Posted on 09/15/2007 2:35:57 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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 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 [improvised explosive device] 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 today. And he headlined a New Port Richey Reagan Day Dinner on Friday evening, where a Colt .45 was raffled off after he was given a gun-rights T-shirt featuring a musket-toting Minute Man.
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.
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. He also rapped President Bush for not vetoing enough spending.
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 in Cape Coral, where the crowd numbered in the hundreds and was heavily enthusiastic. He rushed out of the Reagan Day Dinner, leaving many wanting more.
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, kept the Spanish-speaking to a minimum, on the advice of campaign consultants.
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.
''I'd have the attorney general look into that,'' Thompson said, though he warned he didn't want to take any action that would make it easier for other nations to indict American military leaders abroad.''
It’ll certainly help him with me. He’s really the only serious candidate in either party that unambiguously pro-gun.
I hear Berlitz and Rosetta work wonders. Welcome to America. We speak English here.
Contrast Fred on guns with the alleged front runner, Rooooooody.
I’m picturing panicked anchors - out of breath from rushing to the television camera - exclaiming the unbelievable nature of the comment.
Followed up by of course the obligatory,
“Critics lambast Thompson for such extremism.”
“Critics say women and minorities will be hardest hit.”
“Critics say this will escalate global warming with more gun factories.”
First 10 words of the article.....I quit reading after that.
As an aside, I will state that Rosetta is much better than Berlitz.
Fred’s pro-gun position is the main reason I would consider supporting him over rudy or romney.
The others are pro-gun....confiscation, that is! LOL
“The media will try to make Fred look like an extremist pro-gun advocate”
I hope so too, because I am also.
All the other candidates from both parties have black marks on the 2nd amendment positions. The only way they would get my vote is as the less of two evils i.e. not as awful any of the Democrat offerings.
I’m thinking that Congressman Hunter is on Senator Fred Thompson’s short list for Secretary of Defense, Veterans Affairs or Homeland Security.
Fred is absolutely right on the Second Amendment. The liberals and MSM are all dead wrong. And they know it. And more people know it. Go FRED.
I wonder if Fred would ever recruit Tommy Franks or other retired generals.
The rabid gun banners will vote for Hillary, so there is no downside to the Republican nominee being strongly pro-gun. And it is even better if the Republican nominee appears to honestly believe it. From his previous writings, I think Thompson believes it,
Hey, what would you expect from a man named after the Tommy-Gun. In fact, that would make a GREAT bumper sticker. Forget the Fred ‘08 stickers. Somebody needs to print “Thompson in 2008” with a red, white, and blue Tommy-gun beneath it. Now THAT is a bumper sticker I would love to put on my car!!!!!!
-bflr-
Sounds promising, but he’s still in the primary stage (courting only Republicans). Let’s see what he has to say if he becomes the nominee and he’s debating Hellary. Nevertheless, he seems to have a large stones for a Republican. I’m cautiously optimistic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.