Where do 2016 Candidates Stand on Guns?

While the presidential nominees have been jostling for the public's attention, some voters are looking towards the future and what it could bring regarding the 2nd Amendment.

Currently, with Donald Trump as the presumed Republican nominee, and Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders vying for the Democratic nomination, there is a need to review the frontrunners' stances on the 2nd Amendment.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has remained consistent in her support of gun control. According to her website (hillaryclinton.com), if elected, Clinton will "strengthen background check and close dangerous loopholes in the current system, hold irresponsible dealers and manufacturers accountable keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, domestic abusers, other violent criminals and the severely ill and keep military-style weapons off our streets."

Senator Bernie Sanders opinions on guns, although not listed on his website (berniesanders.com) have fluctuated from his past opinions although are similar to Clinton's. Sanders promises to strengthen background check system, close the gun show loophole, make "straw-man" purchases (buying a firearm for someone who is unable to lawfully purchase one) illegal, address mental health and ban semi-automatic assault weapons.

In contrast to both candidates, Donald Trump although hesitant at first, has now fully embraced the 2nd Amendment culture and has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Trump stated that "The second amendment to our constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon. Period." (donaldjtrump.com) With this ideal in mind, he will enforce current gun laws by convicting criminals, fix the mental health system, and defend the rights of law abiding gun owners.

Now, the candidate's current views are not what they have always been. All three have changed their opinions over the years, adding to the confusion on whether or not the presidential hopefuls will fulfill their promises.

Throughout her campaign in 2008, Clinton spoke of her relationship with guns, going hunting and shooting and how this is a part of American Culture. In the Democratic debate on April 16, 2008 she stated that "I respect the Second Amendment. I respect the rights of lawful gun owners to own guns, to use their guns…so we will strike the right balance to protect the constitutional right but to give the people they feeling and the reality that they will be protected from guns in the wrong hands." This statement seems a stark contrast to her forceful support of gun control in this campaign.

Sanders has had a varied history with gun control and support of legislation in his time as a senator. Previously, he voted against the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act which would require a five day background check on purchases of firearms. In 2012 however, he voted in support of amendments to expand background checks. Sanders has also changed his mind on his support for immunity to gun manufacturers but now says he would repeal it. As senator from a state with one of the highest rates of gun ownership, one would assume Sanders would be far more pro-gun than his record states.

Trump is similar to the other presidential nominees in that his opinion on background checks and assault weapons have changed in the recent years. In his book (published 2000), Trump stated that he supported the assault weapons ban and longer wait periods for purchases of firearms. By 2011, he publicly voiced his opinion saying that he was against gun control. Now, the NRA endorsed candidate is completely pro-gun and has been quoted as a 'big second amendment person.'

As always, a candidate is not his opinion on one specific issue. However, it is important to know where they stand and what they plan to do if elected into office.

PROTECTING OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

Donald J. Trump on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.

The Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right that belongs to all law-abiding Americans. The Constitution doesn’t create that right – it ensures that the government can’t take it away. Our Founding Fathers knew, and our Supreme Court has upheld, that the Second Amendment’s purpose is to guarantee our right to defend ourselves and our families. This is about self-defense, plain and simple.

It’s been said that the Second Amendment is America’s first freedom. That’s because the Right to Keep and Bear Arms protects all our other rights. We are the only country in the world that has a Second Amendment. Protecting that freedom is imperative. Here’s how we will do that:

Enforce The Laws On The Books

We need to get serious about prosecuting violent criminals. The Obama administration’s record on that is abysmal. Violent crime in cities like Baltimore, Chicago and many others is out of control. Drug dealers and gang members are given a slap on the wrist and turned loose on the street. This needs to stop.

Several years ago there was a tremendous program in Richmond, Virginia called Project Exile. It said that if a violent felon uses a gun to commit a crime, you will be prosecuted in federal court and go to prison for five years – no parole or early release. Obama’s former Attorney General, Eric Holder, called that a “cookie cutter” program. That’s ridiculous. I call that program a success. Murders committed with guns in Richmond decreased by over 60% when Project Exile was in place – in the first two years of the program alone, 350 armed felons were taken off the street.

Why does that matter to law-abiding gun owners? Because they’re the ones who anti-gun politicians and the media blame when criminals misuse guns. We need to bring back and expand programs like Project Exile and get gang members and drug dealers off the street. When we do, crime will go down and our cities and communities will be safer places to live.

Here’s another important way to fight crime – empower law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves. Law enforcement is great, they do a tremendous job, but they can’t be everywhere all of the time. Our personal protection is ultimately up to us. That’s why I’m a gun owner, that’s why I have a concealed carry permit, and that’s why tens of millions of Americans have concealed carry permits as well. It’s just common sense. To make America great again, we’re going to go after criminals and put the law back on the side of the law-abiding.

Fix Our Broken Mental Health System

Let’s be clear about this. Our mental health system is broken. It needs to be fixed. Too many politicians have ignored this problem for too long.

All of the tragic mass murders that occurred in the past several years have something in common – there were red flags that were ignored. We can’t allow that to continue. We need to expand treatment programs, because most people with mental health problems aren’t violent, they just need help. But for those who are violent, a danger to themselves or others, we need to get them off the street before they can terrorize our communities. This is just common sense.

And why does this matter to law-abiding gun owners? Once again, because they get blamed by anti-gun politicians, gun control groups and the media for the acts of deranged madmen. When one of these tragedies occurs, we can count on two things: one, that opponents of gun rights will immediately exploit it to push their political agenda; and two, that none of their so-called “solutions” would have prevented the tragedy in the first place. They’ve even admitted it.

We need real solutions to address real problems. Not grandstanding or political agendas.

Defend The Rights of Law-Abiding Gun Owners

GUN AND MAGAZINE BANS. Gun and magazine bans are a total failure. That’s been proven every time it’s been tried. Opponents of gun rights try to come up with scary sounding phrases like “assault weapons”, “military-style weapons” and “high capacity magazines” to confuse people. What they’re really talking about are popular semi-automatic rifles and standard magazines that are owned by tens of millions of Americans. Law-abiding people should be allowed to own the firearm of their choice. The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own.

BACKGROUND CHECKS. There has been a national background check system in place since 1998. Every time a person buys a gun from a federally licensed gun dealer – which is the overwhelming majority of all gun purchases – they go through a federal background check. Study after study has shown that very few criminals are stupid enough to try and pass a background check – they get their guns from friends/family members or by stealing them. So the overwhelming majority of people who go through background checks are law-abiding gun owners. When the system was created, gun owners were promised that it would be instant, accurate and fair. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case today. Too many states are failing to put criminal and mental health records into the system – and it should go without saying that a system’s only going to be as effective as the records that are put into it. What we need to do is fix the system we have and make it work as intended. What we don’t need to do is expand a broken system.

NATIONAL RIGHT TO CARRY. The right of self-defense doesn’t stop at the end of your driveway. That’s why I have a concealed carry permit and why tens of millions of Americans do too. That permit should be valid in all 50 states. A driver’s license works in every state, so it’s common sense that a concealed carry permit should work in every state. If we can do that for driving – which is a privilege, not a right – then surely we can do that for concealed carry, which is a right, not a privilege.

MILITARY BASES AND RECRUITING CENTERS. Banning our military from carrying firearms on bases and at recruiting centers is ridiculous. We train our military how to safely and responsibly use firearms, but our current policies leave them defenseless. To make America great again, we need a strong military. To have a strong military, we need to allow them to defend themselves.

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