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Trump: The Official NRA Q&A
NRA-ILA ^
| 29 September, 2016
| Chris W. Cox
Posted on 10/13/2016 8:06:17 AM PDT by marktwain
This feature appears in the October 16 issue of NRA Americas 1st Freedom, one of the official journals of the National Rifle Association. View Related Articles
This years race for the White House is like no other in our history. Hillary Clinton has made it clear that, if elected, she will come after our firearm freedoms on her very first day in office. So its no exaggeration to say that the Second Amendment is on the ballot this November. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, to discuss our right to keep and bear arms and whats at stake for Americas gun owners in this election.
Chris W. Cox: Mr. Trump, Id like to begin with an issue of concern to many gun owners. In your 2000 book, The America We Deserve, you stated that while you oppose gun control, you support the federal ban on semi-automatic firearmsthe so-called assault weapons banand also support a longer waiting period to purchase a firearm. During this election, however, youve repeatedly pointed out you oppose gun and magazine bans and only support background checks that are instant, accurate and fair. Would you say your position has evolved on these issues?
Donald J. Trump: Absolutely. Over the past 15 years Ive learned a great deal about how we can protect the good people of this country from those who mean to do us harm. Gun control is not the answerprotecting the rights of law-abiding citizens is the answer. Furthermore, gun bans dont work. Studies were done after the 1994 assault weapons ban expired. They clearly showed that the ban didnt protect anyone, didnt reduce crime. It just made it harder for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves with the firearm of their choice. Like with all things, I believe in what works, and gun bans dont work. I have two sons who dont just believe in the Second Amendment, they live it. They hunt, target shoot, shoot competitively and carry firearms for personal protection. Theyre NRA members, and so am I. I also have a concealed-carry permit. Our commitment to the Second Amendment is unshakable.
CWC: As you know, the future of our firearm freedoms hangs in the balance with the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scaliathe author of the Heller decisionwhich held that the Constitution guarantees the individual right to keep and bear arms. I have a couple of questions related to the Supreme Court, but first, do you agree that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental, individual right to own and use firearms for lawful purposes?
DJT: Without question. Unlike Hillary Clinton, I believe the Second Amendment protects an individual right, and the D.C. gun ban overturned in Heller is exactly the kind of law the Second Amendment was meant to prohibit. Let me be clear about this: Heller wasnt about a reasonable restriction, as Clinton tries to arguethe D.C. law banned guns in the home. As a result, D.C. residents were completely defenseless against violent criminals breaking into their homes. Clinton believes that the Supreme Court was wrong in the Heller decision, which she has said many times. She will appoint judges who will effectively abolish the Second Amendmentthats the stake in this election.
CWC: In addition to the Scalia vacancy, many suggest the next president could nominate three or even more additional justices to the Supreme Court. Will the Second Amendment and theHeller decision play a role in who you decide to nominate to the Supreme Court?
DJT: 100 percent. I will appoint judges who will preserve our Second Amendment rights. Hillary Clinton will appoint judges who will eliminate them.
CWC: There are a number of laws and regulations that gun control groups have been pushing for years. Id like to discuss a few of them to get your views. First, do you support so-called universal background checks?
DJT: There can never be a so-called universal background check, because criminals obviously ignore gun laws. Thats what makes them criminals. The research shows that they find someone with a clean recorda straw purchaserto get a gun for them. Or they get a gun from the black market. Or they steal it. We also know that background checks havent stopped the mass shooters weve seen. In each case, they either passed a federal background check or stole the guns they used. Under current law, purchasing a firearm from a dealer requires a background check, whether in a store, at a gun show or anywhere elsebut some want to take that a step further so that even if a firearm is transferred from a father to a son as a gift or between lifelong friends on a hunting trip, the federal government has to intervene and approve the transfer in advance. That burdens law-abiding citizens but doesnt impact criminals. I dont support that.
CWC: What about gun owner licensing and/or registration?
DJT: I dont support restricting the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens by creating a national government registry. One thing that gun-control supporters never point out is that gun control costs us lives every day. Every time a law-abiding citizen has their right to defend themselves taken away, they are put at risk. That terrible tragedy in New JerseyCarol Bowne, who was killed in her own driveway while waiting for a gun permitis a tragic example of how gun control costs lives. But the American people get it. Poll after poll shows a majority of Americans continue to be opposed to invasive restrictions on their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. They believe, as I do, that all of us have the right to defend ourselves and that the government should not be in the business of taking that right away any more than we would let them regulate and restrict any of our other core freedoms out of existence.
