Skip Reilly, left, shows Republican presidential hopeful and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson part of his gun collection during a campaign stop at Skip’s Gun & Sport Shop in Bristol on Friday.
Posted on 12/16/2007 10:29:14 PM PST by bd476
Thompson stands up for gun rights
Published: Saturday, November 24, 2007
By KEVIN LANDRIGAN
Telegraph Staff
BRISTOL – Republican presidential candidate and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson talked tough for a bigger, stronger military and a robust defense of the rights of citizens to bear arms during two campaign stops Friday.
And Thompson took a swipe at former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's bona fides on the Second Amendment during remarks he gave at Skip's Gun & Sport Shop here.
"(Giuliani) simply supported every gun control legislation that came down the pike,'' Thompson charged.
"I saw he was at bill-signing ceremonies with (New York Sen.) Chuck Schumer and President Clinton and others for gun-control legislation over the years. Of course, he's not as outspoken about it as before.''
Giuliani Communications Director Kate Levinson said her candidate has a proven record of reducing crime what had been a very unsafe city.
"Coming from a man who lives in the Beltway, who is a Washington insider and lobbyist and who played the role Rudy Giuliani actually lived on a television series, I am not sure what to make of the senator's comments, except to say results are results,'' Levinson said in a statement.
Giuliani served in the Reagan administration as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Thompson used to play Arthur Branch on TV's "Law and Order,'' the fictional, elected district attorney of New York County.
At the gun shop, owner Harold T. "Skip'' Reilly Sr. opened a locked case of antique guns and let Thompson take his time handling several.
"I met Giuliani and liked him, but he's anti-gun, and I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot,'' said Reilly, who decided a few months ago to support Thompson. "I think Fred is just down-to-earth and genuine and that's what this country really needs.''
Reilly's son-in-law, John Williamson, handed Thompson a cup of homemade, moose chili and the candidate took a few bites.
"I'd like to see some of them eating my moose chili,'' said a smiling Thompson, referring to his GOP opponents. "I'm taking the rest of this with me.''
Thompson claimed he hosted his own skeet shoot and said his support for gun owners rivals anybody in this race.
"Some of my opponents have bad records or no records. I have a solid record,'' Thompson said.
Jason Avery, of Hill, is a National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of New Hampshire member who decided Friday that he'd support Thompson.
"The other ones sound strong, but they don't have the breadth of support for the Second Amendment that Fred does,'' said Avery who works as a manufactured sales rep.
At the Laconia Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, Thompson pressed for increasing the size of the military to 1 million, which is 59,000 more than what the Pentagon has asked for.
Thompson also said spending on defense should equal 4.5 percent of the gross domestic product. Currently, the Pentagon budget equals 4.1 percent.
"We've got a lot of vulnerabilities and a lot of areas to cover. My bottom line to the American people is this is going to cost a little more than everybody has been talking about,'' Thompson said.
Skip Reilly, left, shows Republican presidential hopeful and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson part of his gun collection during a campaign stop at Skip’s Gun & Sport Shop in Bristol on Friday.
I’ve been for Fred since he entered the race, but something I’m really starting to see - and like - about him is that he takes a clear position, contrasts his position with those of his rivals, and moves on. You never have to wonder where he stands on things. I may be naive and un-nuanced, but I’m a big fan of plain talking.
Sure hope Fred will get the NRA endorsement, and I wish they would endorse him this month.
“Sure hope Fred will get the NRA endorsement, and I wish they would endorse him this month.”
I’ll second (amend) that...they have to know if they don’t...we could seriously damage our rights. I doubt these other characters could win, and I don’t trust them even if they get there. The last thing that could ever be taken is our guns....
At that point, there is no point.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Well, the Giuliani people certainly are clumsy.
Arguing that "results are results" in response to a question about Mr. Giuliani's long-time support for gun control? That should garner them few votes in the Republican primary, and cost them plenty.
“Giuliani Communications Director Kate Levinson said her candidate has a proven record of reducing crime what had been a very unsafe city”.
“Coming from a man who lives in the Beltway, who is a Washington insider and lobbyist and who played the role Rudy Giuliani actually lived on a television series, I am not sure what to make of the senator’s comments, except to say results are results,’’ Levinson said in a statement.
“who played the role Rudy Giuliani actually lived on a television series,”
Thompson’s legal resume is as good as Giuliani’s, IMHO. Thompson was a Senate Watergate Attorney and put a Tennesee Governor in jail for misconduct; good enough to make a movie about Thompson.
The TV role he played of Arthur Branch was perfect for him because of his legal background. He was just playing himself, like most of his roles. Something left out of this obviously liberal rag!
Exactly what I saw when I read this. Rudy is telling us he knows better and when he’s in office I know how to make you safer.
Just wondering why you posted a three week old article?
His position on the first amendment is pretty clear 
Unless this article was posted under a different title, it hasn't been posted before. A search for the full title shows only this thread.
“You never have to wonder where he stands on things.
His position on the first amendment is pretty clear “
Occupied,
You are correct that he definitely screwed up in supporting the McCain/Feingold anti first amendment bill. He has been questioned about this, admitted that he was wrong in his support of this and apologized for this. Really it is the only black mark on his record.
Let me tell you about another republican candidate. This particular candidate was a governor of a large state who passed gun control legisation and actually raised some taxes. The candidates name was Ronald Reagan. No one is perfect. The point is to try to find a candidate who comes closest to the conservative principles that guide most of us. I think out of the top tier of candidates that would be Fred Thompson.
If I had my ideal choice of the candidates that are running it would be either Duncan Hunter or Alan Keyes. However, Duncan Hunter is polling at about 1% and Dr. Keyes has never even held an elected office (I do not believe). I’m sure if these two were scrutinized more I would find some things I don’t like about them also.
Except me and thee and sometimes I wonder about thee.
Agreed that you can't get what you want in a candidate, but have to take the best mix of what's available. I'm sure it isn't Rooty or McCain or Romney, but not sure it is Thompsen.
Semper Fi brother,
I think that Fred should have some type of reply to Rudy to the effect that he did indeed play a prosecutor on TV as well as act in numerous movies. However, when running for office, he never had to act to be in a republican primary as if he was conservative on issues.
Ronald Reagan signed a bill allowing abortions “for the well being of the mother” in 1967 as Governor of California. He also, the same year, signed a tax increase. He apologized and lamented both choices, and we know that he was stridently pro-life for the rest of his career as well as know that he fought for tax cuts for the rest of his career.
Fred Thompson has said that the limitations on free speech in the McCain-Feingold bill are wrong and he should have fought to have those provisions removed. He still feels that soft money should be monitored, but those specific parts of the bill that restricts free speech should be gone. He made a mistake and has admitted such.
It sounds as if you are down to Huckabee and Thompson. If thats the case, you have to look at the things that Huckabee has as conservative baggage. It is true that he is as strong on the second amendment as Fred.
However, he did raise a number of taxes while governor, he does not have a good immigration record and he is a nanny stater. He is an anti smoking nazi and a fatty food nazi. He has made statements in the past to the effect of using the force of government to tell people how to eat or prohibiting legal substances such as tobacco. I think when you add it up, Huckabee has more black marks against his conservative record than Fred does.
Look, no matter who the republicans put up I will vote for them in the general. I don’t want to see Hitlery, Hussein Obama or the Silky Pony as president. The question is, will I have to vote with my nose turned up or not.
I’ll have to send the Semper Fi to my son in Afghanistan, he’s the Marine, I’m just the proud father.
Contrast that to Huck's wimping out on the Gitmo question by saying he would be willing to close Gitmo "because that is what the world wants us to do."
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