The Question of the Second

 

Where do the remaining Republican candidates for president stand on our constitutional right of self-defense? All of them have recently talked about how they support the Second Amendment, but what have they said in the past about the right to keep and bear arms, before they were in the white-hot spotlight of the presidential race? Let’s take a look.

Donald Trump talks a good game now when it comes to guns, but it’s obvious he only recently switched over to the correct side of the issue. In 2000, in his book “The America We Deserve,” he wrote:

The Republicans walk the NRA line and refuse even limited restrictions … I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I also support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun.

Sixteen years before he ran for President, Ronald Reagan was praising Barry Goldwater and small-government conservatism. Sixteen years before his run for President, Donald Trump was praising gun control and universal health care.

Now, it could be true that Trump has changed his mind about gun control. He boasts having a concealed carry permit and “occasionally carries a gun,” but having a carry permit in his home state of New York is more about status and connections than a commitment to the Second Amendment or a desire to participate in America’s gun culture. New York is a “May Issue” state when it comes to armed self-defense, which means your right to defend your life is based on how much the local sheriff likes you. Other states, like my home state of Florida, are “Shall Issue,” which means that if you fit the criteria for a permit, you get a permit, no questions asked.

It’s also interesting to note that for all of Trump’s boasting about how much money he gives to politicians, as far as I can tell, he stood on the sidelines in 2013 and did nothing while New York passed some of the nation’s most draconian anti-gun laws. Trump’s sons are very strong on hunting and guns, and may have had some influence on their father. But we’re not electing Trump’s sons, we’re electing Trump.

Cruz is good on guns. Very,very, good. His history of supporting the Second Amendment predates his run for the presidency. He led the amicus curia brief for the States in DC v. Heller.

From a purely symbolic standpoint, the two most remarkable amicus briefs had to be the ones filed on behalf of a majority of members of the U.S. Congress and on behalf of 31 states. The ‘‘Congress brief’’ was prepared by Stephen Halbrook, and it was submitted on behalf of 55 senators, 250 representatives, and Dick Cheney in his capacity as president of the Senate. The ‘‘States Brief’’ was headed up by then-Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, a veteran Supreme Court litigator who worked indefatigably to persuade other states to join the brief. Both briefs are extraordinary in that they were filed on behalf of government officials who would normally be quite reluctant to cede power to another branch of government.

Unlike Trump, who’s coasted on his privilege when it comes to gun ownership, Cruz has fought for Americans to exercise their right of self-defense (and won). Cruz stood for the Second Amendment as a senator as well, shutting down Diane Feinstein with a brilliant defense of the Second Amendment.

The worst of all when it comes to guns is, of course, Ohio Governor John Kasich, who voted in favor of Bill Clinton’s “Assault Weapons” Ban in 1994. This was one of the low points in our nation’s history when it came to defending the Second Amendment. Hundreds of otherwise legal firearms were banned from public ownership for years, based solely on the way they looked.

I wonder if Governor Kasich condones banning other things based on their appearance alone? It doesn’t matter to me what Kasich’s stance on firearms is today: That one tremendous indiscretion puts him on the wrong side of the gun issue, now and evermore.

Published in Culture, Domestic Policy, Elections, General, Guns, Law, Politics
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  1. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Amen.

    • #1
  2. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Good article, Kevin.  Thanks for putting in the research.  I have been under the assumption that Cruz was more than talk on this issue, so it’s good to see he really means it.

    • #2
  3. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Oy, that video. Feinstein arguing from authority (uh, yeah, Senator, abuse of congressional authority over otherwise law abiding citizens is rather the point!) and then using Sandyhook and other bullet-ridden bodies to support her argument… Repulsive.

    Left-wingers know individual deaths are a tragedy and mass deaths a statistic. That’s why they routinely exploit these stories for political gain.

    This helps remind me, no matter how un-thrilled I am with our Republican choices, the Democrats are much, much worse. Despicable.

    • #3
  4. TempTime Member
    TempTime
    @TempTime

    Thanks for the article.  I found it very helpful.  I wish all our discussions of the candidates could be this rational and thoughtful.

    • #4
  5. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    I’m sure Trump has had a security team for most of his life, so doubt this issue is near and dear to his heart. Of course, the only thing near and dear to his heart is Trump (and maybe money).

    • #5
  6. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    The concept of a limiting principle makes any regulation prohibited or every regulation allowable. We’ve lived under an irrational rule of lawyers for a century. Following Cruz’s reasoning I can’t find any regulation that is not an infringement. Following Feinstein’s logic it would be permissible to submit even pointy sticks to government inspection to determine if they pose a threat to public safety.

    I think our founders erred on the side of messy freedom of an antiseptic security where weapons are concerned, but they seemed to view liberty as a bulwark against the great security threat: government.

    • #6
  7. TempTime Member
    TempTime
    @TempTime

    The King Prawn: but they seemed to view liberty as a bulwark against the great security threat: government.

    Yes.  Given the motivations for the founding of the country, I think there is no doubt.

    • #7
  8. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    Thanks for doing the research. I have two thoughts;

    First, the courts, especially the Supreme Court, play a major role in whether or not the government will secure & protect our liberties. I don’t expect Trump, a man who evinces no knowledge of the constitution to appoint constitutionalists to the court.

    Second, why anyone would believe any thing Trump says is beyond me. My Gawd, this is a man who still insists Trump Steaks & Trump Magazine are still on-going successful enterprises.

    • #8
  9. Kevin Creighton Contributor
    Kevin Creighton
    @KevinCreighton

    tigerlily: First, the courts, especially the Supreme Court, play a major role in whether or not the government will secure & protect our liberties. I don’t expect Trump, a man who evinces no knowledge of the constitution to appoint constitutionalists to the court.

    I’m doing research on a post for next week about this very idea. Don’t touch that dial, kids, and stayed tuned to this station!

    • #9
  10. Eugene Kriegsmann Member
    Eugene Kriegsmann
    @EugeneKriegsmann

    Having gone to school with Donald Trump and having grown up in the same environment, it is no surprise to me that he was never a strong advocate for the Second Amendment. My father and older brother both held New York City and State Concealed Carry permits, so I had a somewhat different perspective than Trump had. I knew what both of them went through in order to maintain those permits, the annual justification, the annual increases in the fees, the strict limitations on what gun could be carried. The micromanagement  of the permit system in New York is a nightmare designed to keep everyone unarmed. This works really well with honest, law-abiding citizens, not so well with others. I have no doubt that Trump bought his permit he same way most elites in New York buy theirs. He has no sympathy for others unable to do what he does. I tend to feel the same way about those who hold federal licenses to own and use automatic weapons. They tend to be rich and influential, and not particularly concerned about the rights of the average citizen to exercise the same right if they so desired.

    • #10
  11. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    2A rights are important. And it is important to not let the government start whittling away at them. But this all comes down to one’s theory on Trump.

    Clearly he’s willing to say anything, and has said anything. So:

    1. Once he gets into office will he just fall back to his liberal instincts and end up working with democrats to get deals done?
    2. Or will he decide that Republicans are his brand and he has to deliver on some key issues?

    That’s roughly the calculus right? If Trump wins and Republicans lose power I really doubt he fights democrats on much. With that said, gun rights are popular enough  in all areas of the country that aside from some liberal hotspots, as a national issue, dems will probably find it too hard to do more than background checks. Which I can’t honestly say would be anywhere near the end of the world.

    • #11
  12. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Goldgeller: With that said, gun rights are popular enough in all areas of the country that aside from some liberal hotspots, as a national issue, dems will probably find it too hard to do more than background checks. Which I can’t honestly say would be anywhere near the end of the world.

    It’s not been that much of an issue in Wa where the idiot lefties passed universal background checks. But, it’s essentially unenforceable on private transfers, especially since law enforcement is almost entirely unwilling to do so. Next trick from them will probably be registration so that enforcement of UBC will be feasible.

    • #12
  13. Bucky Boz Member
    Bucky Boz
    @

    Ted Cruz supports the second amendment because it protects the individual’s right to keep and bear arms.

    Donald Trump supports restricting gun ownership.

    John Kasich supported banning assault weapons in the 1990’s, a more anti-Second Amendment position than Democrat Ted Strickland

    Disclosure – I volunteer my time for Ted Cruz because he is a constitutional conservative.

    • #13
  14. Jamie Wilson Member
    Jamie Wilson
    @JamieWilson

    Cruz won my heart with bacon. Of course he’s a 2nd Amendment guy.

    • #14
  15. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    If we get a leftist replacement for Scalia not only the second amendment will be history but all constitutional restrictions of federal power as well. That is a sure thing if Hillary is elected and an unknown if Trump is elected. No one really knows what sort of justice he would appoint, maybe not even my Trump. If Cruze is elected he can be counted on en appoint and fight for the most origin list justice (s) seen in living memory. So how can any conservative or libertarian not support Cruz at this point? All our liberties are literally at stake.

    • #15
  16. Viator Inactive
    Viator
    @Viator

    NRA board member Ted Nugent heaped praise on Donald Trump saying “Donald Trump is as close to Ted Nugent as you are going to get in politics.”

    • #16
  17. Bucky Boz Member
    Bucky Boz
    @

    Viator:NRA board member Ted Nugent heaped praise on Donald Trump saying “Donald Trump is as close to Ted Nugent as you are going to get in politics.”

    Ted Nugent is not exactly a shining star of intelligence.

    • #17
  18. Boss Mongo Member
    Boss Mongo
    @BossMongo

    Viator:NRA board member Ted Nugent heaped praise on Donald Trump saying “Donald Trump is as close to Ted Nugent as you are going to get in politics.”

    Well, I feel ever so much better, now.

    • #18
  19. Kevin Creighton Contributor
    Kevin Creighton
    @KevinCreighton

    Viator: NRA board member Ted Nugent heaped praise on Donald Trump saying “Donald Trump is as close to Ted Nugent as you are going to get in politics.”

    Is this supposed  to be a pro-Trump or an anti-Trump comment? ;)

    I like Uncle Ted. I’ve met him on a couple of occasions. He has his role to play in the NRA, and that role is not my role.

    • #19
  20. Bucky Boz Member
    Bucky Boz
    @

    I guess it depends on whether Nugent means to endorse or argue against Trump by expressing his opinion of their similarities.

    • #20
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