Former governor Mitt Romney, who once described himself as a supporter of strong gun laws, is distancing himself from that rhetoric now as he attempts to court the gun owners who make up a significant force in Republican primary politics...
But perhaps the most significant gun legislation Romney signed as governor was a 2004 measure instituting a permanent ban on assault weapons. The Legislature mirrored the law after the federal assault weapons ban, which was set to expire. According to activists at the time, the bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its own such ban, and Romney hailed the move.
"These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense," he was quoted as saying. "They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."
That's a lot more than just "rhetoric." Now that some are trying to help him erase the past, it would seem fair to require proof that he really has "reformed."I'll change my opinion if he provides the right and unequivocal answers to some clear questions. If he won't, and he won't, you'll know he continues to be just another in a long train of power-mad political swindlers, which of course, he is:
1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges the birthrights of all Americans?
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county, state and federal? Will you direct the Department of Justice to do this?
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern?
7. Do you support or oppose Project Exile-type programs, and do you agree with current NRA management’s call to “enforce existing gun laws”? Where is the Constitutional authority for this, and how do you square it with "shall not be infringed"?
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
11. How will you personally atone for your past support of citizen disarmament edicts?
I'm sending these questions to the Romney campaign. Don't hold your breath.
[Photo from Organization for Mitt Romney blog: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, and National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre talk with attendees while touring the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Jan. 12, 2007. Romney has formed a presidential exploratory committee for the 2008 election. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhac)]
9 comments:
"Romney says he still backs the ban on assault weapons, but he won't say whether he stands by the Brady Bill. And after the gun show tour, his campaign declined to say whether he would still describe himself as a supporter of tough gun laws."
If he still supports a ban on so-called "assault weapons," how much of a "retreat" from his earlier pro-civilian disarmament stance is he making? Any claims that he's a supporter of gun rights aren't just lies, they're stupid lies.
What we have here is a politician -- worse, a Mass politician. His lips are moving. That tells me he's lying.
This character might have one conservative bone in his body (fiscal), but I don't trust that one either.
Peet (from Mass, and disgusted with it)
By the way, in that picture, are Mitt and Wayne wearing some kind of uniform? Their clothes look identical.
1894C here currently living in MA.
Let me go out on a limb here and say that having Romney as POTUS would be BAD for gun owners.
Nuff said.
By the way, in that picture, are Mitt and Wayne wearing some kind of uniform? Their clothes look identical.
That of the "sensible law passing, incrementally gun grabbing weenie"?
As a Massachusetts gun-owner I can tell you what "Republican" Mitt Romney has done for us during his tenure as governor - NOTHING!!!
Not only has he announced his support for gun control in general, he sat on his hands while the Attorney General, Tom "The Weasel" Reilly banned an entire list of quality handguns as 'unsafe' (unless you happen to be a cop). Reilly also shut down internet purchase of ammo and components, even to those who have a Mass CCW license.
I have a personal message for Mitt Romney, and it's the same as for the horse he rode in on.
All of us dedicated gun huggers know the clock is once again ticking down to re-enactment of the "assault weapons" ban, which was based almost soley on cosmetic features. Given the field of choices right now, it doesn't appear to matter which party gets the White House. It will be a gun grabber, so the outcome will be the same. It also will not matter that the small fraction of crimes in America that ever involved such weapons has steadily declined since The Ban was repealed. I have started buying as many as I can as an investment. The value of some weapons multiplied by nearly 10x last time. If I buy enough crappy Romanian AK-47s now, maybe I can retire in a couple of years.
If you pay attention to the media arranged GOP debates. It's plain to see that Romney is being shoved down our throats as Obama was the last time. I think even some in the Main Stream Media realize that another Obama term in office is not only unrealistic, it's dangerous for us all. So we're getting a mild, smooth Romney shake, with a cherry on top. Thanks MSM!
Ken, I hate to burst your reality but Obama will be elected to another 4 years.
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