Posted on 06/10/2002 1:59:41 PM PDT by Big Steve
6/11/02 11:08:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: campaign2@comcast.net (Tom Davis)
Tom Davis
Sanford for Governor
Post Office Box 160
Sullivans Island, SC 29482
Telephone: 1-843-883-3149
Facsimile: 1-843-883-9013
John McCain has said that he thinks Mark Sanford will make an excellent governor. He is backing Mark, but that does not
mean that Mark supports all of Senator McCain's views. As to the issue you
mention, Mark is very strongly in favor of citizens' Second Amendment rights,
and voted that way in Congress. That is why the NRA consistently endorsed him in
his congressional races. I have reprinted below an answer recently submitted by
Mark to a questionnaire re: Second Amendment rights. Hope this helps.
1. The Second Amendment states, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." How do you interpret that?
The Second Amendment is the teeth behind all other rights we hold as Americans, and an armed citizenry is the ultimate check to the power of the state. The amendment as well was placed there by the founding fathers to confirm a pre-existing right of individual citizens to keep and bear arms.
2. There are currently thirty-three states with "shall issue" conceal carry laws which automatically issue licenses so that ordinary citizens who pass a background check and a safety course can carry a handgun for protection of self and loved ones. However, they will not be issued such a license if the police can prove that the person is an imminent danger to the public. What is your position on the practice of allowing citizens to carry firearms in public?
It is known that such practices lead to far lower violent crime rates.
3. Project Safe Neighborhood and Project Exile seeks to reduce crime by mandating tough enforcement of existing laws. Some states, however, have confusing laws that even law enforcement officers don't fully understand. These laws can vary from city to city creating criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens. Under Project Safe Neighborhood and Project Exile a lawful, non-violent citizen could end up facing long prison sentences for an unwitting infraction of a confusing law. What is your position regarding those programs?
I support both programs, if they are clarified so that they target only hardcore criminals and ordinary people are not inadvertently committing crimes. Gun laws should give law-abiding citizens both a clear indication of what is expected and should not be enforced in a way that would punish lawful citizens of an unwitting infraction of a confusing law.
4. Many cities, counties, and municipalities are passing their own firearms laws. This confusion makes criminals out of otherwise lawful, non-violent citizens. Should state law prohibit cities and municipalities from creating their own firearms and ammunitions laws?
Absolutely. The current hodgepodge of laws makes no more sense than letting each jurisdiction devise a different set of colors for traffic signals. Or set their own standards for crimes of murder or arson.
5. In order for a trigger lock to work properly, the firearm must first be unloaded. An unloaded firearm with a trigger lock on it is virtually useless as a self-defense device. Do you support laws that mandate the use of trigger locks in the home?
No, because studies have shown that: a) such laws rarely improve public safety, and in some cases, those laws actually endanger more people; b) government is not able to evaluate each person's risk factors, so we should let the individual decide what safety measures would work best for their situation; and c) government should not be in the business of deciding how much delay is acceptable in cases of self-defense.
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End of message from the Sanford campaign.
I am not supporting Sanford in this primary, BTW. This is FYI only, for future reference.
Good call! Headline in this morning's Charlotte Observer: Sanford leads in big upset by S.C. voters. Personally, I was most surprised with Charlie Condon's collapse. Revenge of the video poker players, maybe? Sanford 39%, Peeler 37%, Condon 16%.
I'd still have to think Peeler would be the favorite in the runoff, but he's got to get his peeps to the polls. Statewide turnout yesterday was 18%, according to the Observer, but only 8% in York County (that's Rock Hill, just across the state line from Charlotte). Presumably, turnout was better in the Low Country (Sanford's base), and weaker Upstate. We'll see if that pattern holds.
Condon's vote didn't materialize. (I am also disappointed in his attitude after the primary.) When it comes to being 'presidential' in front of the public, Mr. Condon did well during the primary. Not so good after. I wish he would endorse Peeler.
I'll give another, IMO: Peeler will get the Wingate, Miles and Sutherland vote as well as part of the Condon vote. I think Peeler will beat Sanford except if all the demokrats who didn't vote, cross over and vote for the more liberal Sanford.
David Thomas, (for Lt. Gov.) has a hard next two weeks ahead of him, but I hope he wins.
Thank you for your comments. I am very familiar with Southern NC, BTW. You guys are taxed too much.
The run-away growth of SC government is alarming. The power educators have accummulated is also alarming. There doesn't seem to be any desire to control them.
"I sure hope they stop going at one another and focus on Hodges."
Yes, and down play the socialism.
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