Thompson stands up for gun rights

Nashua Telegraph ^ | November 24, 2007 | By KEVIN LANDRIGAN

[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.

[from occupied ga]

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.

And while he was president he signed into law the odious '86 full auto ban.

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.

And Julie Annie is back pedalling on gun control (like anyone other than New Yorkers believe him)

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Considering Thompson’s consistant views on the role of Government (particularly his views on Federalism), I do believe him when he says he believes he made a mistake.

[seekthetruth]

“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.”

I have noticed the same thing, and have also been for Fred since the beginning. Also was for Duncan Hunter, and hope Hunter is in a great position in the Thompson administration. With Fred, we do know where he stands and he is so honest and tells it like it is. He points out differences between him and the others and does it nicely and effectively. Truth is, Fred is gaining in support daily. Go FRED! :)

[basil]

ping!

[Joe Brower]

[blackie]

Fred is pro-2nd Amendment.

Be Ever Vigilant!

[JDoutrider]

BTTT

[2nd amendment mama]

Agreed and bump!

[Huck]

Alan Keyes

lol. Why? Cuz Marvin the Martian ain't runnin?

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl

[Old Teufel Hunden]

The press makes him out to be a nut, but he is a very intelligent man and the most conservative man on that platform. The only thing he’s gone off the deep end on lately is this idea that paying taxes is voluntary or something to that effect. I don’t know where he’s come up with that. He did not use to say that. I guess his hatred of government confiscation has gotten to him. It’s gotten to me also...

[Huck]

I find Keyes to be an insufferable talker. His over the top preachy rants are more than most sensible Americans are willing to bear, and his inclusion in debates has been a case of affirmative action and nothing more. In fact, he’s a great example of why affirmative action sucks. If he were white, do you think anyone would be cowed into including him? His presense in the debates this time is completely absurd. It was already absurd in 2000.