He was just endorsed by Dr. Jack Willke who is considered by many to be the father of the pro-life movement. Willke helped found National Right to Life Committee and served as its founding president for 10 years. He believes the Romney is more than sufficiently pro-life and rightfully pointed out that on every such decision as Governor, Romney came down on the pro-life side.
As for guns, Romney is a 2nd Amendment supporter. He received a 'B' grade from the NRA which is quite an accomplishment in a bluer-than-blue, anti-gun state with an 85% Democrat and anti-gun legislature. He held the line against gun control and the only law he signed that carried a restriction on guns was to extend an existing restriction while loosening other restrictions on guns. That legislation was supported by both the NRA and the Gun Owners Action League. So, he doesn't want your guns or anyone else's.
Perchance you missed my drift?
Perchance you missed my drift?
As long as you don’t think the second amendment includes “assault weapons” you are correct, Mitt is a second amendment supporter. What, I wonder, does he think an Assault Weapon is? He’s pretty clear in his statements that they don’t belong in the population- I feel he’d act on his feelings as president.
Romney, like Hillary and Bill Clinton, Sarah Brady, John Kerry, and Ted Kennedy have always stated that they support the Second Amendment. You won’t find a statement from Mitt to the contrary or from Hill, Bill, Sarah, or Schumer.
He has stated, though, that he is opposed to citizens owning “assault weapons” and supported the federal ban, and supported and signed a permanent Massachusetts ban on “assault weapons” and “big magazines”. He reaffirmed his opposition to citizens owning deadly things like “assault weapons” on Steffi’s show in February while affirming his support for the Second Amendment.
He also supported the Brady Act waiting period and background check.
So his support of the Second Amendment includes banning undefined broad classes of firearms, waiting periods, and Federal background checks.
Add to that his statements that he owns guns, and is a lifelong hunter (without owning guns or being a hunter) and I get a pretty clear picture of Governor Mitt Romney’s stance on RKBA.
Feb 18 transcript in which Romney supports banning certain classes of firearms:
Stephanopoulos: Let’s talk about guns. You were supportive of the Brady bill, the handgun waiting period, in the past. You signed an assault weapon ban into law and you said, in the past, “I don’t line up with the NRA.”
Now, you…
Mitt Romney: Well, on that issue.
Stephanopoulos: Now you’re a member of the NRA.
Mitt Romney: Yes, and I know the NRA does not support an assault weapon ban. So I don’t line up on that particular issue with the NRA, either does President Bush. He likewise says he supported an assault weapon ban.
Today we don’t have the Brady bill because we have instantaneous background checks. That’s no longer a operative or needed measure. [So I should be immune to criticism that I once supported it].
But I’m a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights. I believe people, under our Constitution, have the right to bear arms. [Just not “assault weapons”]
We have a gun in one of our homes. It’s not owned by me, it’s owned by my son, but I’ve always considered it sort of mine. [I didn’t really lie when I said I owned a gun but didn’t]
Stephanopoulos: When did you join the NRA?
Mitt Romney: Within the last year and I signed up for a lifelong membership. I think they’re doing good things and I believe in supporting the right to bear arms.
I’ve been a hunter all my life, not frequently, but as a boy, when I worked on a ranch in Idaho, we used to go out shooting rabbits, because they were eating all the barley, and I got pretty good with a single shot .22 rifle, and been quail hunting more recently.
So I’m a hunter and believe in Second Amendment rights, but I also believe that assault weapons are not needed in the public population.
[end transcript]
So, Spiff, any thoughts on what Mitt thinks an assault weapon is?