Posted on 09/26/2007 1:26:14 PM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
Rudy Giuliani, who sued firearms manufacturers and called for tough gun control as New York's mayor, said Tuesday the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a recent court ruling framed his current defense of a right to own guns.
"You have to look at all of these issues in light of the different concerns that now exist, which is terrorism, the terrorists' war on us," the Republican presidential contender told The Associated Press in an interview. He also mentioned immigration and border security.
He said his thinking on gun rights also was influenced by a federal appeals court decision that overturned a 30-year-old ban on private ownership of handguns in Washington on the grounds that the Constitution gives individual citizens the right to own guns.
"It is a very, very strong description of how important personal liberties are in this country and how we have to respect them," he said of the ruling, adding it "sort of maybe even did more to crystalize my thinking on the whole gun issue in light of Sept. 11."
"I think, after Sept. 11 - I mean I probably would have had the same impression before, I'm not sure - but after Sept. 11, all that seemed much more powerful to me," Giuliani said.
His embrace of gun rights appears to have occurred more recently than the months after the 2001 attacks. He was quoted in 2002 and 2004 - years later - staunchly supporting gun control.
In a 20-minute interview in a conference room at his Times Square office, Giuliani explained his thinking on the Second Amendment five days after he sought to reassure the National Rifle Association of his support for gun rights, telling the group Friday in Washington that the 2001 attacks highlighted the need for them. Before the same group, Giuliani's rivals, Fred Thompson and John McCain, tried to exploit Giuliani's past support for strict gun control measures.
As mayor, Giuliani sued gun makers and distributors, backed a federal assault weapons ban and once described the NRA as extremist. As a candidate for the GOP nomination, he is struggling to square that record with his need to win over a Republican base made up of conservatives who fiercely defend - and in some cases base their votes on - the Second Amendment.
He no longer argues, as gun control advocates do, that the right to bear arms applies only to the rights of states to maintain citizen militias. He now says that right also applies to individuals as well, and he cites the court ruling, Parker v. District of Columbia, that said the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to own handguns.
In the 1990s, he lobbied Congress to ban assault weapons. Now, aides have said it's not clear he would support such a ban.
Giuliani also went from suing the gun industry in 2000 to telling the NRA on Friday that he dislikes the unintended consequences of that lawsuit, which still is working its way through the courts.
In the interview, Giuliani said, "The case took a lot of twists and turns in the direction of trying to get a lot of information about the tracing of guns that would be used for private lawsuits" instead of solely for law enforcement purposes.
"I didn't anticipate that when I brought the case," he said.
The ex-mayor spoke as the campaign of Democratic rival Chris Dodd and the International Association of Fire Fighters castigated him over a supporter's fundraiser seeking $9.11 from attendees. The critics argued the event exploits the terrorist attacks for political purposes. Giuliani aides called the $9.11 idea "an unfortunate choice" that was done without the campaign's knowledge.
On other issues in the interview, Giuliani:
-Backed President Bush's veto threat of a bill in the Democratic-led Congress that would renew and expand a health insurance program that provides coverage for 6 million children. The bill would boost spending by $35 billion to cover 4 million more children.
"It's a not-so-hidden step toward socialized medicine," Giuliani said. "This is one where the Democrats are playing on emotions, but the reality of it is, it will be very, very dangerous to move children from the more desirable form of coverage, private, to the less desirable form of coverage, which is government."
-Refused to rule out raising taxes to offset a Social Security shortfall. He said he would assemble a bipartisan group to develop ideas for fixing Social Security, perhaps even before his inauguration.
"I am opposed to tax increases, but I would look at whatever proposal they came up with and try to figure out how we can come up with a bipartisan way to do it," Giuliani said, adding that potential solutions must come from both parties. "The reality is, I'm more concerned about Medicare and Medicaid than I am with Social Security, because I'm pretty sure we can solve Social Security."
