NRA Convention Review: Presidential Candidates Address NRA Celebration Of American Values

NRA-ILA (Filed 9/29/07): On Sept. 21, the NRA held its first "Celebration of American Values" conference, providing NRA members the opportunity to hear some of our nation's most important leaders address Second Amendment issues. Hundreds attended and the event was broadcast nationally by C-SPAN. The most anticipated speakers were a number of 2008 Presidential candidates . . . Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN), former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR),and former NY City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM provided videotaped remarks, as did former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA.) and U.S. Rep.s Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Tom Tancredo (R-CO). Other speakers were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MI), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R-VA), and former U.S. AG John Ashcroft. All the speakers expressed their commitment to Second Amendment rights . . .

Senator John McCain . . . spoke of his long history of working with the NRA. "When I first ran for Congress in 1982, I was proud to have the support of gun owners and the National Rifle Association. For more than two decades, I've opposed the efforts of the anti-gun crowd to ban guns, ban ammunition, ban magazines, and paint gun owners as some kind of fringe group; dangerous in 'modern' America. Some even call you 'extremists.' My friends, gun owners are not extremists, you are the core of modern America."

Former Sen. Fred Thompson told the crowd, "I think we are winning on the interpretation of the Second Amendment. I've always taken the position that—kind of a complicated position that I've worked out—the Constitution means what it says." This affirmation of a simple and basic truth was met with thunderous applause from the gathered NRA members.

Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke of his lifelong love of hunting and the outdoors, but reminded all, "I'm a hunter. But that's not what the Second Amendment is about." He went on to discuss what he believes "the Second Amendment is and why it's important. First of all, it protects our families. We have a constitutional right, granted to us, in the wisdom of our forefathers, to protect our families—to protect them from criminals, to protect them from whatever might harm them. And it is as much of a constitutional right as it is the right to speak out against our government."

Former New York City Rudy Giuliani history as mayor of support for gun control, and the lawsuit he and his city filed against the firearm industry have raised legitimate questions about his position on Second Amendment issues. Mayor Giuliani tried to allay those fears, saying, "I believe, and I'm sure you do, that law enforcement should focus on enforcing the laws that exist on the books, as opposed to just passing new laws or new extension of laws." He went on to say, "you should know I understand that the right to bear arms is just as important a right in that Constitution as the right of free speech and the other rights." Giuliani was asked if he continued to support the lawsuit that he brought against firearm manufacturers as mayor. He responded, "I did initiate that lawsuit back in 2000. Since then, I think that lawsuit has taken several turns and several twists that I don't agree with . . . So, I would say that, at this point, it's probably going in a direction where if I was sitting on the court, I probably wouldn't agree with it." . . . [Read More]

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Tags: convention, Election 2008, Fred Thompson, gun rights, John Mccain, Mike Huckabee, NRA, Rudy Giuliani, second amendment To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!