Romney team defends timing of NRA membership

[paramedic70002]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/02-07/02-20-07/02state-region.htm

Romney team defends timing of NRA membership
The Associated Press

BOSTON — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who presents himself as a staunch ally of gun owners, said he joined the National Rifle Association just months before announcing his candidacy.
Romney said Sunday during an interview on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" that he'd signed up for a lifetime membership with the NRA "within the last year." Romney spokesman Kevin Madden told The Boston Globe the former Massachusetts governor's joined the NRA in August, and that the decision was not a ploy to attract conservative voters.
"He joined the NRA because, like millions of Americans, he supports the group's advocacy of the Second Amendment and its commitment to education programs promoting the safe use of firearms by law-abiding citizens," Madden said. "I would argue not many Americans care when you join, but why you join, and I think I've made that clear."
Romney has publicly opposed NRA-supported measures, including during his unsuccessful run for the Senate in Massachusetts in 1994. Romney then told the Boston Herald he supported tough gun control laws such as the assault rifles ban and the Brady law.
"That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA. I don't line up with a lot of special interest groups," he said at the time.
After forming his presidential campaign exploratory committee in January, Romney toured a hunting and outdoor trade show in Orlando, Fla., with NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre. Romney reminisced about shooting rabbits during his boyhood days and said, "I'm proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms."
Some conservatives already have raised questions about Romney's shift to the right on issues such as abortion and gay rights during the second half of his single term as Massachusetts governor.

 

[Geno]

He won't get my vote

As presented, "Romney then told the Boston Herald he supported tough gun control laws such as the assault rifles ban and the Brady law".

Well, he will not get my vote, NRA member of not.

Doc2005

 

[Biker]

Well, he joins the NRA and denounces abortion at a politically expediant time.
Pure coincidence folks...

Biker

 

[Duncan223]

I will not vote for an anti-gun candidate, but in light of the reconquista of America, I also will not vote for a pro-illegal alien/amnesty candidate.

 

[Biker]

Just to be clear, the abortion issue is in and of itself not important to me either way. Romney's attempt to re-invent himself is.

Biker

 

[PotatoJudge]

"He joined the NRA because, like millions of Americans, he supports the group's advocacy of the Second Amendment and its commitment to education programs promoting the safe use of firearms by law-abiding citizens"

When you support laws banning guns, "by law abiding citizens" means "but not really."

 

[glummer]

PJ

When you support laws banning guns, "by law abiding citizens" means "but not really."

Very true. It’s a communication problem I have pondered unsuccessfully.
What do you call the otherwise-law-abiding citizens in “oppressed” locations who own guns in violation of the law? NYS estimates 1-2 million "illegal" guns in NYC; obviously, most of them are not being used to commit crimes.
We need a useful substitute for “law-abiding.”

 

[GEM]

Pretty boy sleaze bucket, IMHO.

Saying you are for guns but for the AWB is a crucial indicator of hypocrisy and NOT understanding the RKBA issue at all. It's a statement written by a press hack to get votes from gun nuts and scared soccer moms at the same time.

His alternating views on abortions and gays speak to his venial nature. I can disagree with your views but respect you, if you have a logical position. When you pander - we don't need you.

 

[fspitzdorf]

He's no friend of anyone who cares about their rights... especially 2nd amendment rights.... Personally, i'd like to see the NRA reject his membership along with a public statement of why... We don't need any wolves in sheep's clothing running around to pray on the sheeple... there is enough of that as it is...

 

[Lone_Gunman]

All I need to know about Romney is that the people of Massachussets elected him governor.

 

[hrgrisso]

Romney or Otherwise

If it all comes down to Romney, Guiliani, McCain, Obama or the Hildabeast... I have to be honest, support of the Gun Ban or not, I'll take Romney.

Something to consider among this mixed bag people. At least Romney is paying lip service to 2nd Amendment Rights. As opposed to EVERY OTHER Candidate outright opposition to them.

Just a thought.

 

[JWarren]

I've heard all my life from the old guys where I grew up:

"Never trust a Massachussets politician with your guns."


Sometimes statements like that are more wisdom than pages of debate.

Good enough for me...


John

 

[hksw]

Hahahaha. That guys is a true politician, 125%.

