Sarah Palin on Gun Control Republican Governor (AK); 2008 nominee for Vice President

Supports Constitutional right to bear arms

Supports ending D.C.'s 32-year-old ban on handguns

"This decision is a victory for all Alaskans and individual Americans. The right to own guns and use them responsibly is something I and many other Alaskans cherish," Governor Palin said. "I applaud the Court for standing up for the Constitution and the right of Americans to keep and bear arms."

The state of Alaska in February joined a multi-state amicus brief written by the state of Texas in support of the Second Amendment right of individual Americans to bear arms.

Lifelong NRA member & champion of right to bear arms

Governor Palin, a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, has long been a champion of the constitutional right to bear arms, as well as a proponent of gun safety programs for Alaska's youth.

"I am proud to join the State of Texas in support of the Second Amendment," Governor Palin said. "We need to send a strong message that law-abiding citizens have a right to own firearms, for personal protection, for hunting and for any other lawful purpose."

Hunts and fishes, as did her father

Though indisputably Alaskan, she rose to prominence by bucking the state's rigid Republican hierarchy, impressing voters more with gumption, warmth and charm than an established record in government.

Hunts as much as she can; freezer-full of wild game

Shot her first rabbit at age 10; freezer filled with game

In both summer and winter, most of the family's activitie took place outdoors. Sarah said that she appreciates the many outdoor adventures she had as a child. Fitness was a big part of family life. "My parents jumped on the bandwagon of the '70s running craze," she said. The whole family ran together, competing in five- and ten-kilometer races throughout the summer.

When the family wasn't running or hiking, it was hunting or fishing. "We could literally go hunting out our back door," [Sarah's brother] Chuck Jr. said. Sarah shot her first rabbit at age ten not far from the back porch. In her teens, she hunted caribou with her father. The family's freezer was always full of fish and game. Chuck Jr. said he didn't eat a beef steak until he was a senior in high school. Gardening helped fill the family larder.

Plenty of room for all animals--next to mashed potatoes

In our northern state, with some communities located hundreds of miles from big grocery stores, Alaskans have for generations lived on local, organic protein sources. Anti-hunting groups are clueless about this. It always puzzled me how some of the people who think killing and eating animals in the wild is somehow cruel have no problem buying dead animals at the grocery store, wrapped in cellophane instead of fur.

Hunting provides organic protein sources

As governor, though, hunting WAS an issue. I would face pressure from Hollywood to halt hunting, ban guns, and end our state's wildlife management practices, such as controlling predators. I said no to all of that nonsense: gun bans would destroy the Second Amendment, and as a lifelong member of the NRA (Alaska has the highest NRA membership per capita in the nation)

I had plenty of backup when telling Hollywood liberals what I thought of their asinine plans to ban guns. And we HAD to control predators, such as wolves, that were decimating the moose and caribou herds that feed our communities.

Post-Gifford shooting: don't blame GOP & don't restrict guns

Asked if she would support efforts to restrict semiautomatic weapons or multi-bullet clips, like the clips used in the Tucson shooting, Palin responded, "There are already on the books many gun control measures and I do support those that are on the books. I do not support taking away more freedom from the good guy. The people who have no intention of using that weapon to harm another person so, no additional gun control measures could be supported." She added, "Prayers should continue for the full recovery of Gabby Giffords and others who were involved."

Open carry in city library and city hall

1996: Allow concealed carry in bars, banks, & schools

The proposed changes to the state's gun laws would allow the carrying of concealed weapons in bars and banks and on school grounds--they were already permitted everywhere else. [Sarah's opponent Mayor] Stein said, "It simply wasn't a municipal issue. The state legislature would decide that, and it didn't matter how the police chief or I felt about it."

But it mattered to Sarah and her supporters. She accused Stein, a longtime member of the National Rifle Association, and the police chief, a Vietnam vet, of being "anti-gun." In Alaska--especially in Wasilla's Mat-Su Valley--this was a more serious charge than pederasty.

Gun laws just take away the good guys' freedom

And background checks, yeah, I guess to learn more about the person's thinking and associations and intentions. More background checks? Dandy idea Mr. President--should have started with yours.

Liberals act like arming for self-protection is sinful

Liberals often act as though it's sinful to arm oneself for protection, which is why, despite our Second Amendment right to bear arms, they push relentlessly for evermore restrictions on gun ownership.

We've seen that Jesus ordered his disciples to arm themselves with swords. Most Americans know this in their hearts, in their bones; they know that self defense is a natural right. Don't let confused liberals tell you otherwise.