As '08 Candidate, Giuliani Strikes a New Tone on Guns

New York Times ^ | March 23, 2007 | RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA

[FairOpinion]

But as a presidential candidate, Mr. Giuliani now talks very differently about guns as he tries to allay the concerns of Republican primary voters. He says he supports the right of individuals to bear arms, and that states — and generally not the federal government — should decide whether to put some limits on that right. He also spoke in favor of a federal appeals court ruling this month that struck down a District of Columbia ordinance barring people from keeping handguns in their homes.

Perhaps most striking, Mr. Giuliani’s campaign says it is not clear that he would support a measure he once championed, an assault weapons ban

[FairOpinion]

PING

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Flip-Floppin' already, Rudy? ;)

[zarf]

As he should. Being President of a nation requires a different view than being the mayor of a hectic , crime ridden city.

Good for Rudy.

[Alberta's Child]

Gotta hike the cuffs of my pants up . . . the B.S. is gettin' deep on this one!

[ANGGAPO]

Just a little late in his mind swap. I don't trust him.

[zarf]

the B.S. is gettin' deep on this one!

Why?

[Mogger]

states — and generally not the federal government — should decide whether to put some limits on that right.

He still doesn't get it, does he?

[GSlob]

"Flip-Floppin' already, Rudy?"
Not yet. In his statement that the gun laws are mostly the province of state law, he's technically correct. The federal layer, like machine guns act, and BATFE, is smaller by comparison.

[Dan Evans]

If he is smart, he will just shut up about gun control, the same way Clinton shut up about Juanita Broadrick.

[Alberta's Child]

Because he's full of crap. His well-documented track record on this issue exposes these statements as nothing more than shameless political pandering.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"should decide whether to put some limits on that right"

Yeah Rudy, lets put limits on "rights"

j-OFF!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Rudy's ego won't allow it. As bad as Hillary.

[WorkingClassFilth]

He says he supports the right of individuals to bear arms, and that states — and generally not the federal government — should decide whether to put some limits on that right.

Rudy cannot be trusted with anything remotely connected to the Constitution of the United States. He better stick with drag queen parties and policing dog turds on the NY sidewalks.

[zarf]

He still doesn't get it, does he?

Why? Gun control measures are indeed constitutional at a state level.

It's up to the state.

The gun grabber label will have a hard time sticking as Rudy adjusts his views to the realities of his potential office and his eventual responsibilities.

[NRA2BFree]

I can't stand people who will say what people want to hear. His record speaks for itself. He's a gun grabber.

[Doohickey]

The focus groups are finally wrapping up.

[George W. Bush]

Perhaps most striking, Mr. Giuliani’s campaign says it is not clear that he would support a measure he once championed, an assault weapons ban...

Flipflopping hypocrite.

I suspect he's gotten a whiff of just how radioactive he is with the very politically active NRA and GOA and other RKBA folks. And that's a cold-blooded bunch if you're a gungrabber.

Rudy has made his bed with the gungrabbers. He can lay in it.

It's going to get worse for with with gunfolk. There's at least one major anti-gun scandal that the public doesn't know about yet with Rudy.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Why? Gun control measures are indeed constitutional at a state level.

Not necessarily. Some state constitutions enumerate the right to bear arms as well.

[George W. Bush]

He spoke in favor of a licensing system for gun owners that would require trigger locks and firearms training, and he lobbied Congress to outlaw most military-style assault weapons. He was the only Republican mayor to join a lawsuit by dozens of cities against the gun industry, and he complained that Southern states had lax gun laws that fed the illegal weapons trade in the Northeast.

“It was very important to have a visible Republican to make the case that this wasn’t some liberal Democratic agenda,” said Paul Helmke, a former Republican mayor of Fort Wayne, Ind., and the president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “I was at the signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House when Bill Clinton signed the crime bill with the assault weapons ban, and Giuliani had the most prominent seat in the front row.”

What's that Rudy said about Xlinton? "Most of Clinton's policies are very similar to mine."

Yep.