Interview with Presidential Candidate Herman Cain (Gun Control)

CNN Situation Room ^ | June 7, 2011 | Cain, in his own words

[Atlas Sneezed]

BLITZER: All right. Let's talk about gun control. Do you support any gun control?

CAIN: I support the Second Amendment.

BLITZER: So you don't -- so what's the answer on gun control?

CAIN: The answer on gun control is I support strong -- strongly support the Second Amendment. I don't support, you know, onerous legislation that's going to restrict people's rights in order to be able to protect themselves as guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

BLITZER: Should states or local governments be allowed to control the gun situation? Or should...

CAIN: Yes.

BLITZER: The answer is yes?

CAIN: The answer is yes. That should be a state's decision.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Because 33 recent threads on Cain were spammed by a certain zealous Freeper with the false claim that Cain "*fully* supports *any and all* state gun control/prohibitions," I'm posting this source material.

While I might have wish Cain were clearer, and hope he clarifies further, one fair interpretation is that Cain believe that those legal controls on guns that are Constitutional (prohibitions on felons, etc.) should be the purview of the states, and not the federal government.

The follow up question should have been: "What types of gun control do you think are acceptable, and what do you think are not?"

[ZULU]

Cain is a strong constitutionalist. The SCOTUS has spoken on gun control and says that “reasonable” controls can be imposed by states and local governments and any number of existing onerous anti-gun laws have been successfully overturned on this basis. The problem with the “reasonable”.

My FIRST priority in any candidate is the Bill of Rights and each and every one of the rights enshrined therein. If I thought ANY candidate was opposed to ANY of those rights INCLUDING the Second Amenmdment, he wouldn’t get my vote.

You are right. I like Cain, but we need clarification from him on this subject.

What does the NRA say about him?

[Erik Latranyi]

I can understand if someone supports another candidate, but any FReeper that cannot support Herman Cain or who feels obliged to tear-down Herman Cain is not a conservative and does not belong on this site.

[Martin Tell]

Agreed.

The question "to control the gun situation" could be interpreted to mean that gun-wielding robbers should get stiff prison sentences. This might have nothing to do with the right of citizens to bear arms.

[AAABEST]

If Rick Perry is elected, he will be the most pro-2A president we've ever had - save for the founding fathers.

He's an all-around WIN for gun owners.

Rick Perry on Guns:

Strongly supports the individual right to gun ownership and the subsequent right to use guns in self-defense

"Card carrying" member of the NRA

Fun video: Perry takes Andrew Breitbart and a bunch of bloggers to the range

Perry has a permit to carry a concealed firearm

Perry Signs Legislation Protecting Texas Workers’ Right to Self-Defense

NRA Endorses Perry in Governor's Race

Rick Perry's speech at the NRA convention

Perry carries a laser sighted .380 loaded with hollow points

While jogging, Perry shoots and kills threatening coyote with one shot

Press: Are you packing heat? Perry: No comment, "that's why it's called 'concealed'"

Supports campus concealed carry

Perry signs law allowing hog hunting from helicopters

Video: Perry shooting Larue precision OBR "This is my golf."

[ASA Vet]

Herman Cain

born December 13, 1945 in Memphis, TN (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)

Parents were
Luther Cain Jr., born March 16, 1925 in TN, died March 29, 1982 in Atlanta, GA
Lenora Davis, born July 27, 1925 in GA, died August 20, 2005 in Atlanta, GA

Both parents were US Citizens at the time of his birth (Meets the Jus Sanguinis Requirement)

Herman Cain is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN

Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama ISN'T!

[Sola Veritas]

“BLITZER: Should states or local governments be allowed to control the gun situation? Or should...”

“CAIN: Yes.”

Cain earlier says he holds to the 2nd Ammendment....no gun control. But, then says states should/can do it? Something is amiss. The COTUS is the Supreme law of the land that trumps all others (it is the basis for our country and a constant in all states). Since Heller ruled the 2nd is an individual right like the rest of the BOR....then even states should not be able to restrict.....that would negate the 2nd Ammendment. Goodness, a State/Local government can trample rights just as much as an overbearing Federal Government. California being a very good example.

I hope Cain just misspoke and didn’t mean what this “appears” to say.

[GnL]

His answer on guns is wrong. Either it is a fundamental right or it isn’t. States don’t determine the limits of fundamental rights.

[bolobaby]

Hrm, Herman. I’m surprised Wolf didn’t have the presence of mind to follow up on that.

[Donnafrflorida]

That’s awesome. Citizens and illegals in college (Subsidized by legals) get to have all the guns we want. He is pro gun but is okay with illegals. The two don’t mix.

[Donnafrflorida]

That’s awesome. Citizens and illegals in college (Subsidized by legals) get to have all the guns we want. He is pro gun but is okay with illegals. The two don’t mix.

[Kartographer]

Cain is right the state legislatures would be far better at deciding such things than the Federal government, laws about like:

Should a convicted felon be allowed to own a gun?
Should crimial possion of a gun on the grounds of a school or other public facility be an aggravated circumstance.
How close to a private dwelling should a person be allowed to dischange a firearm?
Should a person with a history of mental illness be allowed to own or buy guns?

If a state over steps its bounds gun owners can turn to the vote and not worry about what some distant ‘blue’ state wants, they can go to the Supreme Court as gun rights activist did in Chicago and Washington DC. and get their law over turn, or they can do like the gun owners in Ruidoso did:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2777790/posts

[commish]

I really do not see what the fuss is here, Cain’s position is perfectly in line with his other positions involving States Rights and the Constitution, and is fully in line with precedent established by the SCOTUS.

Cain supports the 2nd Amendment and its prohibition of gun control by the Federal Government, and he agrees with SCOTUS that any reasonable regulations must come at the State level.

SCOTUS has repeatedly ruled on State Gun Laws and has clearly established Precedent on the 2nd Amendment as an IDIVIDUAL RIGHT.

I do not see what the problem is with Cain here at all, other than supporters of other candidates trying to find Nits to Pick to furthur their own agendas.

[Pollster1]

I consider the Second Amendment an absolute. “Shall not be infringed” means exactly that, and it’s not what Cain said in that interview. Still, I’m not going to rule out Cain based on that comment. In fact, he’s one of my top four choices, along with Bachmann (also not perfect), DeMint (not running), and Palin (not running - YET). I believe that Cain will govern well if elected, and he’s my top choice among the declared candidates.

[MrB]

Yeah, I got that as well.
The 2nd amendment doesn’t have caveats,
and gun control, per the 10th, is one of those things “prohibited to the states”, as it is prohibited to the feds as well.

[sportutegrl]

Cain supports states’ rights!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Wolf obviously just cannot take yes for an answer. LOL!

[Thane_Banquo]

Is that an SR-25 or an AR-15?

[Thane_Banquo]

Is that an SR-25 or an AR-15?

[gunsequalfreedom]

Thanks for posting this and your follow up comments are very good. I went to the jump and read the interview. I now like Cain. He is what we need. My only concern is will he be able to work the political side of the job. He can address that with the right people working with him. On lowering taxes, I am not sure I agree with him. We are in such a financial crisis that cutting taxes in the short term may not be viable. I would start with timming the government spending.