CWC: After the recent tragedy in Orlando, President Obama, Hillary Clinton and their allies tried to distract attention away from their failed terrorism policies by calling for more gun control. In addition to calling for a new ban on semi-automatic rifles and expanded background checks, they pushed for a proposal to ban people on secret government lists from purchasing firearms. Whats your position on that issue?
DJT: Terrorists should not be able to buy guns, legally or illegally. Period. We must make sure that doesnt happen, and we all agree on that goal. At the same time, we have to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans. These are not mutually exclusive ideaswe can do both. Unfortunately, Obama and Hillary will do anything to distract attention away from their failure to stop the spread of ISIS and defeat terrorism. They also dont want to talk about the threat of not only terrorists with guns, but terrorists with explosives (like the Boston bombing) and terrorists with trucks (like in Nice, France) or any other means of attacking our people. They want to disarm Americans but continue policies that allow terrorists into our country.
CWC: President Obama has made a habit out of using his phone and pen to implement gun control through executive orders, bypassing Congress and the will of the people to advance his anti-gun agenda. All presidents have used executive orders at some level, but none have gone to the lengths that Obama has on gun control. Do you have any plans with respect to executive orders on guns if you win the election?
DJT: First, I will undo President Obamas executive orders on guns. Second, I will look for ways to restore the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by undoing restrictions put in place by the Obama administrations federal agencies, and pursuing avenues that protect Americans constitutional rights in ways that make us all safer.
CWC: You came out early in the primaries with a position paper on the Second Amendment, including your support for Project Exileenforcing current gun laws against criminals with mandatory jail time. Is that something youll push for if elected president?
DJT: I think the major failure of gun-control supporters is the constant push for new gun laws instead of focusing our efforts on prosecuting violent criminals. Federal prosecutions under Obama have plummeted, and all he does is ask for more gun control. It makes no sense. Project Exile was a program that had great success because its simpleif youre a felon caught with a gun or committing another crime with a gun, theres a mandatory sentence of at least five years waiting for you. And those cases are prosecuted in federal court. When you see violent crime exploding in a place like Chicago, its ridiculous that they arent taking those criminals off the streets with the laws already in place. Ill make that a priority in a Trump administration. My Justice Department will focus on prosecuting violent criminals. We will make it happen.
CWC: Is there anything else you want our readers to know about this election?
DJT: This election means everything for the future of our country. Not just gun rights, but also many other issues. The Supreme Court will be shaped for a generation by the next president. Our standing in the world will be shapedat a critical and dangerous timeby the next president. And the Second Amendment itself hangs in the balance with who we elect as the next president. Your freedoms are hanging by a fraying thread. Every freedom-loving American must vote, and get their friends to vote. We cant let the freedoms secured by those in uniform be surrendered at the ballot box. I promise your readers, and all of Americas law-abiding gun owners, that when I win the White House with your votes, our Second Amendment rights will remain protected and I will do all in my power to advance the cause of freedom.
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; nra; secondamendment; trump
Trump on the Second Amendment. This interview with the NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox shows considerable insight into Donald Trump's views and policies involving the Second Amendment.
1
posted on
10/13/2016 8:06:17 AM PDT
by
marktwain
To: marktwain
While some have expressed "concerns" about some of his old (pre-political) statements, and even the "no-fly-list" statement, he is the only valid choice we have if we value the 2nd Amendment - and the rest of the Constitution.
GO TRUMP/PENCE!!!
2
posted on
10/13/2016 8:36:51 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: trebb
Well, my “ concerns” about the NRA is that they back RATs if they claim to be 2A supporters. It’s why I let my membership lapse, because it’s no o.k. in my opinion to get any support to RAT legislators who are down on the rest of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. I mean they back Joe Manchin and Harry Reid, give me a break.
3
posted on
10/13/2016 8:43:04 AM PDT
by
vette6387
To: vette6387
My comments weren't about the NRA per se - they were about those who worry so much about Trump that they lose sight of what Hillary would do.
