Romney retreats on gun control

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/14/romney_retreats_on_gun_control/?page=full

<snip>

And as the GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2002, Romney lauded the state's strong laws during a debate against Democrat Shannon O'Brien. "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them," he said. "I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety."

Today, as he explores a presidential bid, Romney is sending a very different message on gun issues, which are far more prominent in Republican national politics than in Massachusetts.

He now touts his work as governor to ease restrictions on gun owners. He proudly describes himself as a member of the NRA -- though his campaign won't say when he joined. And Friday, at his campaign's request, top officials of the NRA and the National Shooting Sports Foundation led him around one of the country's biggest gun shows.

Romney says he still backs the ban on assault weapons, but he won't say whether he stands by the Brady Bill. And after the gun show tour, his campaign declined to say whether he would still describe himself as a supporter of tough gun laws.

<snip>

But perhaps the most significant gun legislation Romney signed as governor was a 2004 measure instituting a permanent ban on assault weapons. The Legislature mirrored the law after the federal assault weapons ban, which was set to expire. According to activists at the time, the bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its own such ban, and Romney hailed the move.

[Olney Blue]

1. Of course.

[Mz Pip]

2. Listen to the wind blow...

or the base blow. How obvious can this guy get? I can't imagine that he will really go very far. Who is going to believe him?

Mz Pip
:dem:

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Willard is Astonishing

Is there any issue that he doesn't have two opposing positions on?

[Auntie Bush]

4. Talk about FLIP-FLOPPING!

How can the Rethugs believe anything he ever says? He also changed his tune on Gay marriage. I can't imagine him ever getting nominated.

[benEzra]

5. He's clueless...

support for the "assault weapon" bait-and-switch (e.g., outlawing civilian rifles with handgrips that stick out, defensive shotguns, full-sized handguns, etc.) would trump any mealy-mouthed support for "hunters" and "sportsmen," since only 1 in 5 gun owners is a hunter.

And waffling on the "Brady Bill"--I'm assuming the reporter meant the mandatory point-of-sale background check, as the original Brady waiting period/optional check has been superseded by NICS for years--is silly; even the NRA supports background checks.

Romney is obviously weathervaning, but it's equally obvious that he doesn't even begin to understand the issue.





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Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What? (written in '04, largely vindicated in '06, IMO)