Mitt Romney - 2nd Amendment Support

[LiveToShoot]

Included below is the e-mail response I received from Mitt Romney to a question I asked him about where he stands on the 2nd Amendment:

Dear Terance:

Thank you for contacting me about the important issue of gun ownership and the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I appreciate your interest in my campaign for President and would like to extend my sincere gratitude for taking the time to share your views with me.

I support the Second Amendment as one of the most basic and fundamental rights of every American. It’s essential to our functioning as a free society, as are all the liberties enumerated in the Bill of Rights. I am proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms.

I firmly believe in the importance of responsible gun ownership and sales. I recognize there are people in this country who want to remove all guns in our society and I think they’re wrong. Washington needs to distinguish between law-abiding gun owners and criminals who use guns. Those who use a firearm during the commission of crime must be punished severely. The key is to provide law enforcement with the resources they need and punish criminals, not burden lawful gun owners.

As Governor of one of the most liberal states in the country, I stood up for the rights of gun owners and sportsmen over burdensome bureaucratic regulation. I advanced legislation that expanded the rights of gun owners in my state and I’ve been proud to have the support of pro-Second Amendment and sportsmen’s groups in my previous runs for public office. I also designated May 7 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.”

One of the most active fronts in the fight to preserve our Second Amendment rights today is being waged in the courts. As President, I’ll appoint strict constructionist judges who will follow the Constitution and not legislate from the bench. I’ll also fight to repeal the McCain-Feingold law, which sought to impose restrictions on the First Amendment rights of groups like the National Rifle Association, to advocate for issues we care about.

I am running for President because I fervently believe that I have the experience and vision to address the issues facing our country. Throughout my years in both the private and public sectors, I have been successful by pursuing innovation and transformation. If there ever was a time when innovation and transformation were needed in government, it is now.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to visit my website at www.MittRomney.com for updated information on Second Amendment rights and other issues that may be of interest to you. I look forward to hearing from you in the future, and earning your support.
Sincerely,

Paid for by Romney for President, Inc. www.MittRomney.com

[killer]

Originally Posted by LiveToShoot

As Governor of one of the most liberal states in the country, I stood up for the rights of gun owners and sportsmen over burdensome bureaucratic regulation. I advanced legislation that expanded the rights of gun owners in my state and I’ve been proud to have the support of pro-Second Amendment and sportsmen’s groups in my previous runs for public office.

On another forum I am a member of one a guy insists Mitt is still running ad's in his Liberal State of MA saying how he stood up to the NRA.

My sources tell me Mitt is going to get the nomination.

[LiveToShoot]

An additional conservative perspective on Mitt Romney...
The Editors on National Review Online

[Rem 742 30-06]

He says he is a hunter but he has never bought a hunting license before. Makes me wonder. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him.

[Windwalker]

Don't know much about Romney or Mass. except that they keep reelecting Ted Kennedy as a Senator which doesn't bode good for gun rights.

[LiveToShoot]

Integrity to me is the hinge-pin and key element I look for in a person, and especially in a political candidate.

In my research of current presidential candidates, I've been looking closely at their personal integrity at home with family and friends, and their political integrity while in the office at work.

Thus far in my research, everything I've located on Mitt Romney, personal and political, shows his integrity isn't for trade or sale. His record shows him to be very honest and upright.

My research has also revealed where some that are against Mitt Romney, for whatever reason, and in an effort to discredit him, say that he's just too honest and upright, that he's plastic or not real. I can understand that kind of a comment, because Mitt Romney's integrity doesn't shine a favorable light on them and their questionable activities.

So, everything I've read about Mitt Romney, from credible sources, shows he does what he says he will do and how he says he will do it. This info comes from people who actually know and have actually worked with him, personally and publicly.

In today's political landscape, Mitt Romney's personal and political integrity is exceptional and uniquely good.

As I continue to research the presidential candidates, I will continue to watch for signs of integrity, those who have and show their integrity are the ones I pursue. Then, the candidate who has/shows integrity the most, with a balanced conservative political foundation, will be the candidate that gets my vote for president.