 

[Handyman]

Face it people , you're never going to have the perfect candidate for potus . Some people here talk about not wanting to vote for the lesser of 2 evils . Some say they will vote for some libertarian or not even vote at all . Well , get real , a libertarian is not going to win so why throw your vote away . Maybe by throwing your vote away or not voting you will be helping to elect Hillery or even worse Obama .
Voting for the lesser of 2 evils IMO is the best we can expect .
Romney may not be everything you would like but at least he did join the NRA . Have any of the other candidates done that ?

 

[tele mark]

I live here in Mass. Trust me (I'm not running for office) -- You Don't Want To Vote For Romney!!!!!

 

[hrgrisso]

Tele Mark

Curiosity:
You don't back up your thought. I have always found it difficult to agree with anyone who says "trust me: and doesn't tell me why I should.

While I am cautious of any politician who makes a politically expedient stand on an issue close to an election, what makes Romney's move so dangerous? Would you rather have McCain or Guiliani who have made their disdain for the RKBA plain? Just a question, I welcome your response, or anyone else's for that matter.

 

[MD_Willington]

Contact the NRA and have them drum him out, if they keep him as a member then the NRA is no better than the politicians and the NRA is just taking your money.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd sooner vote for a communist than a RINO: at least the communist is honest about his hatred of America.

 

[hksw]

Romney may not be everything you would like but at least he did join the NRA .

And when the next bill comes up to ban something after an incident that could have/should have been prevented by a number of current laws, he'll make a big deal in front of the cameras of sacrificing his LIFE MEMBERSHIP TO THE NRA by cutting up his card and pass the bill for the safety of the people and the children and not be pressured by the gun lobby.

 

[Art Eatman]

There's talk that the upcoming Presidential campaign will see the spending of around a billion dollars.

I bet that salaries of some staff to monitor blogs is gonna be part of that, particularly after l'affaire Zumbo.

And I'll bet that Romney, like Giuliani, is becoming more aware of our attitudes, day by day.

, Art

 

[JWarren]

As an NRA member, I personally do not thing they should have ACCEPTED his membership while he is still supporting any gun control legislation such as the AWB.

I am offended that he is able to claim any kinship to those that support the 2A.

John

 

[K3]

Very true. It’s a communication problem I have pondered unsuccessfully.
What do you call the otherwise-law-abiding citizens in “oppressed” locations who own guns in violation of the law? NYS estimates 1-2 million "illegal" guns in NYC; obviously, most of them are not being used to commit crimes.
We need a useful substitute for “law-abiding.”

I like: 'non-incarcerated American' myself. The whole felon thing bugs me. If a man can be trusted to be released from prison, than he should be trusted to own firearms. If he can't be trusted with firearms, why on earth is he being released?

 

[Eightball]

Romney reminisced about shooting rabbits during his boyhood days and said, "At one time, I wasamong the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms."

Fixed his quote for him. Does he realize that hunting has continued with modern technology (I.E. AR-15s and the like, much to the chagrin of the recent blogger who will not be named ) since when he was a boy? Maybe he needs to "get back into it", so he will appreciate that firearms are not "evil" because of their features.
"If it takes magazines of over 10 rounds, it's a terrorist weapon, and must be banned" kinda politicians......*sigh*

Let's hear it for yet another candidate to scratch being voted for by the "decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms."

 

[TX1911fan]

I find it interesting that we on this board complain that politicians don't respect the Second Amendment, and that they are all gun banners and then when one realizes that our side is under-represented, investigates the issues and then makes his decision, we still want to throw him under the bus. I'm not saying that Romney is the way to go, but shouldn't we at least be thankful he is considering our issues? Maybe we should say "I'm not sure I trust him, but it's a good first step. We'll have to see what else he says and where he goes with it."

By the way, the article above is a little misleading. He didn't say he supported the AWB right after he joined the NRA. They were quoting statements made earlier in his career. It's not unusual for someone who lives in MASS most of his life to support gun legislation. Now that he is looking at broader issues, he is realizing that his positions need to change. Isn't that what we want to have happen?

Think of this. If he comes on this board and reads that 9 out of 10 RKBA supporters won't vote for him anyway, do you think he'll make our rights a priority? I think not. Why don't we look for positives where we can find them?

With that said, Hillary could french kiss LaPierre and I still wouldn't trust her, but that's just me. Maybe many of you feel the same way about Romney.

 

[3rdpig]

Romney has about as much chance of winning the Republican nomination as the proverbial snowball in hell. Not that Giuliani or McCain are much better.