Posted on 01/17/2007 10:39:34 AM PST by neverdem
Associated Press
BOSTON - During his two campaigns in Massachusetts, Mitt Romney adopted a decidedly moderate approach to gun control, vowing not to "chip away" at the state’s gun laws and conceding his backing of an assault rifle ban was "not going to make me the hero of the NRA."
Now as he weighs a run for the GOP presidential nomination, Romney’s rhetoric is shifting in an effort to appeal to the Republican Party’s core conservative base.
On Friday, Romney toured a gun show in Florida where he said he supported "the right of individuals to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution" and reminisced about shooting rabbits as a boy.
Romney, who has launched a presidential exploratory committee, appeared at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Orlando with his wife, Ann, and Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association.
"I’m proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms," he said.
Courting the NRA seemed to be the last thing from Romney’s mind during his unsuccessful 1994 bid to oust Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.
In an interview with the Boston Herald during the 1994 campaign, Romney positioned himself as a moderate outsider, warning special interest groups to stay out of the race and saying he supported a ban on assault rifles and the Brady gun control law.
"That’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA (National Rifle Association)," he said at the time. "I don’t line up with a lot of special interest groups."
It’s theme that would carry over into Romney’s 2002 campaign for governor.
During a debate with Democratic candidate Shannon O’Brien, Romney said he would do nothing to change the state’s firearms statutes.
"We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them; I won’t chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety." he said.
And as governor, Romney signed one of the toughest assault weapons laws in the country. The state ban mirrored a national ban set to expire at the time. Assault weapons bans are typically opposed by gun rights activists, who say the guns are rarely used in crimes and have a legitimate purpose for target practice and self protection.
But Romney also took steps to protect the rights of gun owners as governor.
The assault weapons ban won the backing of Massachusetts gun owners in part because it included provisions that would extend the term of a firearm identification card and license to carry from four to six years and create a Firearm License Review Board to provide an appeals process for people whose firearm license applications have been denied.
In 2006, Romney signed NRA-backed legislation creating exemptions for the makers of customized target pistols who had found it too expensive to sell their guns in Massachusetts because of a state regulation requiring them to test at least five examples of new products "until destruction."
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said Romney stands by his record on guns.
"Like President Bush, he supports restrictions on assault weapons, but Mitt Romney has also worked with gun owners and sportsmen to ease the gun licensing laws in Massachusetts," Fehrnstrom said on Sunday.
It’s not the first time Romney’s recent rhetoric has clashed with past comments or positions.
During the 1994 campaign Romney said he would be a stronger advocate for gays than Kennedy, considered by many conservatives to be the most liberal member of Congress - comments that seem at odds with Romney’s vigorous opposition to gay marriage.
In his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Romney pledged to uphold abortion rights in Massachusetts. Today, he says the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion is wrong.
And a day after stepping down as Massachusetts governor, Romney signed a "no new taxes" pledge _ a pledge he refused to sign in his 2002 run for governor, when the state was in poor fiscal shape.
In Florida, Romney described himself as an outdoorsman, but acknowledged that he was not a firearms expert, and while he once owned a pistol, he doesn’t own any firearms now.
"As a boy, I worked on a ranch in Idaho and shot rabbits with a single shot .22 rifle," Romney said. "After a while my cousin said ’you’re not very good at that. Try using this semiautomatic.’"
Yep, he's not a westerner. Too soft.
I am so tired of people saying and doing anything to get elected. First, it's not that important and, second, gaining R-E-S-P-E-C-T, even from people who won't vote for you, is better. The president had this going for him but no longer does.
No way. Someone so deeply flawed should never be endorsed by someone serious about the moral basis for their ideology. Mitt's morality shows a distinct authoritarian streak no one should ever want to promote.
You have quite the opposition research file, don't you?
"I don’t line up with a lot of special interest groups." says Ritt Momney.
This yahoo is a snake-oil salesman. Pure and simple.
The NRA is NOT a special interest group. Our area of interest is the CONSTITUTION!
However, since I'm a nice guy I'm gonna turn the other cheek, so Mitt can kiss the other side of my country-fried butt. Screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me. He will get my vote when he pries it out of my cold dead hands.
No, I just post what is appropriate and what comes to mind.
I posted this picture in response to a picture that was posted on #3 of the sacred under garment. I thought mine was more appropriate for FR.
I guess I was wrong.
Nevermind. Wrong thread.
Romney, unappealing to core GOP voters, toughens pro-gun rhetoric
Or maybe this:
Romney, appealing pandering to core GOP voters, toughens pro-gun rhetoric
While admirable as a person, Romney leave a lot to be desired as a conservative.
Duncan Hunter ping!
(check my tagline)
Doesn't this remind you of John Kerry, pretend-hunter, wanting to know, "Kin I buy me a huntin' license here?"
Yes it does remind me of Kerry. I expect to see huntin' pictures of Mitt and his non-assault shotgun any day now.
Hunter's new campaign website is up at http://www.gohunter08.com That is where to contribute to his campaign for president. The site isn't complete yet but there is a link to contribute.
You can contribute to Duncan Hunter at http://www.gohunter08.com It's only a front page right now but there is a link up to contribute.
Not opposition research. It's true. Back in '81 Idaho had a HUGE problem with the rabbit population. Can't remember the cause because I was pretty young at the time but I think it was because there was a bounty on coyote tails. Less coyote = more rabbit.
Free hunting was issued (didn't need a license to hunt rabbit) but that didn't cut down the population enough. The end game effectively became herding and clubbing.
It wasn't pretty at all. Messy messy work but had to be done as crops were getting destroyed. It was effective though.
Not sure the Romney was working a ranch in Idaho at the time however.
Listening Sunday night to Drudge, it dawned on this poster the "liability" of Mitt being the first Mormon president, is actually a very strong advantage.
Look at the way the media describes the current flock of democrats: They would be if elected "The first female president", "The first black president", "The first latino president".
So their eventual choice will run against the first Mormon president. Seems like a good contest.
I am waiting for Mitt to change his name to Tritt, dress in a real nice gown to appeal to the women voters.
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