Some of the slams I read about one firearm or another are like the slams I read about one candidate or another, they both come from sources of hearsay or rumor. I like the info that comes from personal experiences and the no-private-agenda sources, that speaks of fact and actual performance.

[Big Dog]

Comparing the various candidates to guns . . .
I am one of those odd ducks who will, when told a particular gun is a diamond or a POS, sometimes go out and buy the gun to see for myself. If it doesn't work well, it goes 'down the road'.
The problem with the candidates is, you have to 'buy' him for at least four years - and sending him packing can be difficult if he doesn't 'shoot straight'.

The best thing in general is to look at his voting record on the issues of interest.

[LiveToShoot]

Yes Big Dog, facts and actual performance are both critical for firearms, and politicians...and, for politicians a voting record is a clear presentation, validation, of where they stood previously and now stand.

My research into presidential candidates has shown that Mitt Romney, while serving as governor in the liberal state of Massachusetts, upheld our conservative American constitutional laws/rights time and again. His voting record speaks for itself, and successfully passes the test for political integrity. Nowhere can I find any indication of impropriety or fraudulant activity.

In civilian responsibilities, Mitt Romney consistently displayed high standards of integrity in his business dealings and performance. In the civilian sector, Mitt Romney's record, the facts and actual performance, over an extended period of time, validate his credibility and integrity to choose and do good for people and business ventures.

In Mitt Romney's political service, and his civilian service and business responsibilities, there is nothing to indicate, or even held in unproven suspicion, that he acted in any other way than a person who has and consistently uses integrity to serve and do what's right and good.

My research has shown that Mitt Romney doesn't have any political or private sector service bones in the closet.

The "by their fruits ye shall no them" litmus test, when applied to Mitt Romney, is passed by him repeatedly.

That's clearly the type of presidential candidate that I'm searching out and will vote for...so I do not do the regret thing later.

[toolman]

When I searched "Mitt Romney second ammendment votes" this is the first thing that popped up:Romney retreats on gun control - The Boston Globe

I don't agree with everything that these liberal papers print, but if Romney supported the Brady Bill and the Clinton "Assauly Weapon" ban, I don't want anything to do with him.

[LiveToShoot]

I was raised in the western US, and I've owned and used firearms since my early youth.

In my youth I enjoyed lots of hunting (squirrels, rabbits, small birds, etc.) without having had a hunting license. My first bigger game hunting, and required purchase of a hunting license, was when I went after a deer in my late teens. So, for nearly 15 years, I was a hunter but I hadn't bought a hunting license.

Having been so much associated with firearms, around people who owned firearms and hunted, I really didn't hear or learn much about gun control until my 20s. Not knowing much about it, I treated it somewhat lightly, as I unfortunately did many of the important issues of the day.

I do remember when President Reagan and Bill Brady were shot, and I casually thought that the subsequent Brady Bill was a genuine effort by well meaning people to try and stop that kind of shooting tragedy from happening again. I didn't know then about the deeper and ongoing agenda of that group (Handgun Control, Inc.), and others like it, to take away our rights and freedoms.

As I was more exposed and paid more attention to information about gun control, and especially when I read from "Guns, Crimes, and Freedom" by Wayne LaPierre, I really had a shock occur to my casual and naive awareness on gun control issues. As a result of that shock, I quickly began learning more about the inappropriateness and dangers of gun control.

As I look at my own growing up and deepening understanding about gun control, I wonder about the same in other people. Since my understanding is now pretty broad and firm, there are times when I want to shake other people awake about this critical issue and the longer term dangers. I now see gun control as an off-the-target-shot for successful crime prevention. I also see that gun control is a violation of my constitutionally protected freedoms.

Wayne LaPierre, in "Guns, Crime, and Freedom", so clearly illustrates that crime prevention, gun crimes, is not stopped by taking away guns from the law-abiding citizens, and that gun crimes are stopped by enforcing the laws that are already on the books for such, and then after prosecution keeping criminals in prison until justice has been served, even carrying out the death penalty when needed and deserved.

