Cain tops GOP polls; Where does he stand on 2A?

[plblark]

http://gunowners.org/a09302011.htm

Cain is one of a few Republican hopefuls who have taken a strong stand on issues that are important to political conservatives. But where does he stand on the Second Amendment?

Some of the top contenders (such as Rick Perry and Ron Paul) have pro-gun records to run on. Others (such as Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich) have very mixed or anti-gun records in their haunted past. But Cain has no legislative record. We have no history in public office by which to judge him -- which is why it’s so important that GOA gets an answer back from him on GOA’s Presidential Survey.

Otherwise, we only have bits and pieces of speeches and interviews that Cain has engaged in. And while those statements help somewhat, they also raise more questions than they answer. [...]

While I occasionally have some issues with GOA when they stray from gun issues to partisan issues, I think their call to action is right on:

ACTION: Please contact the Cain campaign and urge him to return GOA’s Presidential Survey. You can contact Herman Cain by cutting-and-pasting the message below after going to his contact page here: http://www.hermancain.com/contact-us

----- Pre-written letter to Herman Cain -----

Dear Mr. Cain:

Congratulations on your rise to the top of the Republican field. According to Zogby, you now lead in the polls.

I know that you have taken some strong constitutional stands in general. However, I would like to know where you stand on the Second Amendment in particular. I know that you have made some positive statements on firearms, but there have been other comments which have caused concern.

Gun Owners of America tells me they have sent you a Presidential Survey, but that you have not yet returned it. Their survey asks about issues that are very important to me including concealed carry recognition, the renewal of the semi-auto ban and repealing gun restrictions (like the Brady law and various import bans).

Would you please return GOA’s Presidential Survey? I look forward to hearing from them that they have your questionnaire in hand.

Sincerely,

[nyffman]

I read the transcript of an interview where he appeared to try sidestepping the issue by saying it was an issue that belonged to the states. Thanks for bringing this up plblark.

[chudrockz]

Herman Cain is the former head of a branch of the Federal Reserve bank. I hate to say it, but when I KNOW where he stands on stealing my money via printing more of it and giving it to criminal bankers, I don't really care where he stands on gun issues.

[plblark]

Ah, but the goal here is not to get you to vote for him but rather to get HIM to nail down an unambiguous position. When it's REQUIRED to be DEMONSTRABLY PRO_GUN to be a viable candidate, we all win

[chudrockz]

True, but as I said, when he wants to debase the currency and ruin my (and everyone's) retirement in the process, I'm not interested in voting for him.

As an aside, his over-hyped "9-9-9" plan (ugh) is "revenue-neutral."

That means he has no intention of cutting taxes, which is CRITICAL to do, and now.

[DeanC]

As an aside, his over-hyped "9-9-9" plan (ugh) is "revenue-neutral."

BOOM! Headshot!

The goal should not be to find a way for government to continue on it's current path, it's to find a way to shrink government and government spending.

[TC95GT]

FWIW I just saw a live interview with Cain on Imus. He was asked do you believe in gun control? Cain responded with no I support the second amendment. Not a real detailed answer and there was no follow up question, but still a positive answer in the right direction.

[ComradeBurg]

The only thing I've found about Herman Cain in regards to the second amendment was an interview around June. Basically he's OK with states restricting the rights of gun owners.

[chudrockz]

The only answer I'm going to be really happy with on the issue would be someone who would say (and I would believe them) that they actually intend to DO SOMETHING (ie repeal) as many of the already-on-the-books UNCONSTITUTIONAL federal gun laws that exist now.

That's one of my biggest issues with the NRA, I HATE it when I read or hear something like, "We don't need more gun laws, we need better enforcement of the gun laws we already have." To which I respond, "Like HELL we do, we need to ELIMINATE the gun laws we already have and watch crime plummet as a result."

[nyffman]

Chuck, no President can repeal any laws. I suppose they can make make it known that they have issues with certain issues. But beyond that, I don't see much of that with any President regarding gun laws at this time and I certainly don't see any of them using political capital on the issue. The economy and issues that affect it will probably be front and center for a while. I agree with you that it would be nice to see a rollback. But at this point, I'm not real worried when they use the line about enforcing the ones we have. I think even pro gun groups have used that one when it serves their purposes.

[chudrockz]

Chuck, no President can repeal any laws. I suppose they can make make it known that they have issues with certain issues. But beyond that, I don't see much of that with any President regarding gun laws at this time and I certainly don't see any of them using political capital on the issue. The economy and issues that affect it will probably be front and center for a while. I agree with you that it would be nice to see a rollback. But at this point, I'm not real worried when they use the line about enforcing the ones we have. I think even pro gun groups have used that one when it serves their purposes.

To the extent that "pro gun" groups "use that line," said "pro gun" groups me make vomit. Grrr.

In any case, isn't the President the executive in charge of federal agencies? And if so, can't he just issue an order telling everyone who works for the ATF that they are fired, and they should just stay home and leave people alone from here on out?

[nyffman]

I guess he could do that. I heard last night that Obama is tossing around the idea of doing just that. Of course, he would do it in an attempt to cover up Fast and Furious. The activities performed by ATF would, of course, just be divided up between other agencies, FBI, Treasury, etc.

[LarryP]

Let's face it, there's nobody worth voting for. All we have is the best of the worse to choose from.

[chudrockz]

Let's face it, there's nobody worth voting for. All we have is the best of the worse to choose from.

Respectfully, beg to differ.

There's Ron Paul... and then there's everybody else.

If RP doesn't get the nomination, and doesn't run LP or independent, I'll almost certainly be writing his name in, or possibly my own. Or MAYBE voting for the one lucky enough to receive his endorsement.

[chudrockz]

I was listening briefly to Bill Bennett's radio show this morning. Guess I had an urge for some good old fashioned morning hypocrisy.

Anyhow, he was saying how Obama is toast in the election that's 13 months away, UNLESS there's a strong third party challenge. I'm almost sure he was talking about Ron Paul, without, of course, mentioning his name. Stating his name would, afterall, violate his boss's orders and possibly get him fired.

But if the GOP intends to "earn" the vote of conservatives (I count myself nominally among them) they HAVE to to better than some boneheads like Romney, Cain, and Perry. If they nominate any of those (or a couple of the others) I hope RP DOES run third party or independent. I don't think he will, but a guy can hope. AND I further hope it throws the next election to Obama.

The Republican Party has GOT to realize that the future (young folks) are demanding a return to REAL limited government and lower taxes. As opposed to the lip service (lying) that they've mostly done about it for the past however many years.