I agree that the NRA does not always seem to be on our side - we need another Charlton Heston to head them up.
4
posted on
10/13/2016 8:57:36 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: marktwain
As soon as I take office I will ban guns by executive order
Hillary Clinton
5
posted on
10/13/2016 9:21:49 AM PDT
by
TYVets
To: marktwain
I want the worst of the onerous federal restrictions eliminated, and the “right” of the states to pass and enforce laws or regulations contrary to the 2nd Amendment to be stripped.
So,
1. Eliminate the very idea of a federal tax stamp - and the approvals needed for them - for full autos, suppressors and short-barreled rifles or shotguns. People who have legally obtained these devices have committed incredibly few crimes since 1934 (like, for instance, literally 1 crime committed by a legal owner of a full auto firearm - and that person was an off-duty policeman!). This necessitates the repeal of Title 18, Section 922(o), as well as most of the 1934 National Firearms Act, and all associated regulations.
2. Eliminate the idea of a licensed dealer for someone selling less than 50 guns/year. This would allow most collectors (or their heirs) to dispose of an entire collection privately - the same way one might do with a coin, stamp or auto collection. Just like those items, a firearm is JUST A MATERIAL ITEM (though it is a Constitutionally-protected one, so one would assume that you should have MORE rights WRT firearms than, say, coins or cars.
3. No more restrictions on ANY item connected with firearms - such as magazines, the number of rounds owned by a person, the amount of powder, etc.
4. No more waiting periods for those who already own a firearm - that’s kind of absurd, isn’t it? After all, someone owning a gun already isn’t going to NOT shoot someone because they have to wait for gun #2 (or #20) to be released by Tony Soprano’s Gun Shop, Liquor Store and Tobacco Emporium.
6
posted on
10/13/2016 1:06:22 PM PDT
by
Ancesthntr
("The right to buy weapons the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
To: trebb
If Hillary tries to ban gun sales to those on the secret lists, Republicans will fight her.
If Donald tries the same thing, who can we expect will fight him?
Trump is just plain wrong that we can have secret lists and due process for protected rights at the same time. We can’t. Secret lists are fundamentally incompatible with due process and it’s not a problem that can be fixed, despite Trump’s wishful thinking that it is.
To: publiusF27
I see - another one of those who need to harp on the "Maybes" to the detriment of seeing the "Absolutes" of the other choice in the race.
We have enough Chicken Little types that only seem to serve to try to dampen support for Trump despite the fact that the only real beneficiary of it would be Hillary.
Do something useful:
Donate to FR
8
posted on
10/14/2016 3:43:10 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: trebb
So the answer to my question is “no one” huh?
That’s what I figured.
For that reason, Trump is actually slightly MORE dangerous than Clinton on the secret list issue. At least she would have opposition. You can’t even bring yourself to firmly oppose him now, when it doesn’t matter.
To: publiusF27
For that reason, Trump is actually slightly MORE dangerous than Clinton on the secret list issue. At least she would have opposition. You cant even bring yourself to firmly oppose him now, when it doesnt matter.You have reached the official status as a Hillary before Trump yo-yo.
Anyone who thinks Trump is more dangerous than Hillary, especially with all the absolutes of Hillary, is either really lacking in gray matter or just in the bag for the Left.
Prove you have donated to a campaign and to FR to actually invest yourself in your beliefs or go away - troll.
10
posted on
10/15/2016 2:53:51 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: trebb
I donated to Gary Johnson before he was the nominee, then he decided to run with William Weld, who agrees with Trump and Hillary on the secret lists issue.
I might vote for him anyway. There’s nothing wrong with just saying Trump and Hillary are wrong on the issue of using secret lists to deny gun purchases but you want to vote for Trump anyway because of other issues that are more important to you.
