Sunday Political Talk Show interviews during 2013-2015: on Gun Control

Evan McMullin: Don't ban people on "no-fly list" from purchasing guns

Evan McMullin's answer: No

Mike Pence's answer: No

Tim Kaine's answer: Yes

Q: Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?

Evan McMullin's answer: No, it is unconstitutional to deny someone's rights without due process

Mike Pence has not answered this question yet.

Tim Kaine's answer: Yes

Tim Kaine: More restrictions gun purchases, including no-fly list

Tim Kaine's answer: Yes

Mike Pence's answer: No

Evan McMullin's answer: No

Q: Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?

Tim Kaine's answer: Yes

Mike Pence has not answered this question yet.

Evan McMullin's answer: No, it is unconstitutional to deny someone's rights without due process

Evan McMullin: Opposes further restrictions on gun purchases

Evan McMullin: No

Donald Trump: Buying lots of ammunition & body armor should be a red flag

TRUMP: Well, we have to report. The big thing that we're missing here is that people have to report when they see somebody. This man was pretty much unhinged. It was the gun store that did report him when he went in to buy all sorts of body armor and other things. They reported him to law enforcement, and, very sadly, nothing was done. It could have been prevented.

Q: But, in this case, he was investigated twice by the FBI, was taken off a list. There was no red flag.

TRUMP: Well, there were red flags, I mean, because when he walked in to buy all sorts of ammunition and body armor.

Q: Should somebody who goes in to buy that much ammunition get extra scrutiny?

TRUMP: Well, it depends. But [in this case the report], unfortunately, wasn't followed up.

Gary Johnson: Carrying guns reduces crime and mass shootings

Gary Johnson: Discuss keeping guns away from mentally ill

Gary Johnson: Against denying guns to people on government no-fly list

His campaign pointed to a recent blog post by the ACLU titled, "Until the No Fly List is Fixed, It Shouldn't Be Used To Restrict People's Freedoms." The ACLU is currently in a legal challenge against the no fly list. They say it is "unconstitutionally vague, and innocent people are blacklisted without a fair process to correct government error."

President Obama and Hillary Clinton have come out in favor of barring people from the no fly list and terror watch list from purchasing weapons. Donald Trump said that he is going to meet with the NRA to discuss these proposals.

David French: Don't rewrite the meaning of the Second Amendment

"The next Supreme Court justice will hold the balance of power in the next Second Amendment case, a case that could either reaffirm the textual, historical, and philosophical meaning of the Second Amendment, or rewrite history and undermine a fundamental right of a free people. Any judicial ruling that rejects an individual right to keep and bear arms would permit any future liberal majorities in Congress to pass draconian gun-control bills, including potential confiscation of weapons."--April 13

Bill Weld: Now Libertarian, changed position to opposing gun control

Bill Weld: 2nd Amendment right s are individual rights

Chris Christie: Gun restrictions based on terror watchlists is a state issue

CHRISTIE: I think these are state-by-state determinations.

Donald Trump: Keep enemies of the state away from guns

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.

John Kasich: Registering mentally ill is first priority in gun control

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.

Donald Trump: 1998: Against gun laws; only bad guys would have guns

TRUMP: If you could tell me that the bad guys, the criminals, wouldn't have guns, I'd be a hundred percent for gun control. But the fact is, if you have gun control, the only people that are going to obey the laws, are going to be the good guys. So the bad guys are going to have the guns, the good guys aren't going to have the guns, and what good does that do us? So, I'm not in favor of it.

Ted Cruz: Obama is coming for our guns

James Webb: Let military carry guns without official permission

Lincoln Chafee: Common-ground, commonsense safety legislation

Martin O`Malley: For national firearms registry, expanded background checks

Hillary Clinton: Sensible restraints on manufacturer liability & online sales

Lawrence Lessig: Keep machine guns away from the sorts who massacre kids

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.

Donald Trump: Protect the Second Amendment, but address mental health

A: This is something to look into--people with mental health problems are on the streets who shouldn't be.

Bernie Sanders: Ban semiautomatic guns & gun show loophole

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.

Chris Christie: Vetoed gun laws that were not about public safety

John Kasich: 2nd Amendment advocate: NRA rating changed from "F" to "A"

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.

Bernie Sanders: Instant background checks: no guns for criminals or unstable

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

Donald Trump: Take guns from good people & bad people have target practice

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.

Rick Perry: Laws are in place; it's enforcement that's lacking

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.

George Pataki: Do a better job of enforcing federal gun laws

Bernie Sanders: Guns in Vermont are for hunting; but in L.A. are for killing

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.

Bernie Sanders: Gun legislation must work for both rural & urban Americans

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.

Jeb Bush: Reduce gun violence and protect 2nd Amendment

Bernie Sanders: OpEd: pro-gun votes in line with VT's political norms

Gun control advocates see Clinton as "an ally who can finish the push for tightened background checks that has stalled in President Obama's second term," The Hill reports.

