Sunday Political Talk Show interviews during 2015: on Gun Control
Chris Christie:
Gun restrictions based on terror watchlists is a state issue
Q: In the wake of the Paris attacks, Democrats are arguing that if someone is on a terror watch list or a no- fly list, they shouldn't be able to buy a gun. According to the Government Accountability Office, over the past decade, suspected terrorists
exploited a loophole more than 2,000 times. As governor, you signed legislation to close the loophole in New Jersey. Do you support Dianne Feinstein's legislation to do this nationwide? CHRISTIE: I think these are state-by-state determinations.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Nov 22, 2015
Donald Trump:
Keep enemies of the state away from guns
Q: You've talked about wanting to keep the terror watch list but, under current law, individuals on the terror watch list and the no-fly list have been allowed to buy guns and explosives. Are you OK with that?
TRUMP: We have to have a watch list, but we have the laws already on the books as far as Second Amendment for guns, if people are on a watch list or people are sick, this is already covered in the legislation that we already have,
Q: But under current law people on the watch list are allowed to buy guns.
TRUMP: If somebody is on a watch list and an enemy of state and we know it's an enemy of state, I would keep them away, absolutely.
Source: ABC This Week 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Nov 22, 2015
John Kasich:
Registering mentally ill is first priority in gun control
Q: Bill Bratton, New York City Police Commissioner, says he wants Congress to ban the ability of anybody on a terrorist watch list to buy a firearm, even if they're an American citizen. It's a proposal that's sitting in Congress.
The N.R.A.'s not happy with it, where are you on it?KASICH: I've never heard it until right now. I have a lot of respect for Bill Bratton, but I will also tell you that Americans want to defend themselves.
And that what we really need to focus on firearms right now is making sure that states use their databases to upload the people who have mental illnesses.
And if we want to examine people who are on terrorist watch lists and not let them buy a gun, it's something that ought to be considered. It's the first I've ever heard of it.
Source: Meet the Press 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Nov 22, 2015
Martin O`Malley:
Time to work together to crack down on gun manufacturers
I firmly believe that the Democratic Party needs to come together and continue the ongoing crack down on gun manufacturers. And I ask that my opponents, Senator Sanders and former
Senator Clinton, to stand with me on this issue. We are fighting for something worth saving. The American Dream is worth saving. It is time to stand up. It is time to join the fight. I am in this to win this.
Source: ABC News on 2015 presidential Democratic hopefuls in Iowa
Oct 25, 2015
Ted Cruz:
Obama is coming for our guns
Friend, I own guns. I'm planning on keeping them.But there's a problem: Obama is coming for our guns. You see: Obama's aides have alerted the press that if Congress won't cooperate--
Obama will use executive actions to, "keep guns out of the hands of criminals and others who shouldn't have access to them," it reads. By "others who shouldn't have...them," Obama means you and me.
Source: Washington Post 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 16, 2015
Lincoln Chafee:
Common-ground, commonsense safety legislation
I have a good record of voting for gun commonsense safety legislation, but despite these tragedies that happen time and time again, when legislators step up to pass commonsense gun safety legislation, the gun lobby moves in and tells the people
they're coming to take away your guns. And, they're successful at it. I would bring the gun lobby in and say we've got to change this. Where can we find common ground? We believe in the Second Amendment, but let's find common ground.
Source: Washington Post 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 13, 2015
Hillary Clinton:
Sensible restraints on manufacturer liability & online sales
I will push hard to get more sensible restraints. I want to work with Congress, but I will also look at ways as president. We must expand background checks for gun shows and online sales, and close the current loophole that negates the need for
a background check after a 3-day waiting period. I will also repeal legislation that shields gun manufacturers, distributors and dealers from liability suits, even in cases of mass shootings.
Source: Fox News 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 5, 2015
Lawrence Lessig:
Keep machine guns away from the sorts who massacre kids
America needs sane gun laws that keep machine guns away from the sorts who would massacre school children. But unlike Clinton and Sanders and O'Malley, I'm willing to tell America the truth about these urgent and important needs.
That truth is this: The policies that these politicians are pushing are fantasies. Not because we can't afford them. If we can afford a trillion dollar war that has only made America less safe, we can afford a real social security system.
Source: Politico Magazine 2015 article by 2016 presidential hopeful
Oct 1, 2015
Donald Trump:
Protect the Second Amendment, but address mental health
Q: You recently released a plan cast as protecting the Second Amendment, but you have also said that you think more needs to be done on the issue of mental health when it comes to people who are disturbed getting guns. Do you support the
California law allowing judges to confiscate someone's gun if they are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others?A: This is something to look into--people with mental health problems are on the streets who shouldn't be.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Sep 20, 2015
Bernie Sanders:
Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole
Q: Your Democratic rivals have been arguing that, when it comes to guns, you are out of step with liberal and progressive primary voters on the issue of gun control. One said that your gun votes had been driven by "political expediency," and that this is
a dividing line between you and Hillary Clinton. Your response?SANDERS: I have, as I understand it, a lifetime voting record from the NRA of D-minus. I voted very strongly for instant background checks.
