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Cornyn supports more checks at gun shows - Charlton Heston campaigns for John Cornyn
The Dallas Morning News ^ | September 22, 2002 | By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News

Posted on 09/22/2002 6:44:39 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP


Cornyn supports more checks at gun shows

Kirk favors enforcing existing laws rather than making new ones

09/22/2002

By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News

In the race to elect Texas' next senator, it's the moderate Democrat who says unlicensed sellers at gun shows don't need to run background checks on buyers, and the conservative Republican who says a law should be passed to give them more scrutiny.

Republican John Cornyn supports more precautions for dealers at shows, and Democrat Ron Kirk opposes them.

"I believe we need to enforce our current gun laws rather than create new ones," Mr. Kirk said.

Mr. Cornyn, the state attorney general, thinks the checks are necessary.

"They should allow it to be done without delay," he responded.

The candidates were asked their views on guns after appearances Saturday by Charlton Heston at Southfork Ranch and in Longview, where he campaigned for Mr. Cornyn.

Both candidates agree on other issues involving guns.

They both support the state law that allows cities to ban concealed weapons from being carried into parks, hospitals and other public places. A move to keep cities from banning concealed weapons on public property is expected to be a leading gun-related proposal in next year's Texas legislative session.

ON THE ISSUES
Republican John Cornyn and Democrat Ron Kirk, candidates for the Senate:

What is your overall position on the regulation of guns?

Both candidates support the right of citizens to carry guns.

Do you own guns?

Cornyn: Pistol, several rifles and several shotguns

Kirk: Owns a gun

Do you have a state license to carry a concealed handgun?

Cornyn: No. But used a license to go dove hunting recently and didn't hit anything.

Kirk: No.

Should cities be allowed to ban concealed weapons from being carried into public places, such as hospitals, parks and libraries?

Cornyn: Yes. As attorney general, issued an opinion last year stating cities could allow such bans.

Kirk: Supports current law that allows such restrictions

Should unlicensed sellers at gun shows be required to run criminal background checks?

Cornyn: Yes. Should allow it to be done without delay.

Kirk: No - doesn't think new law is needed.

- Gromer Jeffers

The Senate candidates also both own guns, though neither has a state license to carry a concealed weapon.

Mr. Cornyn, who says he likes to hunt, has a collection of riffles, shotguns and a pistol. Mr. Kirk did not specify the type of firearm he owns.

Mr. Heston, who recently disclosed he has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, is president of the National Riffle Association. The legendary actor said his support of Mr. Cornyn stems from his protection of the personal freedoms enjoyed by Americans.

Mr. Cornyn said he teamed with George W. Bush in 1998, when he was governor, to develop the Texas Exile program, which he said led to more than 1,200 prosecutions for violent offenders who used guns.

But the attorney general said prosecuting criminals does not sour him on the rights of citizens to bear arms.

"I'm proud to support the second amendment rights of Texans and Americans," he said. "People like me and other law abiding citizens are not a threat to the public, so there's no real reason to try to control or otherwise limit law abiding citizens the access firearms for legitimate purposes."

Mr. Kirk has a similar stand.

"I respect the right of sportsmen and law abiding citizens to own guns and would fight to protect these rights in the U.S. Senate," he said.

Gun control advocates want federal legislation that would force unlicensed sellers at gun shows to conduct mandatory criminal background checks.

Mr. Kirk says existing laws are sufficient.

Mr. Cornyn, in contrast, says such checks are needed.

"He's strong on keeping guns out of the hands of people who are not eligible to have them," said Cornyn spokesman Dave Beckwith. "He feels the trade-off is worth it."

The right to own and carry guns was the key topic during Mr. Heston's appearance at Southfork in Parker, east of Plano. In the infamous Oil Baron's ballroom as seen in the show Dallas, Mr. Heston urged the crowd of 150 to support John Cornyn.

Looking frail as he moved slowly to the podium, he waved at the crowd, pausing once to interact with a children's choir. The crowd stood an applauded the man best known for his movie role as Moses in the Ten Commandments for several minutes.

Mr. Heston spoke for less than a minute, but his message was clear.

"John Cornyn defends freedom and the Bill of Rights," he said. "John Cornyn supports President Bush. Texas and American needs John Cornyn."

Mr. Heston ended his speech with a reference to his starring role in the 1959 epic movie Ben-Hur, a role that merited him an Oscar.

"Just remember, you've got to stay on the chariot," he said.

The film's climatic chariot race is considered one of the most riveting action scenes ever captured on film.

Mr. Cornyn said Mr. Heston's visit to the Dallas area stirred his emotions.

"We have new reasons to admire Charlton Heston and his courage," he said. "He is an example of the triumph of the human spirit," he said. "He's still vigorous. He's got a lot to offer and he has very strong principles."

Mr. Cornyn then delivered a line that brought another ovation.

"Just when I thought we couldn't top bringing the president to Texas, we brought Moses to Texas," he said.

After his visit to Southfork, which generated $30,000 for his campaign, Mr. Cornyn visited Longview.

"In East Texas, they refer to gun control as using both hands," he said.

E-mail gjeffers@dallasnews.com


Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/092202dntexcornyn.e6e.html


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; charltonheston; cornyn; freep; guns; here; httpwwwjohncornyncom; johncornyn; ronkirk; texas; texassenaterace
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"In East Texas, they refer to gun control as using both hands," [Cornyn] said.


John Cornyn-R, left, and Ron Kirk-D

___________________________


Charlton Heston:
From my cold, dead hands!......

1 posted on 09/22/2002 6:44:39 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: Squantos; GeronL; Billie; Slyfox; San Jacinto; SpookBrat; FITZ; COB1; DainBramage; Dallas; ...
Cornyn supports more checks at gun shows -
Charlton Heston campaigns for John Cornyn

Excerpt:

Mr. Heston, who recently disclosed he has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, is president of the National Riffle Association. The legendary actor said his support of Mr. Cornyn stems from his protection of the personal freedoms enjoyed by Americans.



Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!


2 posted on 09/22/2002 6:47:48 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: All

3 posted on 09/22/2002 6:48:37 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: PhiKapMom
just fyi........

Do you have a state license to carry a concealed handgun?

Cornyn: No. But used a license to go dove hunting recently and didn't hit anything.

Sounds like my most recent dove hunting trips......been quite a while back.

4 posted on 09/22/2002 6:57:49 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing
Suprise, suprise, another RINO, who didn't know?

What is a thinking person suppose to do in the face of these things? Vote in a RINO who will be able to do more damage unchallenged than a Demoncrat? Or, split your vote and cause grid lock in D.C.? When both parties make themselves your natural enemy, gridlock does seem the safest bet. Use their hatred for each other against them.

It's a tricky proposition for sure, each voter will have to search their own logic and reason and come to a decision.

5 posted on 09/22/2002 7:12:01 AM PDT by MissAmericanPie
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To: MissAmericanPie
It's called taking away another guys attack point. Still irritating that the Pubbies seem to think that it is more important to appeal to the opposition rather than their own members. That is why they continue to fade away. Better wake up before the lefty libs run everything.
6 posted on 09/22/2002 7:22:09 AM PDT by willyone
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To: MissAmericanPie
I suspect most voters won't believe the Democrats are serious about supporting the 2nd Amendment until they see them lead successful efforts to repeal laws already on the books. Even so, it's nice to see that some of them are waking up to the fact that their current party position is killing them at the polls.
7 posted on 09/22/2002 7:30:04 AM PDT by caltrop
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To: willyone; caltrop
It doesn't really matter much which party is running things if they both run them the same way. We don't need government sticking it's nose into everything, especially the right to bear arms and how you get those arms and how many.

This could effect Cornyn at the voter's booth, this is Texas, we love our gun shows, we love our guns, we don't love D.C.'s meddling.
8 posted on 09/22/2002 7:36:36 AM PDT by MissAmericanPie
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To: MissAmericanPie
It's about the judges. I'll hold my nose and vote for Cornyn.
9 posted on 09/22/2002 7:43:00 AM PDT by Kowdawg
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To: MissAmericanPie
Kirk is lying as usual, and this won't play with the gun voters. In fact, it may enrage his anti-gun base elsewhere.
10 posted on 09/22/2002 7:44:26 AM PDT by mwl1
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To: Kowdawg
It's about the judges. I'll hold my nose and vote for Cornyn.

Exactly.

11 posted on 09/22/2002 7:45:17 AM PDT by mwl1
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To: MeeknMing
You should all know how to tell when Ron 'the jerk' Kirk is lying????

Is his mouth open??

Then he's lying.

Dallas track record on Mayors is a major joke in Texas, especially their current one. Laura Miller ex TV news moron.
12 posted on 09/22/2002 7:48:20 AM PDT by PushinTin
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To: MissAmericanPie
Suprise, suprise, another RINO, who didn't know?....
It's a tricky proposition for sure, each voter will have to search their own logic and reason and come to a decision.

I know there's going to be a lot of folks that feel the same as you. This doesn't change my intention's on voting for Cornyn. Logically, Kirk would side with his good friends tommy da$$hole, hitler clintoon, Barbara Lee, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein - ALL his buddies that are helping him raise campaign $$ OUTSIDE the state of Texas. None of them are helping Cornyn, thank goodness < /sarcasm >, lol !!

Not voting for Cornyn ensures that tommy da$$hole will control the Senate for at least another 2 years - a prospect which would ensure no conservative judges would be sent up and that clintoon's picks would continue to rule, although at a dwindling rate. It would also ensure Bush a tougher time to pass some sort of meaningful legislation without it getting hung up in da$$holes dust bin.

I know, I know - I'm probably preaching to the choir here!....

Indulge me while I finish my rant on tommy.....

Wanted for Molesting the Truth !!:



Tiny Tommy Da$$hole:
What did he obstruct?
And when did he obstruct it?
Free the Daschle Fifty
http://freedom.house.gov/library/economics/dasch50.asp

House Majority Leader Dick Armey today called upon Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to vote on 50 bills that have passed the House and are stalled in the Senate.

"The American people want action," said Armey. "They don't want political posturing. The Democrat-led Senate has a responsibility to vote on legislation. In fact, it's their job."




They don't call me
Mr. Obstruction
for nothing, ya know?

13 posted on 09/22/2002 7:49:42 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: All


Little Tommy Daschle's
Skool Picture! !

14 posted on 09/22/2002 7:50:10 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: MissAmericanPie
If you believe Ron Kirk for a moment, if you really think he's a "moderate Democrat," you have no business with a gun. Any gun. At any time. Period.
15 posted on 09/22/2002 7:50:29 AM PDT by lonestar
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To: Kowdawg
Dittos. Thank you.....see #13, just fyi.
16 posted on 09/22/2002 7:52:41 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: PushinTin
I thought Laura Miller was in real estate before? She did news too? I didn't know that.....
17 posted on 09/22/2002 7:54:42 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: weikel
Here ya go. Chuckie has been supporting gun show checks ever since the left suggeted them,and he also supports the statist federalizing of ALL gun violations,under the "Project Exile" scam. This makes ALL gun violations federal felonies. Even things that aren't even a misdeameanor under state laws.

The fact is that leftist senile old SOB should have been thrown OUT of the NRA,not elected as president.

18 posted on 09/22/2002 7:57:51 AM PDT by sneakypete
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To: MeeknMing
Charlton Heston is a senile old fool who is also a bigger gun grabber and statist than Chuckie Schumer,DiFi,or almost any other Dim you can mention,INCLUDING Jesse Jackson.
19 posted on 09/22/2002 8:00:08 AM PDT by sneakypete
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To: lonestar
If you believe Ron Kirk for a moment, if you really think he's a "moderate Democrat," you have no business with a gun. Any gun. At any time. Period.

I don't know anything about Ron Kirk,but if you take his name out and replace it with Charleton Heston,you have a 100% accurate statement.

20 posted on 09/22/2002 8:05:13 AM PDT by sneakypete
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