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Tom Tancredo on Gun Control

The right to bear arms is part of the United States Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Exactly what this right means today is a debate that all the candidates have weighed in on from many different perspectives. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: restricting access to firearms, the assault rifles ban, and background checks on gun purchasers.

The issues

Tom Tancredo opposes restrictions on access to firearms

I fully and completely support the right of the people to keep and bear arms. The failure of the ACLU to defend this right, and of federal courts to make the second amendment binding on the states, as they have made the first amendment and most others, testifies to their intellectual hypocrisy.

Campaign website, www.teamtancredo.com, "Issues" Sep 1, 2007

Tancredo scores B+ 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 questionaire 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

Voted YES 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

Tom Tancredo opposes a ban on assault weapons

Tancredo has repeatedly supported congressional measures to exercise Congress' constitutional authority to overturn the D.C. gun ban, his votes also included helping to defeat measures to ban .50 caliber rifles, and to enact legislation allowing the suing of any federal official who confiscates a gun during a time of emergency.

link (article)

Tom Tancredo supports running background checks on individuals purchasing guns.

Voted YES 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