| As the presidency of George W. Bush draws to a | | | | stated that the anti-gun control policies of many |
| close, the candidates to fill his position are being | | | | Republicans are "terrible for states and cities...terrible |
| examined ever more closely as Election Day draws | | | | for America." Giuliani put some blame on lax gun laws |
| nearer. One major issue for hunters, sportsmen, law | | | | for a shooting that occurred from atop the Empire |
| enforcement, and just about everyone on some | | | | State Building in 1997, saying "It should be as difficult |
| level, is the issue of gun control and 2nd Amendment | | | | to get a gun in Florida as it is in New York City." He |
| rights. The common wisdom is that the more liberal | | | | criticized southern states for their permissive gun sale |
| the candidate, the more he or she will be for stricter | | | | laws. He has also intimated that urban settings should |
| gun control, whereas the more conservative, the | | | | have stricter gun laws than rural or suburban; while |
| more for gun ownership rights. Below is a look at | | | | he felt tough laws were needed in New York City, "in |
| some of the front runners and the stances they | | | | another place, more rural, more suburban...you have a |
| have taken on the issue. | | | | different set of rules." As a Republican presidential |
| Barack Obama, the Illinois senator, has a consistent | | | | candidate in 2007, he has moved away somewhat |
| record of working to increase restrictions on firearms. | | | | from his tough gun control stance, saying that states |
| He supports banning the sale or transfer of all forms | | | | and cities should be allowed to make their own gun |
| of semi-automatic weapons. He is also in favor of | | | | legislation locally. |
| increasing state restrictions on the purchase and | | | | Mitt Romney has stated his support for 2nd |
| possession of firearms, and believes manufacturers | | | | Amendment rights, but also supports an assault |
| should provide child-safety locks with all firearms. He | | | | weapon ban. He supports the five-day waiting period |
| also voted no on a bill that would have prohibited | | | | for handgun purchase outlined in the Brady law. He is |
| lawsuits against gun manufacturers (the bill would | | | | a member of the NRA, but has stated that he does |
| have still allowed lawsuits for such things as defective | | | | not "see eye to eye with the NRA on every issue." |
| products). | | | | In an interview with Tim Russert, he stated that he |
| Hillary Clinton attributes lower crime rates and gun | | | | had the NRA's support in his campaign for governor, |
| violence in the 1990's to a combination of policies | | | | and would like to have it again now. He also supports |
| putting more police in communities and removing | | | | background checks for weapons purchases. |
| assault weapons from the streets. She has | | | | Candidate Mike Huckabee has stated that his position |
| supported waiting periods for buying handguns, and | | | | on the 2nd Amendment is as clear for him as most |
| also voted no on the bill prohibiting lawsuits against | | | | journalists' towards the 1st Amendment. He describes |
| gun manufacturers. She supported legislation that | | | | himself as a hunter and sportsman and said that he |
| would have required anyone purchasing a gun to | | | | proudly owns a variety of firearms. He supports laws |
| obtain a "gun license", a state-issued photo | | | | that allow individuals to use necessary force to |
| identification. She spoke in favor of a national registry | | | | protect their homes, and for self-defense. He is in |
| to record every new handgun sale and transfer. In | | | | favor of allowing "conceal and carry" and has said he |
| 2000 she was quoted as saying, "I realize the NRA | | | | has a permit to carry a concealed weapon himself. |
| (National Rifle Association) is a formidable political | | | | Making an informed decision at the voting booth can |
| group, but I believe the American people are ready | | | | be challenging, with all the competing sources of |
| to come together as a nation and do whatever it | | | | information in the media and Internet. When |
| takes to keep guns away from people who shouldn't | | | | researching a candidate on this and other issues, it's |
| have them." | | | | always wise to look for information from a variety of |
| In 1995, Rudy Giuliani appeared on the Charlie Rose | | | | sources to get the best picture. |
| show and compared the NRA with "extremists". He | | | | |