Might be willing to overlook the first one, the 1996 "gun-free zone act," because it was included in a huge omnibus crime bill that also included:
- Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990
- Child Protection Restoration and Penalties Enhancement Act of 1990
- Comprehensive Thrift and Bank Fraud Prosecution and Taxpayer RecoveryAct of 1990
- Criminal Victims Protection Act of 1990
- Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act of 1990
- Financial Institutions Anti-Fraud Enforcement Act of 1990
- Mandatory Detention for Offenders Convicted of Serious Crimes Act
- National Child Search Assistance Act of 1990
- National Law Enforcement Cooperation Act of 1990
- Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990
- Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990
But the Lautenburg law and the other stuff weren't buried in a bill like that and his own words are "troublesome."
However, a "C" is better than an "F" like Obama has.
It would be ice if we had a candidate that was as articulate as Newt and an across the board conservative, but there are NO perfect candidates. A conservative Congress will never enact any gun restrictions, and if a "President Newt" faces sufficient pressure from voters and Congress, I believe he would sign a pro-2nd Amendment bill into law.
The Lautenberg “amendment” (the law itself never became a law because it was vetoed) WAS included in the omnibus defense bill I think. I looked it up last week.
It WAS part of a some big budget bill anyway.
Look, here it is. Gun rights people are fanatic (in a good way). They go all out after any camel sticking his nose under the 2nd amendment tent. I get it. While I don't always agree with each specific issue, the policy has protected gun rights fairly well so far.
Now that position is somewhat “extreme” and most people will agree with some common sense gun laws. The ones mentioned, that Newt supported, are not that crazy.
What's wrong with the laser site law? What's wrong with not allowing convicted domestic abusers to legally possess guns?
The gun free school zones may be a mistake, but as part of a huge omnibus bill, these things happen. Repeals are harder to do. It's like trying to undo a ruling on the field.
So while Newt may not be Charleton Heston, he isn't a “Gun Grabber” either. So tone down the hyperbole and just stick to the facts. You are actually helping Newt. People are so fed up with the political assassinations going on that they aren't listening to all the noise. They don't know what to believe, so they tend to disbelieve all of it.
I won't worry one second about my 2nd amendment rights, if Newt becomes president. You shouldn't either.