Posted on 08/18/2015 5:29:17 PM PDT by marktwain
It’s often argued that the American murder rate is high because guns are more available here than in other countries. Democrats want to confiscate all guns, which is a dumb idea because only the law-abiding citizens would turn in their guns and the bad guys would be the only ones left armed. The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse even limited restrictions.and this statement:
I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. With today’s Internet technology we should be able to tell within 72-hours if a potential gun owner has a record.
Their father does not share the views of his sons, and the elder Donald told TMZ that 'My sons love hunting. They're hunters and they've become good at it. I am not a believer in hunting and I'm surprised they like it.'
'I know that anything they did was 100% OK in terms of the hunting community,' Mr Trump continued.
The star of “Celebrity Apprentice” said he owns a “H&K .45 and a .38 Smith & Wesson.”In January of 2014, Donald was considering a run for Governor of New York. He invited some Second Amendment supporters to his penthouse. From politicsny.net:
Asked about the gun-control measures being pushed by people like New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Mr. Trump said that, “The way I view it, if nobody has guns, then only the bad guys have them. And they aren’t giving up their guns.”
I mentioned the dangers of gun-free zones like Washington, D.C. and, largely, Manhattan because of all the red tape it takes to exercise the right to bear arms.
Mr. Trump said an example of this was seen in the Aurora, Colo. shooting. “If some of the people in the movie theater had a gun, they’d have been shooting at him. Nobody had a gun so they were totally defenseless.”
The Donald is a true Second Amendment enthusiast.
I was pleased to discover Mr. Trump is a strong defender of our Second Amendment rights – and his two boys are firearms enthusiasts.Here is Donald Trump on the S.A.F.E. act March 12, 2014, from auburnpub.com:
"You have the SAFE Act, which is a total catastrophe. It's hard to believe it even got passed. Look, you're sitting at home and a bad guy walks in with a gun. At least you want to have a shot at it, right? You don't want to be defenseless... But this SAFE Act is a disaster. Whoever ultimately is going to be the nominee for the Republicans, they better bring it up very loud and clear because that act is a catastrophe. I call it the unSAFE Act."
“You have the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. You have that right and they want to take it away,” Trump said. “And they are taking it away, slowly but surely, they are taking it away."
Although the law is wildly unpopular with gun enthusiasts, it is supported by a majority of New Yorkers, polls show. A recent Siena Poll found that 63% of state voters back the SAFE Act and 32% oppose it.Trump did not follow the polls. He spoke at rallies and condemned the S.A.F.E. act at every turn. The S.A.F.E. act severely restricted so-called "assault weapons". The federal "assault weapon ban had sunset 9 years earlier.
What does the Second Amendment mean to you?In this video from the NRA meeting, Trump introduces his sons and repeats the themes that he has since built on about the Second Amendment, the Iranian nuclear deal, ISIS, and Immigration.
"Above all, Protection, and these people that want to chop it down, knock it down, decapitate it, it shouldn't be allowed should never be allowed. Let me tell you, if I run, if I win it is protected."
The deceptive term “Assault Weapons” has proven to be a buzz word among the anti-gun media. Back in 2000 in your book “The America We Deserve” you wrote “The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse to even limited restrictions. I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I also support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun.” Since that time the AR15 rifle, what the media calls an “assault weapons“, has become America’s most popular firearm with millions and millions of them owned by good people.
Do you still stand by this quote or has your thinking evolved over the 15 years since you wrote that line?
“I certainly stand by my opposition to Gun Control when it comes to taking guns from law-abiding citizens. You mention that the media describes the AR-15 as an “assault rifle,” which is one example of the many distortions they use to sell their agenda. However, the AR-15 does not fall under this category. Gun-banners are unfortunately preoccupied with the AR-15, magazine capacity, grips, and other aesthetics, precisely because of its popularity.”
“To the Left every gun is an assault weapon.”
“Gun control does not reduce crime. It has consistently failed to stop violence. Americans are entitled to protect their families, their property and themselves. In fact, in right-to-carry states the violent crime rate is 24% lower than the rest of the United States and the murder rate is 28% lower. This should not be up for debate.”
“I do not support expanding background checks. The current background checks do not work.”The entire interview is well worth reading.
“They make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to acquire firearms while consistently failing to stop criminals from getting guns. We should re-examine our policy to make sure that these prohibitions do not impede law abiding citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights.”
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I’m going to cut him a lot of slack on this, and I do not ordinarily do that.
L
Good post.
A bump for taking the time to discuss and educate. You never know.....
I was quite skeptical of his Second Amendment views until I researched this article.
Giving an interview to Ammoland says a lot in itself.
Can you imagine Jeb Bush giving an interview to Ammoland?
Peoples viewss on this have changed. Hell, compare NRA dirca 1968 to the NRA of today.
“I’m going to cut him a lot of slack on this, and I do not ordinarily do that.”
Why?
Good Post.
I give Trump a B when it comes to the 2a. If he proactively calls for open carry, concealed carry in all states and across all state lines he moves to a B+. He gets an A- if that doesn’t require a background check. He gets an A if he calls for no restrictions on weapons you can purchase, including fully automatic weapons, grenades, explosives, etc. An A+ if individuals can purchase new or military surplus tanks and weapon systems, short of nuclear weapons.
Did you actually read what the man said?
“Hell, compare NRA dirca 1968 to the NRA of today.”
Precisely. The NRA has had to be dragged kicking and screaming, by the membership to where Donald Trump is now.
There are many that have been educated over the last 15 years. It is one of the reasons that Second Amendment Supporters were able to force the sunset of the Assault Weapon Ban.
15 years ago, there was 1 Constitutional carry state (Vermont).
There were 30 Shall issue states.
There were3 12 May Issue states.
There were 7 No Issue states.
Today there are 7 Constitutional carry states, 35 Shall Issue states, and 8 May issue States. There has been a sea change, and it is continuing.
“I give Trump a B when it comes to the 2a. “
Curious. What grades do you give to Ted Cruz, Dr. Carson, Ms. Fiorina, Jeb Bush, Governor Walker, Marco Rubio?
You seem thoughtful and well informed.
I'll cut him slack, but nothing I bought legally will ever be surrendered peacefully.
Nor will any of mine. Ever.
If anyone ever proves to you they have my guns you will know I am dead.
L
Ditto.
You seem thoughtful and well informed.
I would have to look at each candidate's record/statements. I am not going to vote for Jeb, Walker, Rubio or Carly for other other, non-2a reasons. I know Cruz is strong on the 2a, but I don't know his stance on finer details. I don't know where Carson stands. By the way, I am not planning to vote for Trump. Trump is just good at bringing issues to the forefront of converstation at the moment. That is good for all candidates. Eventually other candidates will be able to get a word in edge-wise.
“Can you imagine Jeb Bush giving an interview to Ammoland?”
Good point.
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