Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: TheLion
Hmmm. Once again, all the quotes are dated 2007. Timed with his run for the GOP nomination.

So explain to me yet again why his record prior to the run for said nomination was so absent of solid support for gun rights.

351 posted on 01/22/2008 9:13:18 PM PST by dirtboy (Romney. McCain. Huckabee. Larry. Moe. Curly. Larry. Daryl. Other brother Daryl.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 349 | View Replies ]


To: dirtboy

You sure spend your time in the dirt boy.


355 posted on 01/22/2008 9:15:36 PM PST by TheLion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 351 | View Replies ]

To: dirtboy

I posted some of Romney’s gun bills as Governor. Here’s more. All the bills he signed were helpful to gun owners:

http://www.freerepublic.com/~UnmarkedPackage/

In 2005, Governor Romney Signed Into Law A Provision Providing Free Replacement Licenses.
(Gun Owners’ Action League Official Website, “GOAL’s Record of Success,” Accessed 12/31/2007)

In 2005, Governor Mitt Romney Suspended ‘Administrative Fees’ To The Natural Heritage And Endangered Species Fund Of Massachusetts.
(Gun Owners’ Action League Official Website, “GOAL’s Record of Success,” Accessed 12/31/2007)

In July 2006, Gov. Romney signed legislation requiring all new hunters to take a hunter education course. The measure had the strong support of sportsmen and gun owners.

“We are pleased with the passage of yet another correction of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998, which created a confusing standard for acquiring a hunting, sporting or fishing license,” said James Wallace, GOAL’s executive director. “Prior to the passage of this law some eight years ago, hunter education was mandatory for all first time hunters. While GOAL does not normally support mandatory training, it is our belief that every first time hunter should be exposed to the ethics, safety aspects and laws in Massachusetts regarding hunting before taking to the field for the first time.”
(Office of Gov. Mitt Romney, “Romney Signs Legislation to Promote Hunter Safety,” Press Release, 7/06/2006)

On the 31st anniversary of the Gun Owners’ Action League, Governor Romney declared May 7, 2005 as “The Right to Bear Arms Day” in Massachusetts to honor “the right of decent, law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms in defense of their families, persons, and property and for all lawful purposes, including the common defense.”
(Scott Helman, “Romney retreats on gun control,” The Boston Globe, 1/14/2007)

Opponents of gun control and critics of Governor Romney point to the fact that he signed firearms legislation in July, 2004 that included a ban of assault weapons in Massachusetts (S.2367). However, the bill only reaffirmed an existing Massachusetts state ban on assault weapons that was enacted as part of sweeping gun control laws passed in Massachusetts in 1998, five years before Romney took office, and didn’t ban any additional guns. … The state ban of assault weapons enacted in 1998 was not due to disappear, nor would it have become invalid with the sunset of the federal ban in September, 2004. … The bill was passed in the Senate by a vote of 36 - 1 in favor and the House passed it with no amendments or debate on a “voice” vote. This represented by far the broadest support a reform bill has ever seen in the Massachusetts State House. Only one legislator in the entire building voiced opposition to the bill.
(National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action, “Massachusetts - Firearms Reform Bill Sent to the Governor`s Desk,” Press Release, 6/29/2004)

The firearms reform bill signed by Governor Romney in 2004 had the endorsement of the NRA (a MUST READ). It was also supported by the Gun Owners’ Action League, law enforcement and Massachusetts gun owners. The Executive Director of GOAL attended the signing ceremony for the bill. The legislation added several measures these groups favored, including a lengthening of the terms of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry, namely;

1) Extending the term of a firearm identification card and a license to carry firearms from four years to six years,
2) Granting a 90-day grace period for holders of firearm identification cards and licenses to carry who have applied for renewal, and
3) Creating a seven-member Firearm License Review Board to review firearm license applications that have been denied.

“This is truly a great day for Massachusetts’ sportsmen and women. These reforms correct some serious mistakes that were made during the gun debate in 1998, when many of our state’s gun owners were stripped of their long-standing rights to own firearms.”
(MA State Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D), Press Release, 7/01/2004)

“I want to congratulate everyone that has worked so hard on this issue. Because of their dedication, we are here today to sign into law this consensus piece of legislation. This change will go a long way toward fixing the flaws created by the 1998 law. Another key piece to this legislation addresses those citizens who have applied for renewals. If the government does not process their renewal in a timely fashion, those citizens won’t be put at risk because of the 90 day grace period that is being adopted today.”
(MA State Representative George N. Peterson, Jr. (R), Press Release, 7/01/2004)

“There are a lot of good things in the bill,” said Jim Wallace, legislative director of the Gun Owners’ Action League, the state’s leading pro-gun group. “In all, the bill represents a healing process, or the beginning of the healing process, between lawful gun owners and the Massachusetts Legislature.”
(Scott S. Greenberger, “State moves on assault weapons ban,” The Boston Globe, 6/24/2004)

The firearms reform bill signed in 2004 prohibited the sale of the same weapons in Massachusetts banned in the 1998 legislation but loosened other restrictions imposed by the 1998 gun bill. Furthermore, it protected Massachusetts’ gun owners with a permanent reference to federal definitions that provided them with a list of exempt firearms, numbering nearly 700, which could not be declared “assault weapons.” Therefore, after Governor Romney signed the gun bill in 2004, gun owners in Massachusetts had fewer restrictions on gun ownership than at any time since 1998.


393 posted on 01/22/2008 9:36:52 PM PST by WOSG (Proamnesty-antiBushtaxcuts-proCO2caps-CFR-RINO John McCain delenda est!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 351 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson