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Jeb Bush on Gun Control
Republican FL Governor; V.P. prospect
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Issue isn't law-abiding owners, but violence & mental health
Q: In light of the recent South Carolina shootings, what is the harm in tightening standards for not only who buys guns, but those who sell them?BUSH: We don't need to add new rules, we need to make sure the FBI does its job. Because that person [the
S.C. shooter] should not have passed a background check. The first impulse of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is to take rights away from law-abiding citizens. That's what they do, whether it's the San Bernardino attack or if it's these tragedies that
take place, I think we need to focus on what the bigger issue is. It isn't law-abiding gun owners. And that's what we should focus on is the violence in our communities. Target the efforts for people that are committing crimes with guns, and if you do
that, and get it right, you're going to be much better off than creating a political argument where there's a big divide. The other issue is mental health. That's a serious issue that we could work on. Republicans and Democrats alike believe this.
Source: Fox Business 2016 Republican 2-tier debate
, Jan 14, 2016
99.999% of people should be able to keep their guns
Hillary Clinton, after one of these horrific violent acts, said we need to have federal gun laws. President Obama almost always says the same thing. And the result is you're going to take away rights of law-abiding citizens, 99.999% of the people.
That's not the right approach. In Florida, we have a background check. We have concealed-weapon permit holders. We have a reduction in violent crime because we put people behind bars when they use a gun in the commission of the crime.
Source: 2015 Republican two-tiered primary debate on CNN
, Sep 16, 2015
Reduce gun violence and protect 2nd Amendment
Florida is a pro-gun state. Gun violence has dropped. There's a reason for it. We created a balance that's focused on lowering gun violence but protecting the Second Amendment, and it's a model for many other countries and many other states because of
that. These cases of people who are just mentally deranged--we as a society better figure out how we identify these folks long before they feel compelled to take up a gun and kill innocent people.
Source: CNN Politics 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
, Jun 27, 2015
Signed first-in-the-nation Stand-Your-Ground law
Bush "has a conservative record on gun rights, having signed Florida's first-in-the-nation 'Stand Your Ground' bill into law in 2005," reports Vox. Bush canceled a Charleston campaign event after news of the shooting broke. "Governor
Bush's thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families affected by this tragedy," a spokesperson said.
Source: Rolling Stone magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls
, Jun 18, 2015
Stand-your-ground bill: Deadly force OK when threatened
In 2005, the governor signed into law another piece of NRA legislation on the topic of gun control. The bill was written by the NRA and expanded the rights of Floridians to use deadly force when threatened in public places. This proposal, known as
the "stand your ground bill," expanded the rights of people to use guns or other deadly force to defend themselves without 1st trying to escape even in places outside their homes. The law stipulated that a person "has no duty to retreat and has the right
to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force."The bill was opposed by police chiefs in high crime areas like Miami and Broward County who claimed it would lead "drivers with road rage or drunken sports fans who get into
fights leaving ball games to assume that they had total immunity." The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence argued that it could be used to defend people who shoot in the emotional rage associated with domestic violence and other high-stress events.
Source: Aggressive Conservatism in Florida, by Robert Crew, p. 80
, Dec 11, 2009
Violent gun crime rate is down by more than 25%
Public safety has been protected, and convicted criminals will continue to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.
Over the last two years, the violent gun crime rate is down by more than 25 percent, translating into 18 fewer gun assaults each day in this state in 2000 compared to 1998.
Source: State of the State address to 2002 Florida Legislature
, Jan 22, 2002
Use a Gun and You’re Done
During the commission of a crime: - Pull a Gun-Mandatory 10 Years
- Pull the Trigger-Mandatory 20 Years
- Shoot Someone-25 Years to Life (whether they live or die)
New Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences for: - Three Time Convicted Violent Felons
- Drug Traffickers
- Aggravated Assaults/Batteries on Law Enforcement Officers or an Elderly Person
- Repeat Sexual Batterers
Source: Governor’s web site, www.MyFlorida.com, “Initiatives”
, Nov 7, 2001
Concealed carry OK; supports instant background check
Supports the following principles concerning guns: - Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
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Florida visitors should be permitted to carry concealed weapons if they have permits from other states.
- Bush says, “I support an instant background check for all guns purchased at a gun show.”
Source: 1998 Florida National Political Awareness Test
, Jul 2, 1998