Romney touts support for gun rights at NRA
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at the National Rifle Association convention in St. Louis, Friday, April 13, 2012.
/ AP Photo/Michael ConroyST. LOUIS, Mo. - In a speech at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney sought to reassure the crowd that he will be a strong defender of gun owners' rights and ally concerns among NRA members that he is too moderate.
"We need a president who will stand up for the rights of hunters and sportsmen, and those seeking to protect their homes and their families. President Obama has not. I will," Romney said. "And if we are going to safeguard our Second Amendment, it is time to elect a president who will defend the rights President Obama ignores or minimizes."
Romney, who has had a rocky relationship with the NRA over the years, did not specifically address Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which is at the center of the Trayvon Martin shooting controversy. He chose to focus much of his speech not on gun ownership rights, but instead on restoring and protecting "freedoms" through fidelity to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. And he went on the attack against Obama for what he called an "assault on freedoms."
"This president is moving us away from our Founders' vision," Romney said. "Instead of limited government, he's leading us toward limited freedom and limited opportunity."
Calling tax hikes an assault on economic freedom, Romney went after the president for his proposal to raise taxes on the richest Americans with the so-called Buffett Rule, which would require households earning over $1 million annually to pay a minimum tax of 30 percent. Romney also slammed Obama for what he called an administration proposal to raise marginal tax rates from 35 percent to 40 percent - although the president has in fact proposed no such tax hike.
"Congress does not need more money to spend," Romney said. "Congress needs to learn to spend less."
Romney's focus on restoring "freedoms" stretched across economic, religious, and personal issues, with calls to reduce environmental regulations, repeal the Obama health care law and ensure that conservatives are appointed to the high court.
Romney scoffed at the president's comments that it would be "extraordinary" and "unprecedented" for the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act, arguing that judicial review requires the court to strike down any law violating the Constitution, which he believes the act does.
"That's the problem with people who view the Constitution as living and evolving, not timeless and defining," he said. "They never want to explain just who it is that's going to decide what the Constitution means and in what way they would have it evolve."
Popular in Politics
- Obama forgets to salute while boarding Marine One Play Video
- Petraeus biographer regrets affair
- IRS' Lerner was asked to resign, refused: GOP Sen. 189 Comments
- Obama prom pictures surface 131 Comments
- GOP Rep.: Obama elected because of Reagan's immigration reforms
- Palin Image: Confident, Secure Play Video
- Is President Obama ending the war on terror? 298 Comments
- Pelosi ties bridge collapse to sequester
The facts are beyond question.
http://guncontrol.org.au/category/gun-issues/
The recently released ABS statistics show a dramatic drop in Australian gun deaths for 1998. These figures are shown below. They exhibit the same tendency to decline which was shown in the 1997 figures. The continued reduction in the number of Australians being killed by guns strongly suggests that the stricter gun laws which have been put into place throughout Australia during the 1990's have saved many hundred's of lives.
I can only agree with your comment that in some cases people do find other ways, however, any other method requires some planning, not just grabbing a gun in a fit of rage, one of your examples is using a knife, true a very common means of assault, but the likelyhood of being killed by a stabbing is very much less than a gun, and a knife generally can only be used at close quarters,. not suitable for those a little cowardly, they would prefer a gun.
An example of where massively lower number of deaths would have happened by any of your mentioned means is that attrocity in Virginia, and though I feel you are to sensible to do so, please do not use the reasonig of a bomb,
I also agree, that it would be great if banning guns would stop murders, but no matter what you say, it can not be disputed that in Australia, gun control is a resounding success, generally lowering massively all gun related deaths, and though I cannot produce figures, I am certain that the general murder rate has dropped also, however probably not among serious criminals.
Time you hit the sack is it not.
Have a good one.
I am opposed to hunting and have been forever.
Now though, with the criminals being able to outgun even the police, I am now in favor of the NRA; but only when it comes to our right to defend ourselves.
Crime is so rampant here in the US; we are not safe anywhere.
Our children are not safe in school, we are not safe in our homes, we are not safe walking across a parking lot and the list goes on and on.
In Texas, restructions are few when it comes to guns.
In fact; as far as guns are concerned; it is probably one of the safest places to live.
WHY.??
Almost everybody in Texas owns a gun.
I recently heard someone say that it's even safe to pick up a hitchiker in Texas, because while the hitchiker may have a gun, they know there is a distinct possibility that the driver has a gun also.
Obama's plans to control guns here in the US is that should the public protest against the government; it will be far less risky to gain control over the public if we are not armed.
I happen to know someone in government, and if the public knew half of the things Obama has planned for us; we would all be sitting in corners in closets quaking with fear.
A few years ago Jesse Ventura, former governor, had a series on television on a cable channel that exposed many of these plots against Americans.
Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of it, but it should be re-broadcast as a public service to show Americans what we are really up against.
America has 370 the gun related deaths of Australia.
America has the N.R.A.
Australia has gun control.
Hullo dear Sir/Madam
You are so predictable, but also so very wrong.
One freedom Australians have is not having the fear of being gunned down by some N.R.A. sanctioned nutter.
Not very up to date are you, gun control was brought in long after the gun related death of John Lennon in America.
Check your facts before you make ridiculous claims.
Gun control works very well in Australia, particuarly compared with the sick situation in America.
---
Written by an ignorant who doesn't know the difference between "ally" and "allay".
Pathetic.
nothing of substance, same old tired hate speech with nothing new
to add. Romney needs to come off as intelligent,then likeable,
pandering to gun zealots accomplishes none of the above. I am sure
he has 'cookie-cutter' dialogue for the tea baggers. He can not
play it safe for too long, he's going to have to man-up soon and
make a sincere and thoughtful presidential like speech if he wants
the vote of like minded voters.
If birthers had the choice, they'd vote palin. Heck, they voted boosh twice.