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Ron Paul on Gun Control
Paul adopted the Republican Liberty Caucus Position Statement: As adopted by the General Membership of the Republican Liberty Caucus at its Biannual Meeting held December 8, 2000. WHEREAS libertarian Republicans believe in limited government, individual freedom and personal responsibility; * WHEREAS we believe that government has no money nor power not derived from the consent of the people; * WHEREAS we believe that people have the right to keep the fruits of their labor; and * WHEREAS we believe in upholding the US Constitution as the supreme law of the land; 1. BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Liberty Caucus endorses the following [among its] principles:Every American has the right to keep and bear arms. We affirm our support for the second amendment of the US Constitution. 2. All people, regardless of position in the public or private sector, should be held equally accountable under the law. 3. The *only* litmus test for Supreme Court or other judges should be their determination to accurately interpret, not amend, the Constitution. Judges have *no* authority to make new law.
Republican Liberty Caucus Position Statement 00-RLC6 on Dec 8, 2000
Paul scores an A by NRA on pro-gun rights policies While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs. While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs. The following ratings are based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).
NRA website 02n-NRA on Dec 31, 2003
Indicate which principles you support concerning gun issues. - Ease procedures on the purchase and registration of firearms. - Repeal all bans and measures that restrict law-abiding citizens from owning legally-obtained firearms.
Congressional 1996 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1996
If elected President, Paul will veto ANY piece of legislation abridging our Constitutional Right to bear arms.
More importantly, however, the debate about certain types of weapons ignores the fundamental purpose of the Second amendment. The Second amendment is not about hunting deer or keeping a pistol in your nightstand. It is not about protecting oneself against common criminals. It is about preventing tyranny. The Founders knew that unarmed citizens would never be able to overthrow a tyrannical government as they did. They envisioned government as a servant, not a master, of the American people. The muskets they used against the British Army were the assault rifles of the time. It is practical, rather than alarmist, to understand that unarmed citizens cannot be secure in their freedoms. It is convenient for gun banners to dismiss this argument by saying "That could never happen here, this is America"--but history shows that only vigilant people can keep government under control. By banning certain weapons today, we may plant the seeds for tyranny to flourish ten, thirty, or fifty years from now.
If elected President, Paul will Veto ANY legislation banning semi-automatic firearms
Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. Vote to pass a bill requiring anyone who purchases a gun at a gun show to go through an instant background check which must be completed within 24 hours [instead of 72 hours].
Bill introduced by McCollum, R-FL; Bill HR 2122 ; vote number 1999-244 on Jun 18, 1999
Paul Introduced legislation to REPEAL the 1993 National "Instant Background Check" Gun Owner Registration Bill