Illinois and am constantly on the battle front as a staunch NRA member and believer in the Second Amendment. Illinois is closer to a socialist society through its handgun bans in Chicago, of all places. The current trend to ban any semi-automatic guns that are capable of holding 10 shells at ne time is ludicrous. Once we are infringed upon one of our rights the rest will come easy to dominate!
SINCERLY,
John
Posted by: John Burke, Jr | Feb 11, 2008 11:52:21 AM
Gun Contorl is Naziism
As Mr. Sean Bradley point out "England, Austrailia, and other European nations have proven that guns bans only keep guns out of the hands of law-abiding people. Criminals can still obtain and use handguns in crimes in England even though they have been banned " Yet again the Eurpoean Nations have forgotten what Gun Bans had lead to and that was the rais of Adolph Hitler. Gun Control was the reason why Hitler did his dirty deeds. Do you remember the holocost ? Do you know why millions of Jews where slaughter like animals ? Because of Gun Control. Hilter was the founding father of Gun Control and his 1935 speech proves it.
Hilter said in his own words "This year will go down in history for the first year that a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our Streets will be safer our police more efficient and the world will follow our lead into the future!" Hitler was not lying when he said that. You have the Clintons, Obama, Ted Kennday and the rest of the Liberal anti-gun Nazi Party.
Bottom line is if you support Gun Control then you are a Nazi Lover
There is no argument to this whats so every. Liberals are Nazi Lovers Period.
Posted by: Richard Espinoza | Feb 10, 2008 4:14:05 PM
It would be nice to throw out both parties and try the 3rd & 4th ones for a change!
Posted by: Frank | Feb 7, 2008 5:38:21 PM
With "FAT TEDDY" pulling Obama's strings, you can bet the ranch that Osama Obama WILL sign every anti-gun measure that comes down the pike, IF he's elected President!
Posted by: PAPA | Feb 7, 2008 2:50:40 PM
If you look at current gun laws today, we have over 15,000. How many criminals have actually been prevented from getting access to firearms? NONE! They don't get firearms legally. Hence the term, "criminal"! Why is it people like Chuck Schumer,Hillary Clinton, and the rest of the anti-firearms community think that banning firearms will prevent crime? England? Australia? Japan? They deny their citizens the right to have firearms. The have crime problems all over there country? Or even better yet, Right here in the U.S.! Case in point-Washington D.C.! You are not even allowed to own or possess a firearm. Look at their crime problem. Another case in point, "gunfree school zones"! What a joke? Where have the worst tragedies of shootings happened in our country? In schools! Because no one had a chance to defend themselves, many people lost their lives. But if you look at what happened in Colorado, a man with a firearm entered a church began to shoot people. Because one woman with here own PERSONAL FIREARM, she prevented the loss of many more innocent lives because SHE WAS ARMED! Guns are not the problem, criminals are! When a crime is committed, who get to spend time behind bars? the person? or the gun? I say this America, it should not take a slap in the face or a swift kick in the pants to tell you that it is time to wake up! criminals are the problem, not the honest citizen. To bring up another good point. Bill Clinton wrote in his personal auto-biography that if he had known that he was going to put so many friends in congress out of a job from passing the assault weapons ban, he would have never signed it into law!
Posted by: Sean Bradley | Feb 7, 2008 10:35:36 AM
The 1994 Clinton assult weapons ban only banned guns based on cosmetic appearance, not the fact that they were semi-automatic or not. Fully-automatic firearms have been regulated by the ATF since 1939. Is Mitt contradicting himself by saying he is opposed to new gun-control legislation? N0!! He said, he is opposed to a ban that included semi-automatic weapons.
I am opposed to any ban on firearms. England, Austrailia, and other European nations have proven that guns bans only keep guns out of the hands of law-abiding people. Criminals can still obtain and use handguns in crimes in England even though they have been banned!!!!
Posted by: HAL | Feb 7, 2008 3:34:36 AM
Once and for all, the 2nd admendment is about self-defense of oneself and the country. It is not about hunting although that is a benefit to owning a gun. Some have said there is not left wing movement to take away guns, I suggest you look at Australia and England. In England, self-defense is illegal. Wake up America and see what they have in store for you with this new world order crap.
Posted by: Donnie | Feb 7, 2008 3:29:18 AM
No matter who gets into office, it is time to start stockpiling weapons and ammunition. The country is going downhill fast. Criminals have more tights than do law abiding citizens, people will not take responsibility for themselves or their families. People that take an oath to defend the constitution of the United States do not take that oath seriously, they are just looking out for their own greedy personal intrests.
Posted by: Ranger04 | Feb 6, 2008 9:34:52 PM
It is a proven fact gun laws do not work. We have about 15,000 on the books now in the country. All places that allow right to carry have the lowest incidence of violent crime. Should be 15 years for use of a gun used in crime commission, no parole, in the desert, in a pup tent, water, one meal a day. See ya. Gun free zones are no defense zones. Part of a perpetrator's planning process.
Posted by: Fred | Feb 6, 2008 9:25:26 PM
Come November, I'll stay home. I'm 64 years old. I can recall only once that I was able to vote for someone I truly trusted: Ronald Reagan.
My days of "voting for the lesser evil" are over. I refuse to let the Democrans and Republicrats (2 sides of the same coin) believe that I have anything at all to do with their treachery. One of them will be crowned - obviously. But I'll be damned if they do it with my consent.
Mike
Peaceful, Law Abiding, Heavily Armed Citizen -- and a Libertarian
Posted by: Mike | Feb 6, 2008 8:43:00 PM
If Obama is elected, and Hillary is his Veep, I'm not sure that Obama would live to take the oath of office.
Posted by: Ron | Feb 6, 2008 8:14:46 PM
This is a perfect example of how/why the NRA is quickly losing it's 'true strength' in American politics.
These 'positions' aren't reflective of any real policies or principles at all. They are campaign statements about an issue that these candidates (none of the candidates!)care much about.
I'm a gun-owner, but that doesn't make me a gun-voter. I shoot my guns 2-3 times a month. Why on earth would I allow this recreational activity to have such undue influence on the way I utilize the MOST sacred right I have as an American.
That being said, I'll be the first one in line to rally against anyone who tries to unfairly regulate legal and responsible gun ownership and use.
But pretty soon my fellow gun owners will realize that there isn't a liberal boogey-man waiting to grab their guns.
Maybe then the NRA can get out of politics and focus on shooting and hunting. After all isn't that why we own guns?
Posted by: va4vr | Feb 6, 2008 7:56:04 PM
Come election day in November 08 I will vote the way I have pretty much voted since I became of voting age (21) in 54.....I will vote for whoever I figure is the lessor of the evils.
That said, I believe that every adult man and woman residing in these United States should possess, and know how to use, a combat rifle (with ammunication) of his or her choice. Like it or not America is slipping into a political abyss from which there can be no peaceful escape.
In school I hated the study of History and didn't really pay much attention. However, what I did learn is that over and over history is repeated.
Posted by: Alvin B. Hickox | Feb 6, 2008 11:15:51 AM
How do you know when a Clinton is LYING:
something is coming out of their mouths!
Posted by: DJ | Feb 6, 2008 10:26:42 AM
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