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Duncan Hunter on Gun Control

Republican Representative (CA-52)


Bearing arms is a tradition of the American soldier

Q: What is your opinion of gun control?

A: The right to keep and bear arms is an important element of community security, home security, and national security. I think it is a tradition of the American soldier. I will strongly enforce the Second Amendment as president of the United States.

Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida Nov 28, 2007

Let DC residents keep guns, then maybe ok to let them vote

Q: Do you support giving the District of Columbia voting representation?

A: You know, I might be a little more open to statehood for DC if they would allow their citizens to be able to keep and bear arms in their houses to protect their safety. And I offered that amendment a couple of years ago. It passed and when it passed, the Democrats brought down the entire crime bill rather than let DC residents have the right to keep and bear arms.

Source: 2007 GOP Presidential Forum at Morgan State University Sep 27, 2007

Criminals prefer unarmed victims

Regarding the Second Amendment: I thoroughly enjoy hunting, having just recently spent a great weekend hunting elk in Arizona. But, the Second Amendment is not about hunting. It is about the right of you and me to be secure in our homes. We must vigorously defend against all attempts to chip away at the Second Amendment. You know as well as I do that there is one thing criminals prefer over any other: unarmed victims.
Source: Campaign website, www.gohunter08.com, “Core Principles” Sep 1, 2007

Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers.

A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. A YES vote would:
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-534 on Oct 20, 2005

Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse.

Vote to pass a bill that would prohibit liability lawsuits from being brought against gun manufacturers and dealers based on the criminal misuse of firearms. The bill would also block these actions from being brought up against gun trade organizations and against ammunition makers and sellers. The measure would apply immediately to any pending cases. Several specific exceptions to the ban exist. This includes civil suits would be allowed against a maker or dealer who "knowingly and willfully violated" state or federal laws in the selling or marketing of a weapon. Design and manufacturing defect lawsuits are also permitted when weapons are "used as intended.
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill HR 1036 ; vote number 2003-124 on Apr 9, 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].
Reference: Bill introduced by McCollum, R-FL; Bill HR 2122 ; vote number 1999-244 on Jun 18, 1999

Rated A+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record.

Hunter scores 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 questionaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).

Source: NRA website 02n-NRA on Dec 31, 2003

Individual right to self-defense at home and as self-defense.

Hunter co-sponsored individual right to self-defense at home and as self-defense

Declares that a person not prohibited under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act from receiving a firearm shall have the right to obtain firearms for security and to use firearms in defense of:

  1. self or family against a reasonably perceived threat of imminent and unlawful infliction of serious bodily injury;
  2. self or family in the course of the commission by another person of a violent felony against the person or a member of the person's family; and
  3. the person's home in the course of the commission of a felony by another person.
Source: Citizens' Self-Defense Act (H.R.347) 1999-H347 on Jan 19, 1999

Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC.

Hunter co-sponsored banning gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC