Gun Control/Second Amendment Rights:

Today's Republicans: Mitt Romney: Let me speak very directly and candidly about where I stand. 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 Ron Paul: Congressman Paul is a strong supporter of the second amendment, and has introduced legislation to repeal the Brady Bill and the so-called Assault Weapons Ban. ii Rick Santorum: Senator Santorum vehemently opposed the Assault Weapons Ban because he believes that there are more effective ways to stop gun violence, such as stricter enforcement of existing laws, than taking away the rights of law abiding gun owners.iii Newt Gingrich: Speaker Gingrich describes himself as a committed and vigilant defender of Second Amendment and, if elected president, pledges to instruct the Department of Justice and State Department to defend American sovereignty and block all international treaties that infringe on Second Amendment rights.iv Goldwater: At a young age, Barry Goldwater was taught by his mother how to shoot rifles and shotguns. v He believed that gun control was impossible, and served as an NRA spokesman, appearing in commercials for the group. He was also an avid gun collector, devoting an entire room of his house to a variety of guns that he had both made and purchased over the years. vi Goldwater was, however, opposed to the sale of automatic firearms: Im completely opposed to selling automatic rifles. I dont see any reason why they ever made semi-automatics. Ive been a member of the NRA, I collect, make and shoot guns. Ive never used an automatic or semiautomatic for hunting. Theres no need to. They have no place in anybodys arsenal. If any S.O.B. cant hit a deer with one shot, then he ought to quit shooting. vii

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http://aboutmittromney.com/gun_rights.htm http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issues/second-amendment/ http://www.ricksantorum.com/defending-2nd-amendment-rights http://www.newt.org/solutions/second-amendment/ CC Goldwater, 18 September 2006, Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater, available from http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Conservative-Goldwater-Julian- Bond/dp/B000P7V6TW; [7 February 2010]. William H. Rentschler, Barry Goldwater: Icon of Political Integrity, USA Today Magazine, March 2000. Dennis DeConcini and Jack L. August, Senator Dennis DeConcini: From the Center of the Aisle, 108.