-Argued that he is the only Republican candidate who can ensure the party competes in Democratic-leaning states, such as California and New York.
"I think political professionals would tell you that if my opponents get the nomination, a day after the convention, no matter what they say, the Republican Party operation closes down in 20 states, and then we concentrate on the remaining states," Giuliani said. "I think they would tell you that if I get the nomination, there'll be a Republican Party operation in virtually every state, and then as the campaign goes on, we'll assess where we are."
flip-flop
Or “bare arms.”
RUDY....We remember.......you won’t be the nominee.....
Look for more flip-flops along the way, funny how all of a sudden he gets these sudden insights, couldn't be because he is running for office, Naaa, he wouldn't be that shallow would he?
"It's not only -- I mean, it's part of the Constitution. People have the right to bear arms. Then the restrictions of it have to be reasonable and sensible. You can't just remove that right. You've got to regulate, consistent with the Second Amendment."
~~~ Rudy Giuliani, Interview with Sean Hannity, feb 6 2007
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"On June 20th (2000), I was pleased to announce that the City of New York filed a lawsuit against two dozen major gun manufacturers and distributors."
~~~ Mayor Giuliani
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"As a private citizen, as a prosecutor, as a Mayoral candidate and as Mayor, I have advocated for more regulated and more uniform gun licensing regulations, similar to those for a drivers license."
".... in the Second Amendment, it refers to firearms in the context of a well regulated militia, and well regulated is what we're trying to accomplish."
I only hope that.... Congress is finally ready to recognize that the vast majority of Americans want more gun control. It makes sense. It is time. And we can no longer let special interests dominate this vitally important issue.
~~~ Mayor Rudy Giuliani, March 6, 1997
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We need a federal law that bans all assault weapons, and if in fact you do need a handgun you should be subjected to at least the same restrictions -- and really stronger ones -- that exist for driving an automobile.
~~~ Mayor Rudy Giuliani, March 2, 1997
...against...for... Got that backwards.
And I'll be riding shotgun right along with them, firing clip after clip. Rudy has no principles at all except getting himself elected to office. He will say anything, go along with anything, just to get into office. He's an ultra-liberal, lying sack of shiite and a poster child for everything that's wrong in American politics.
“His embrace of gun rights appears to have occurred more recently than the months after the 2001 attacks. He was quoted in 2002 and 2004 - years later - staunchly supporting gun control.”
Another “epiphany” conservative reborn about 2005.
2005 must have been a heck of a year.
He is going to trip himself up while backing up.
Why vote for him when two, real conservatives are running. I hope it’s a Thompson/Hunter 2008 ticket.
I like Rudy, and I understand that he is taking this progun stance largely to woo conservatives. While he would be much better than a Democrat, it does irk me that he sued gun manufacturers, and even recently misquoted the second amendment in front of us. If the second amendment is important to you, you can quote it upside down and blindfolded. You’ve thought about the words and what they mean. I don’t think Rudy has thought about it much. He has thought about what to say to get elected.
I’m still not sure that he really gets it, but one thing I do know is that he’d be better on this issue than any Communist with fat legs.
Does Giuliani remember that he needs to win the Republican primaries?
Obviously he decided to run regardless of his past policies, and knowing that everyone knows and will know that he is not a Conservative ideologue. But his hostility towards the left, MSM, and terrorists make him appealing.
After all, he has debated, and will debate for over a year with all the Republicans, who will point out and challenge him on his previous positions, or non positions. Can't wait to see how they attack, and he responds.
His personality and achievements are so different than our usual primary candidate politicians, he is hoping to stand out.
We shall see, I look forward to a debate with FT, Hunter, McCain and RG.
Who are all far superior to the commie vampire Dims.
He’s a flat-out liar.
C’mon, Rooty, be a man! You can’t change spots now that you want our votes, when everything you’ve ever said or done on the subject screams loud and clear that you are an unapologetic gun grabber of the worst kind.
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