George Pataki: Signed New York state's strict gun control legislation

Rick Perry is an NRA supporter and Second Amendment advocate who, as governor of Texas, tried to lure gun manufacturers to the state. Rand Paul is an ardent defender of the Second Amendment. Donald Trump believes guns are necessary for self-defense.

Hillary Clinton: Gun control advocates see Clinton as an ally

According to Rhode Island Public Radio, as governor, Chafee supported 2013 legislation that would have banned semi-automatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. (That legislation was watered down significantly before it passed the legislature.)

Jeb Bush: Signed first-in-the-nation Stand-Your-Ground law

Lincoln Chafee: 2013: Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines

Gun control advocates see Clinton as "an ally who can finish the push for tightened background checks that has stalled in President Obama's second term," The Hill reports.

Martin O`Malley: A critic of the National Rifle Association

Rick Perry: Tried to lure gun manufacturers to Texas

Ted Cruz: 2nd Amendment is ultimate check against government tyranny

[Other Republicans assert similar sentiments]: Rick Santorum has said, "The Second Amendment is there to protect the First Amendment!" Rand Paul is an ardent defender of the Second Amendment. Rick Perry is an NRA supporter and Second Amendment advocate

Ajamu Baraka: Race-motivated mass shootings aren't about gun control

Then, the state and corporate media followed-up this framing with a fascinating sleight-of-hand stunt: instead of focusing on the domestic security threat posed by violent, racist right-wing extremists groups in the country, the old trope of gun control--along with a new twist, removing the Confederate flag--became the new focus! The implication was that by removing the Confederate battle flag, that would somehow move the country towards racial reconciliation, much like electing a black president was supposed to do.

Marco Rubio: Has a concealed weapon permit, but does not carry a weapon

RUBIO: I do not, but I have a concealed weapon permit. I don't [carry] because I spend most of my time in airports and in the Capitol where you're not allowed to necessarily carry those around. But let me say this to you: all Americans have a right to that--all Americans have a Second-Amendment right to buy a firearm, to possess one for both self-defense and for sport. And we should be very careful about anything that infringes on that. Now, if someone has an effective way to protect that right and to prevent criminals from getting access to weapons, certainly I think everyone is open to that.

Marco Rubio: New gun laws are ineffective, so don't pass them

RUBIO: My position on guns is pretty clear. I believe law-abiding people have a fundamental constitutional right to bear arms. And I believe criminals and dangerous people should not have access to guns. There are laws that protect those two things--but many of these [additional] gun laws are ineffective. They don't do those things. They either infringe on the rights of law-abiding people and do nothing to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. And I'm troubled this debate is about guns. It should be about violence. Violence is the problem, guns are what they're using. We are missing a golden opportunity to have an open, honest and serious conversation about these horrific violent acts, because everyone's focused on passing these laws that have proven ineffective.

Mike Bloomberg: 80% of NRA members support background checks

[Video] BLOOMBERG: The NRA's power is so vastly overrated. The public want to stop this carnage. And if 20 kids isn't enough to convince them, I don't know what would.[End]

Q: Do you fear that the moment that was created by Newtown has been lost?

BLOOMBERG: It would be a great tragedy if it is lost. I am cautiously optimistic. You have an issue where 90% of the public, 80% of NRA members even, say that they think we should have reasonable checks before people are allowed to buy guns--they all support the 2nd Amendment, as do I. But we have to stop the carnage.

Do you think the assault weapons ban is going to pass?

BLOOMBERG: We've been fighting since 2007 to get a vote. And if we were to [pass] background checks only, it wouldn't be as good as if we got both, but we're going to get the vote for sure on assault weapons.

Mike Bloomberg: Background checks do work, and should be highest priority

BLOOMBERG: The truth of the matter is only about 400 people a year get killed with assault weapons or high-capacity magazines. That is 400 too many, but you compare that to handguns, pistols, this year, are going to kill 12,000 Americans. There are 14 states that have background checks required for all sales. 14 states have closed the federal loophole, and in those 14 states the suicide rate is half the national average and the number of women that get killed in domestic violence is 40% less than in other states. So background checks do work.

Q: Why is it so hard to get the Congress to do it?

BLOOMBERG: Because, up until now, it has only been the NRA that has been talking about guns to the public & to Congress. And I'm trying to level the playing field and bring out the facts. The truth of the matter is the NRA itself, a few years ago, was in favor of background checks.

Rick Perry: Don't use school shootings to push gun control agenda

According to Perry, Vice President Biden's recommendations on gun control in the wake of the Connecticut school shootings "have nothing to do with what happened" at Sandy Hook Elementary. Moreover, Obama's "executive actions" betray "a pre-existing political agenda" that is markedly anti-gun.

Wrote Perry: "The piling on the by the political left and their cohorts in the media, to use the massacre of little children to advance a pre-existing political agenda that would not have saved those children, disgusts me, personally. The Second Amendment to the Constitution is a basic right and cannot nor will not be abridged by the executive power of this or any other president."