Fox News Sunday, "Choosing the President" interviews: on Gun Control


Fred Thompson: NYC doesn’t have same values as America on gun control

Q: Rudy Giuliani said, “Fred has no record to talk about. I have a good record to talk about. And if he had no record at all, he’d want to attack somebody else’s record.”

A: I think Rudy was kind of squealing before he got stuck there. Somebody asked me a question about gun control, and I said Rudy was mayor of New York and apparently felt like gun control was a great idea back then. He says it was because he was representing NYC. But I don’t think New York City has necessarily the same values as the rest of America. And that’s in reaction to that. My experience has had to do with matters on the national level. I was on the Intelligence Committee. I chaired a committee dealing with nuclear proliferation. I was Republican floor leader for the homeland security bill. I could go on and on and on. I’ve dealt with those issues for almost a decade both in and out of government. And of course, Rudy has not, you know, five minutes of experience with regard to things of those nature.

Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews Nov 25, 2007

Mike Huckabee: Second Amendment is about freedom, not about hunting

Q: You introduced yourself to New Hampshire voters this way, “Here’s a guy who didn’t just read the latest issue of NRA Magazine and decide he’s going to be for the Second Amendment.”

A: Voters want someone whose views on the Second Amendment understand that the basic issue is one of freedom and it’s not hunting.

Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews Aug 26, 2007

Rudy Giuliani: 2nd Amendment gives people the individual right to bear arms

I’m a strict constructionist, or I try to be. The Second Amendment is about as clear as it can be. It gives people the individual right to bear arms. I agree with that. I think that is a correct interpretation. That means that any restrictions have to be reasonable. And those restrictions largely have to do with criminal background, background of mental illness, and they should basically be done on the state-by-state level. And that’s the guidelines that I would use in dealing with it as president.
Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews May 14, 2007

Rudy Giuliani: Supported nationwide licensing & assault weapons ban

Q: One of the raps against you is that as mayor you did things that pleased your city but that weren’t necessarily good for the nation. Case in point: Gun control. You now say that what works in New York doesn’t necessarily work in Montana. But as mayor, you supported the nationwide Clinton assault weapons ban. You supported nationwide federal licensing. And you actually joined a lawsuit to make gun manufacturers liable if someone used their gun to shoot somebody.

A: I did everything I could as mayor o New York City to reduce crime. And the strategy against guns, both civil and criminal, was very aggressive.

Q: But that wasn’t just tough in New York City, it was tough around the nation.

A: But so was the strategy I utilized in New York City on everything. I was criticized for being too aggressive about the enforcement of the laws, including the gun laws. But the reality is I began with the city that was the crime capital of America. When I left, it was the safest large city in America.

Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews May 14, 2007

Rudy Giuliani: Things you do in NY about guns may be different than TX

Q: As mayor, you supported the nationwide Clinton assault weapons ban, & you supported nationwide federal licensing.

A: The quote that I have from the time I was mayor is that the conditions in New York and the things you do in New York about guns may be different than Texas. And the reality is I’ve always looked at it that way.

Q: But at the time you said, in fact, that weak gun laws in other states might actually end up producing guns on the streets of New York, so you needed nationwide laws.

Q: What we were doing was using civil remedies to try to help New York, as well as using criminal remedies to help New York. The reality is as mayor of New York, I looked to do all the things that I could do to protect the people of my city.

Q: And as president?

A: As president, my interest is going to be how to protect the people of the United States of America. When I take that oath of office, it’ll be real clear to me who the people I have to protect are.

Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews May 14, 2007

Fred Thompson: Having handguns in your home is a Constitutional right

Q: Let’s do a lightning round to see where you stand. Gun control.

A: Well, I’m against gun control generally. You know, you check my record. You’ll find I’m pretty consistent on that issue.

Q: So you’d be perfectly happy to have people have handguns in their homes?

A: Yes. Absolutely. The court basically said the Constitution means what it says, and I agree with that.

Source: Fox News Sunday: 2007 “Choosing the President” interviews Mar 11, 2007

  • The above quotations are from Chris Wallace presidential candidate interview series, "Choosing the President", on Fox News Sunday, throughout 2007.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Gun Control.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Fred Thompson on Gun Control.
  • Click here for more quotes by Mike Huckabee on Gun Control.
2016 Presidential contenders on Gun Control:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman