Thompson speaks against gun control
Posted on Fri, Sep. 14, 2007
BY MARC CAPUTO
Miami Herald
On the day South Florida mourned a slain police officer, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson stopped in Miami and stuck firmly to his guns over what he says is the unnecessary call for limiting the right to bear arms.
''I do not think that abrogating Second Amendment rights is a good idea,'' the Republican said at the Versailles restaurant in Little Havana.
''The amount of violence created on the street by these kinds of weapons is very, very small,'' Thompson said. ``It's too bad. It's horrendous. Any kind -- whether it's a knife or an IED or a gun -- innocent people, especially law enforcement officers, are vulnerable all the time; we know that. But on balance, you've got to ask what is good for society and what does the Second Amendment say.''
Though such a position after the Thursday slaying of Miami-Dade police officer Jose Somohano will make Thompson the target of gun-control advocates, it's all but guaranteed to shore up his already strong support among gun-rights supporters. Gun-show promoter Victor Bean, for instance, is granting Thompson's campaign exclusive access to his shows.
Thompson, a former actor, lobbyist and U.S. senator from Tennessee, tours a Lakeland gun show Saturday. And he headlined a New Port Richey Reagan Day Dinner Friday evening, where a Colt .45 was to be raffled off.
Thompson made his remarks concerning guns to reporters and not supporters at Versailles. He later mentioned the need for strong Second Amendment rights during a speech in Cape Coral, on the Gulf Coast, where the crowd applauded.
In Miami, Thompson's tone was also less sharp when it came to curbing illegal immigration. He went to extra lengths to laud immigrants before he called for stronger border security, winning applause. The candidate couldn't say how much it would cost to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, which he has repeatedly singled out.
''Yeah, I've got it down to the dime, but not to the nickel yet. But I'll let you know when I do,'' he said in Cape Coral when asked about the price tag for his plan. He also told reporters he favors some type of ban on allowing undocumented migrants to gain preferential treatment for U.S. residency if their child is born in the country.
Thompson, running second in many Florida and national polls behind GOP rival Rudy Giuliani, blamed Democrat Hillary Clinton for what he said was unfairly hyping a comment he made in June suggesting Cuban immigrants were carrying ''suitcase bombs.'' He had clarified the statement to note that he was referring to potential spies.
At each campaign stop, Thompson mentioned the need for more energy independence and later told reporters he would consider approving oil drilling off Florida in addition to encouraging more nuclear power, ''clean coal'' and biofuels. Throughout the day, the candidate stressed his campaign themes of ''Security, Unity, Prosperity'' by serving up detail-thin promises of less taxes, a smaller federal government, less spending and more support for the war in Iraq and against terrorists.
In comparison to his smooth campaign speeches Thursday across the state, Thompson, 65, seemed wearier Friday, fumbling for words more often in Miami and breathing heavily in the wilting humidity near the Caloosahatchee River at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral, where the crowd numbered in the hundreds and was heavily enthusiastic.
The reception was warm in Little Havana, though a few groused that there wasn't enough Spanish translation. Miami Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who said Thompson inspired him to become involved this election, was asked by the campaign to keep the Spanish-speaking to a minimum.
At Versailles, Thompson told the mostly Cuban-American crowd that he would maintain the embargo and other sanctions against the Fidel Castro government.
Thompson began his day with interviews on Spanish-language radio station WAQI-Radio Mambí, where he was asked if he would, as president, move to indict Raúl Castro, the head of the Cuban armed forces, for the shoot-down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes over the Florida Straits in 1996. The incident led to the deaths of four Cuban Americans.
http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/v-print/story/237555.html
Posted on Fri, Sep. 14, 2007
BY MARC CAPUTO
Miami Herald
On the day South Florida mourned a slain police officer, Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson stopped in Miami and stuck firmly to his guns over what he says is the unnecessary call for limiting the right to bear arms.
''I do not think that abrogating Second Amendment rights is a good idea,'' the Republican said at the Versailles restaurant in Little Havana.
''The amount of violence created on the street by these kinds of weapons is very, very small,'' Thompson said. ``It's too bad. It's horrendous. Any kind -- whether it's a knife or an IED or a gun -- innocent people, especially law enforcement officers, are vulnerable all the time; we know that. But on balance, you've got to ask what is good for society and what does the Second Amendment say.''
Though such a position after the Thursday slaying of Miami-Dade police officer Jose Somohano will make Thompson the target of gun-control advocates, it's all but guaranteed to shore up his already strong support among gun-rights supporters. Gun-show promoter Victor Bean, for instance, is granting Thompson's campaign exclusive access to his shows.
Thompson, a former actor, lobbyist and U.S. senator from Tennessee, tours a Lakeland gun show Saturday. And he headlined a New Port Richey Reagan Day Dinner Friday evening, where a Colt .45 was to be raffled off.
Thompson made his remarks concerning guns to reporters and not supporters at Versailles. He later mentioned the need for strong Second Amendment rights during a speech in Cape Coral, on the Gulf Coast, where the crowd applauded.
In Miami, Thompson's tone was also less sharp when it came to curbing illegal immigration. He went to extra lengths to laud immigrants before he called for stronger border security, winning applause. The candidate couldn't say how much it would cost to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, which he has repeatedly singled out.
''Yeah, I've got it down to the dime, but not to the nickel yet. But I'll let you know when I do,'' he said in Cape Coral when asked about the price tag for his plan. He also told reporters he favors some type of ban on allowing undocumented migrants to gain preferential treatment for U.S. residency if their child is born in the country.
Thompson, running second in many Florida and national polls behind GOP rival Rudy Giuliani, blamed Democrat Hillary Clinton for what he said was unfairly hyping a comment he made in June suggesting Cuban immigrants were carrying ''suitcase bombs.'' He had clarified the statement to note that he was referring to potential spies.
At each campaign stop, Thompson mentioned the need for more energy independence and later told reporters he would consider approving oil drilling off Florida in addition to encouraging more nuclear power, ''clean coal'' and biofuels. Throughout the day, the candidate stressed his campaign themes of ''Security, Unity, Prosperity'' by serving up detail-thin promises of less taxes, a smaller federal government, less spending and more support for the war in Iraq and against terrorists.
In comparison to his smooth campaign speeches Thursday across the state, Thompson, 65, seemed wearier Friday, fumbling for words more often in Miami and breathing heavily in the wilting humidity near the Caloosahatchee River at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral, where the crowd numbered in the hundreds and was heavily enthusiastic.
The reception was warm in Little Havana, though a few groused that there wasn't enough Spanish translation. Miami Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who said Thompson inspired him to become involved this election, was asked by the campaign to keep the Spanish-speaking to a minimum.
At Versailles, Thompson told the mostly Cuban-American crowd that he would maintain the embargo and other sanctions against the Fidel Castro government.
Thompson began his day with interviews on Spanish-language radio station WAQI-Radio Mambí, where he was asked if he would, as president, move to indict Raúl Castro, the head of the Cuban armed forces, for the shoot-down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes over the Florida Straits in 1996. The incident led to the deaths of four Cuban Americans.
http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/v-print/story/237555.html