Based on what I've learned through Wayne LaPierre's book, I can also see more clearly that the assault weapons ban is just another phase of the Brady Bill (Handgun Control, Inc.) to take away weapons, all weapons, from Americans.

I'm so against gun control that I feel furious at times about the choices legislators, and others in government service, and civilians make towards promoting and extending gun control. That strong concern now causes me to try and help others wake up to what is happening. In so doing, I'm finding that people of varying ages and walks of life, even older people who I thought would have been more knowledgeable about what's going on, are in a stupor or sleep about gun control.

I think there needs to be a renewed effort by all of us to help wake up the populace, and especially legislators, to what is going on, especially those in public office who have just not paid attention as they should have to the constitution, so we can get this dangerous "gun control" issue resolved.

Toolman, Thanks for pointing out the things you have, and I will continue my research to better understand the why and how of it. Because there is a lot of good about and in that candidate that encourages me to want to know why particular stands about gun control were taken the way they supposedly were.

[bigbuddy21]

LIVETOSHOOT,my brother lives in MA. he is a ret.marine and has the utmost respect for ROMNEY. he has told me how it was before he got in, how hard it was to get a gun or pistol, but ROMNEY got the laws changed to make it a little easier. he didn't get all of them like he wanted, [some are still banned] but it is a lot better now.

[LiveToShoot]

BigBuddy, Thanks for the update on how Mitt helped open MA up to those who want to purchase a firearm.

Another conservative endorsement for Mitt Romney:
The Corner on National Review Online

[troy2000]

I dunno; I still don't see how a guy can go from publicly bragging about how he stands up to the NRA to publicly bragging that he's a member of the NRA, and not have questions raised about his sincerity.

He's done the same thing on abortion, too. When he was running in his home state, he was totally pro-choice. Now listen to him...he claims to have had an epiphany while studying stem-cell research, and changed his mind.

[Rem 742 30-06]

Originally Posted by troy2000

I dunno; I still don't see how a guy can go from publicly bragging about how he stands up to the NRA to publicly bragging that he's a member of the NRA, and not have questions raised about his sincerity.

He's done the same thing on abortion, too. When he was running in his home state, he was totally pro-choice. Now listen to him...he claims to have had an epiphany while studying stem-cell research, and changed his mind.

I definitely have to agree with you there I really don't trust him either.

[LiveToShoot]

Thanks BigBuddy for info you posted from your brother about the good things Mitt Romney did in MA to help gun owners...
___
In an effort to help us stay updated on presidential candidates, here's an update on Mitt Romney...the here and now:
The Tenth Republican Debate From Iowa

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by LiveToShoot

Thanks BigBuddy for info you posted from your brother about the good things Mitt Romney did in MA to help gun owners...

I'll give him points for that; Massachusetts is a hard place to do anything good for gun-owners.

I guess the question is: overall, was he a conservative taking on protective coloration for the job in MA and showing his true colors now, or was he showing his true colors as governor, and taking on conservative camo now to get the president's job? Or is he a mix who isn't neatly pigeonholed?

To tell the truth, I haven't studied him that closely because I'm not voting in any Republican primaries. If he gets the nomination I'll look him over closely, and hope to God he's better than Rudy or Hillary.

[bigbuddy21]

Originally Posted by troy2000

I'll give him points for that; Massachusetts is a hard place to do anything good for gun-owners.

I guess the question is: overall, was he a conservative taking on protective coloration for the job in MA and showing his true colors now, or was he showing his true colors as governor, and taking on conservative camo now to get the president's job? Or is he a mix who isn't neatly pigeonholed?

To tell the truth, I haven't studied him that closely because I'm not voting in any Republican primaries. If he gets the nomination I'll look him over closely, and hope to God he's better than Rudy or Hillary.

he is and lets unite this country again.