I want to see them made stronger, probably the most important thing that we can do. Number two, I voted in a state which has almost no gun control, not an easy vote--I voted against the NRA, and I voted to ban certain types of semiautomatic weapons.
I voted to eliminate this gun show loophole which allows people to purchase guns without a background check. And, by the way, in addition to that, what I believe is, we need to do a lot, lot better job in terms of mental health in this country.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Aug 30, 2015
Chris Christie:
Vetoed gun laws that were not about public safety
I'm a law enforcement guy, and so I always believe in making sure that public safety comes first. But much of what I have seen over the last six years in the gun area has not been about public safety. It's been about grandstanding by politicians.
And that's why I vetoed the .50 caliber rifle. That's why I vetoed a reduction in the magazine capacity from 15 to 10. That's why I vetoed a statewide I.D. card for gun owners.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Aug 2, 2015
John Kasich:
2nd Amendment advocate: NRA rating changed from "F" to "A"
Q: Let me pick up on another issue that some conservatives have with you. Back in 1994, you voted for the assault weapons ban that Bill Clinton was proposing, which earned you an "F" from NRA. Now, your NRA rating is a straight "A".
What would you say to a gun rights advocate who is going to say I'm not sure I like the guy who at one time had an "F" from the NRA?KASICH: That was an assault weapon ban. I'm a Second Amendment advocate. I don't believe the government should
be taking guns from people. I think people have a right to be armed. It's about keeping the Second Amendment and it's allowing legitimate gun owners to be able to do what they want, which is exercise their constitutional right. So people don't need to
worry about that.
Q: Do you regret your vote for the assault weapons ban in '94?
KASICH: No, when I look at it now, it was superfluous. We were adding a law that had no impact. And I don't think that's ever smart to do.
Source: Fox News Sunday 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Aug 2, 2015
Bernie Sanders:
Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable
Q: What about gun control?SANDERS: As a nation, we can't continue screaming at each other; we've got to find common ground.
Q: Well, what is that?
SANDERS: For a start, universal instant background checks. Nobody should have a gun who has a
criminal background, who's involved in domestic abuse situations, people should not have guns who are going to hurt other people, who are unstable.
Q: In the situation in Louisiana, instant background checks didn't catch what was necessary. Instant
background checks lead to more speed & more mistakes. Don't you need longer waiting periods?
SANDERS: Well, what we need to do is, whatever we need, is a system that works. Bottom line is, I hope that nobody in America disagrees that people, as in the
case of the shooter in Louisiana, who has a history of mental instability, should not be having guns. People who have criminal backgrounds, people who are abusing wives, should not be having guns. That is the issue that I think we can bring people around
Source: Meet the Press 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 26, 2015
Donald Trump:
Take guns from good people & bad people have target practice
Q: [With regards to a shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana] we have another case of someone with well-established mental health problems somehow able to legally buy a gun. What do you think needs to be done to stop this?A: These are sick people.
This has nothing to do with guns, this has to do with the mentality of these people. I'm a big Second Amendment person. I believe in it so strongly, and if you take the guns away from the good people, and the bad ones are going to have target practice.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 26, 2015
Rick Perry:
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
George Pataki:
Do a better job of enforcing federal gun laws
First of all, mental health is a critical component. We have to do more to expand mental health counseling, mental health preventative services. The second thing with federal gun laws, is that we need to do a
better job of enforcing them. It is illegal to bring a gun across state lines, and yet it happens all the time, and I don't understand why the federal government is not doing far more to prevent that.
Source: TheSkimm.com 2015 coverage of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 8, 2015
Bernie Sanders:
Guns in Vermont are for hunting; but in L.A. are for killing
Q: The parents of one of the 12 innocent people killed during the Aurora movie theater shooting, sued to hold ammunition sellers liable for the attack, but their lawsuit was dismissed. And one of the reasons was a law that you voted for which protects
manufacturers of ammunition from being sued. Why did you vote that way?SANDERS: We have been yelling and screaming at each other about guns for decades, with very little success. I come from a state that has virtually no gun control.
But the people of my state understand, I think, pretty clearly, that guns in Vermont are not the same thing as guns in Chicago or guns in Los Angeles. In our state, guns are used for hunting. In Chicago, they're used for kids in gangs killing other
kids or people shooting at police officers, shooting down innocent people. We need a sensible debate about gun control which overcomes the cultural divide that exists in this country. And I think I can play an important role in this.
Source: CNN SOTU 2015 interview series: 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jul 5, 2015
Bernie Sanders:
Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans
Q: Recently you've been criticized as not being truly progressive when it comes to gun control. What's your response to that?SANDERS: Well, I think the people of Vermont know differently. They know in every single race that I have run,
with the exception of one, the NRA and other gun lobbyists supported my opponent.
I voted for banning assault weapons, doing away with the gun show loophole and fighting for instant background checks so that we make sure that guns do not fall in the hands of those people who should not have it. So, I have a strong record.
But what we need to do is bridge this cultural divide between rural America and urban America and come up with some common sense legislation that accommodates everybody. What we really need is a national dialogue.
Source: ABC This Week 2015 interviews of 2016 presidential hopefuls
Jun 28, 2015
Jeb Bush:
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
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021