Posted on 12/27/2011 6:20:29 AM PST by marktwain
One of my favorite Christmas movies is “A Christmas Story,” the 1983 classic that centers on young Ralphie’s machinations to have Santa Claus bring him a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Ralphie’s mother, of course, fears he would “shoot his eye out” if this occurred.
Watching the movie recently brought to mind the manner in which GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is being blasted by some of his Republican opponents and by certain firearms organizations for being insufficiently supportive of the Second Amendment. As a strong supporter of that provision in our Bill of Rights and a long-time board member of the National Rifle Association, I am always sensitive to claims that candidates aren’t supportive of the Second Amendment.
In this instance, the claims that Gingrich doesn’t support the Second Amendment are, at best, mistaken and, at worst, intentionally deceptive. In either event, the claims and the simplistic manner in which they are being bandied about do an injustice to both Gingrich and the Second Amendment.
Allow me to give an example that illustrates Gingrich’s fundamental support for firearms rights and his willingness to put that support into actual legislative action.
In 1995, my first year in the House of Representatives (and the first year of Gingrich’s speakership), Newt formed a Firearms Legislation Task Force. The principal mission of this task force was to repeal the so-called “Clinton Gun Ban,” which had been enacted the prior year. Newt appointed me to chair it.
Newt helped marshal support for the task force’s bill, which would have repealed the Clinton Gun Ban, and saw to it that the bill was brought to the floor of the House for a vote. The bill passed the House. Unfortunately, when the legislation arrived in the Senate, then-Majority Leader Bob Dole refused to act on it (despite earlier vows to bring it to a vote), and it died.
My point is that when he was in a position to lead in the Congress on a highly controversial firearms-rights issue, Gingrich exercised the power necessary to get the job done in support of the Second Amendment.
Has Gingrich always voted the way that I would have on Second Amendment issues? No. However, the same could be said of most GOP presidential candidates, past or present. But to make a quantum leap and claim that Gingrich doesn’t support our fundamental right to keep and bear arms or that he would not actively support measures to protect that right as president is disingenuous and flat-out wrong.
Bob Barr represented Georgia’s Seventh District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He provides regular commentary to Daily Caller readers.
“Most people do not know how hard the 1994 congress worked to keep their promises, but were tharted by the combination of the Clinton presidency and the MSM working in concert” add a WORTHLESS US Senate(think RINO Dole) in the mix too.
If we wind up with NOOT we get the bum rap. . . . . . . .
I’m not big on Newt’s support of the Lautenberg mold-breaking misdemeanor lifetime ban on gun ownership.
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) (or Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act) was a subtitle of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a federal law in the United States that included a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms, so called “assault weapons”. The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, H.R. 3355, Pub.L. 103-322, was an act of Congress dealing with crime and law enforcement that became law in 1994.
HR 3355 Omnibus Crime Bill - Voting Record
Date: Aug. 21, 1994 Yea: 235 Nay: 195 GA 6 Rep. Newton Leroy ‘Newt’ Gingrich Republican Nay
Date: Aug. 21, 1994 Yea: 235 Nay: 195 GA 6 Rep. Newton Leroy ‘Newt’ Gingrich Republican Nay”
It is standard for the House leader to vote no on a bill ( except in tie breaker cases) so they bring it up again later if needed. It has something to due with rules in the House.
Yes....I am certainly gonna believe a line of horseshit from a man who went to work for the “A-f@cking-CLU” after he left Congress...Screw off, Barr! Another RINO ass Republican it turned out. Just needed that power and those bucks, apparently from anyone with some to spare.
So he could be right as rain here but whatever he says he is now first and foremost forever tainted by his choice of 'friends' after he left congress. In short, unless I see the same thing from a reputable source, like the NRA or GOA, I remain skeptical.
(And I donated to his last campaign, DOH!)
I agree. We don't have much of choice again this time. Last time I was for Fred Thompson, this time I was for Herman.
I could get behind Michele or Santorium, but they don't seem to have a prayer.
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