To: publiusF27
I donated to Gary Johnson before he was the nominee, then he decided to run with William Weld, who agrees with Trump and Hillary on the secret lists issue.And there we have it - you need to find another forum that suits you enough to donate to it - a leftist libertarian is your top chocie which means you are more helpful to Hillary than anyone else - she will absolutely try to take our weapons and Trumps one comment was during the debate where a lot of folks were telling him he needed to play nice. He may have been wrong about the list being the standard but he also said that those who were on it for no valid reason should have support in getting off it. It followed Hillary's statement to try to sound strong on terrorism, but really meant she will do anything she can to take weapons from us. Since he was playing nice, he would have also sounded weak on terrorism to not mention it. If folks are on the list for valid reasons threat to our nation, I am fine with extra scrutiny as far as weapons - it's all the poor folks who have been put on it due to the screwed up, political "Homeland Security" folks that make it untenable for now. Funny how they manage to put a lot of folks on the list that don't belong there while the FBI "investigates" potential threats, discounts them, and then tells us that their hands were tied when those "investigated actually commit acts of terror.
Donate to FR
12
posted on
10/15/2016 7:25:55 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: trebb
Actually, Johnson is no longer my top choice. While he disagrees with Trump and Hillary on the Kelo vs New London decision, he has repeatedly shown cluelessness about who voted which way in that case, and why. That was the last straw for me. I’m a Vermin Supreme guy now. It’s the only logical response to this election cycle: a guy with a boot on his head promising free ponies for all.
As for the secret lists, Hillary and Donald’s answer that people who are wrongly placed on it without their knowledge should have a way to get off is fatally flawed to anyone with half a brain. What do the words “without their knowledge” mean to you?
If you find out by being denied your right to purchase a gun and there is some delay in correcting the situation, my response is a right delayed is a right denied.
The watch lists should be used for law enforcement purposes only. Using them for population control as Donald and Hillary want to do is irreconcilably incompatible with protected rights.
To: trebb
By the way, the debate was not the first time that Donald agreed with Hillary on the secret lists.
NY Slimes
One area in which Mr. Trump does part ways with gun rights activists is on preventing people on the governments terrorist watch list from buying weapons.
If somebody is on a watch list and an enemy of state and we know its an enemy of state, I would keep them away, absolutely, he said in an interview with ABC News last year.
To: publiusF27
This Vermin Supreme -
Vermin Love Supreme is an American performance artist and activist who has run as a candidate in various local, state, and national elections in the United States. Supreme is known for wearing a boot as a hat and carrying a large toothbrush, and has said that if elected President of the United States, he will pass a law requiring people to brush their teeth. He has campaigned on a platform of zombie apocalypse awareness and time travel research, and promised a free pony for every American.?????
I'll assume that was sarcasm.
I already said that being on the list with or without knowledge, if it is not a valid thing is bad and that at least Trump mentioned helping those who fall into that category should get help being removed from the list.
Not the best statement by him but all other evidence shows he is solidly pro 2nd Amendment and that, coupled with his other policies and the fact that Hillary will do everything she can to subjugate us makes beating Hillary the only sane and logical goal.
Trump is the only one that has a shot at that and anyone not voting for him due to some very iffy "concerns" may as well be solidly in Hillary's camp.
Once again, I highly encourage you to help fund FR as a positive action for conservative principles and the Constitution.
It should also be noted that when Hillary said she would nominate SCOTUS folks that "had a feel for reality" (that think the Constitution is a bad thing and that have no problem legislating from the bench), Trump's response was that he had already proferred 20 names for our vetting and that he would nominate folks that respected the Constitution.
He may not be perfect but he is the closest thing we had to it in a very long time.
Donate to FR
The choice isn't that complicated - accept a very solid candidate or help Hillary finish the destruction.
I'm torn - I have the urge to excoriate you but I sense that you may also be playing games instead of actually saying who you really are.
Were/are you a #NeverTrumper or do you just like to yank chains?
Here's hoping Hillary doesn't attain the WH.
15
posted on
10/16/2016 6:54:09 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: publiusF27
If somebody is on a watch list and an enemy of state and we know its an enemy of state, I would keep them away, absolutely, he said in an interview with ABC News last year.And this is a problem because.....
The words, "and we know it's an enemy of state" make it perfectly logical and Constitutional....
16
posted on
10/16/2016 7:53:13 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
To: trebb
It’s perfectly logical and Constitutional if you’re willing to trust the Attorney General’s word without any due process or corroboration.
I don’t have that kind of faith in people like Eric Holder. Do you?
To: publiusF27
You seem to have gone into "flail mode".
I think we've beat it to death enough.
18
posted on
10/17/2016 3:14:52 AM PDT
by
trebb
(Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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