Rick Perry in CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2015

On Gun Control: Laws are in place; it's enforcement that's lacking

Q: I know you oppose greater restrictions on gun control. But what more can the government be doing to make sure that guns are not falling into the hands of people with obvious mental and emotional problems?

A: I think we have the laws in place; enforcement of those laws is what seems to be lacking. We see individuals who were obviously mentally impacted. These were individuals who I think that somewhere, somebody didn't do their job in the standpoint of enforcing the laws that are only on the book. I will suggest to you that these concepts of gun free zones are a bad idea. I think that you allow the citizens of this country, who have been appropriately trained, appropriately backgrounded, know how to handle and use firearms to carry them.

Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls Jul 26, 2015

On War & Peace: Coalition against ISIS but include US troops

Q: You have called for boots on the ground to fight ISIS. How does your service--you flew jets in the Middle East--how does it shape your attitudes when it comes to deploying troops abroad?

A: I know the cost of war. I know I've seen it on the face of these young warriors and on their families. And before we ever send our young men and women into combat, we need to use every tool that we have.

Q: Do you think we've exhausted every measure possible before doing that [in Syria and Iraq to fight ISIS]?

A: I don't have all the intelligence. I would suggest we need a coalition of those Gulf States, of Saudi, of Jordan, of the Egyptians, the Turks, the Israelis--we cannot affect ISIS without having personnel on the ground in a direct combat role

Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls Jul 26, 2015

On Environment: Ethanol waiver in Texas but not in Iowa: let states decide

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry defended his decision to request a waiver that would exempt Texas from the federal mandate for the RFS [the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires corn-based ethanol]. If individual states want to require that ethanol be used in gasoline, that's fine, he said, but not the federal government: "I philosophically don't agree that Washington, D.C. needs to be making these decisions that affect our agriculture industry," Perry said. Source: CNN coverage by Ashley Killough, of 2015 Iowa Ag Summit Mar 7, 2015

The above quotations are from CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2015 (Candy Crowley interviewing candidates for 2015 and 2016 races). Click here for other excerpts from CNN "State of the Union" interviews during 2015 (Candy Crowley interviewing candidates for 2015 and 2016 races). Click here for other excerpts by Rick Perry. Click here for a profile of Rick Perry.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org! Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021