Wait and see.....

IMHO, one of the biggest problems the Republican's have in the last leg of any "race" them become "timid"!!

You want my vote, attack!! first the drive by media, second the liberal ideology's especially when it come to their view of the Constitution!(they lose every time)and last the opposing candidate!

Ole Newt was the best at "getting to em" Don't talk about "them", expose them, that is what counts!

Exposing one's character is NOT a personal attack, its getting to the TRUTH of who they are.

In my book, criminals SHOULD be treated as such, no more no less!

A liberal, gun banning, socialised medicine loving, milquetoaste.

Great pick for a nominee.

Brian, it's always a choice between two imperfect candidates. Pick your poison as only one of the two will win. No write in or vote omission to make a statement will benefit no one but the winner.

I'm willing to accept a helluvalot of "imperfect", but banning guns crosses the line and is a deal breaker. Not negotiable.

I believe it was Will Rogers that said in "most" elections your not voting FOR someone, you are voting AGAINST someone. Kinda makes sense unfortunately??

"I'm willing to accept a helluvalot of "imperfect", but banning guns crosses the line and is a deal breaker. Not negotiable. "

Really. So who's the best candidate?

Interesting how Brian keeps talking banning of guns. Why are sales booming here in Mass just as well as the rest of the country?

Bob, either you are very ignorant of who you are supporting, or you are very conveniently overlooking the truth. Either way, let's refresh our memories on just who Romney is... A gun banner and advocate of gun control.

1994: backed 5-day waiting period on gun sales

In 1994 Romney pushed some reliably Republican themes, including requiring welfare recipients to work, cracking down on crime, and creating private-sector jobs. But he often strayed from the party plank as he sought to broaden his base of support. He backed two gun-control measures that were strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association: the Brady Law, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons, saying, "I think they will help."

Source: The Real Romney, by Kranish & Helman, p.185 , Jan 17, 2012

Find common ground with pro-gun & anti-gun groups

Q: You signed the nation's first ban on assault weapons in Massachusetts and steeply increased fees on gun owners by 400%. How can you convince gun owners that you will be an advocate for them?

ROMNEY: We had a piece of legislation that was crafted both by the pro-gun lobby and the anti-gun lobby. The pro-gun lobby said "this legislation allows us to cross roads with weapons when we're hunting that had not been previously allowed." And the day when we announced our signing, we had both the pro-gun owners and anti-gun folks all together on the stage because it worked. We worked together. We found common ground. My view is that we have the second amendment right to bear arms and my view is also that we should not add new legislation. I know that there are people that think we need new laws. I disagree with that. I believe we have in place all the laws we need. We should enforce those laws. I do not believe in new laws restricting gun ownership and gun use.

Source: Fox News debate on MLK Day in Myrtle Beach, SC , Jan 16, 2012

2002: I will not chip away at MA's tough gun laws

In 1994 Romney had supported firearms-control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association: the so-called Brady Bill, which restricted the sale of handguns, and the assault weapons ban. During the 1994 senatorial campaign he had taunted: "That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA." He reinforced his support for these measures when he ran for governor in 2002, when he promised not to chip away at the Commonwealth's tough gun laws. Now as a presidential candidate, Romney presented himself disingenuously as a lifetime member of the NRA and a hunter of "varmints," which prompted the acerbic Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi to write: "Leave it to Mitt Romney to shoot himself in the foot with a gun he doesn't own."

Source: An Inside Look, by R.B.Scott, p.144-145 , Nov 22, 2011

2008: "Lifelong" devotion to hunting meant "small varmints" Romney's efforts to get right with the right landed him in trouble. Running against Ted Kennedy for the Senate in 1994, he declared, "I don't line up with the NRA" on gun control. By 2008, Romney had reversed himself on his [and other issues], which quickly gave rise to charges of hypocrisy and opportunism. A YouTube video began making the rounds that captured him firmly stating his liberalish social views, comically juxtaposing them with his newly adopted arch-conservative stances. From then on, th flip-flopper label was firmly affixed to Mitt's forehead.

Oh, and also the one about this "lifelong" devotion to hunting, which turned out to mean he'd done it twice. "I'm not a big-game hunter," Romney said, then explained that his preferred prey were rodents, rabbits, and such--"small varmints, if you will."

He couldn't fathom why the caricature of him was sticking. When Romney's staff showed him the devastating YouTube video, his first reaction was ,"Boy, look how young I was back then."

Source: Game Change, by Heilemann & Halpern, p.293-295 , Jan 11, 2010

2002: My positions won't make me the hero of the NRA

Mitt Romney. When he ran for the Senate and for governor, he supported a ban on assault rifles and the Brady Bill's five-day waiting period for gun purchases. He proudly said those positions wouldn't make him "the hero of the NRA." As governor, he made Massachusetts the first state to permanently ban assault weapons. He has even flip-flopped about whether he owns any guns. In New Hampshire, he was asked his view on the Second Amendment. He responded that he had been a hunter "pretty much all my life." Later, red-faced aides of Romney had to admit that Romney had never had a hunting license, and under further questioning, Romney acknowledged that his "lifetime of hunting" was having shot at some birds during a Republican governors meeting during a fund-raising event and maybe shooting at "small varmints" when he was seventeen with his cousin.

Source: Do The Right Thing, by Mike Huckabee, p. 17-18 , Nov 18, 2008

GovWatch: 1994: did not “line up with the NRA”

Top Romney Flip Flops: #3. Gun Control:

Campaigning for the Senate in 1994, Romney said he favored strong gun laws and did not “line up with the NRA.” He signed up for “lifetime membership” of the NRA in August 2006 while pondering a presidential run, praising the group for “doing good things” and “supporting the right to bear arms.”

Source: GovWatch on 2008 campaign: “Top Ten Flip-Flops” , Feb 5, 2008

Support the 2nd Amendment AND the assault weapon ban

I do support the Second Amendment. I would have signed the assault weapon ban that came to his desk. I said I would have supported that and signed a similar bill in our state. It was a bill worked out, by the way, between pro-gun lobby and anti-gun lobby individuals. Both sides of the issue came together and found a way to provide relaxation in licensing requirements and allow more people to--to have guns for their own legal purposes. So we signed that in Massachusetts, and I’d support that at the federal level. It did not pass at the federal level. I do not believe we need new legislation. I do not support any new legislation of an assault weapon ban nature, including that against semiautomatic weapons. We have laws in place that, if they’re implemented & enforced, will provide the protection and the safety of the American people. I do support the right of individuals to bear arms, whether for hunting purposes or for protection purposes or any other reasons. That’s the right that people have

Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida , Jan 24, 2008

I support the work of the NRA, but disagree sometimes

We should check on the backgrounds of people who are trying to purchase guns. We also should keep weapons of unusual lethality from being on the street. And finally, we should go after people who use guns in the commission of crimes or illegally, but we should not interfere with the right of law-abiding citizens to own guns, for their own personal protection or hunting or any other lawful purpose. I support the work of the NRA. I’m a member of the NRA. But do we line up on every issue? No, we don’t.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series , Dec 16, 2007

Ok to ban lethal weapons that threaten police

Q: Are you still for the Brady Bill?

A: The Brady Bill has changed over time, and, of course, technology has changed over time. I would have supported the original assault weapon ban. I signed an assault weapon ban as Massachusetts governor because it provided for a relaxation of licensing requirements for gun owners in Massachusetts, which was a big plus. And so both the pro-gun and the anti-gun lobby came together with a bill, and I signed that. And if there is determined to be, from time to time, a weapon of such lethality that it poses a grave risk to our law enforcement personnel, that’s something I would consider signing. There’s nothing of that nature that’s being proposed today in Washington. But I would look at weapons that pose extraordinary lethality.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series , Dec 16, 2007

Compromise MA gun bills were net gain for gun owner

During Romney’s term he signed several pieces of firearms regulation. A look at that regulation does not reveal an anti-gun Romney. Those bills are characterized as “net gains” for gun owners in a state where opinioned is weighed against them.

During his tenure, Gov. Romney was credited with several improvements to state laws, including protections for shooting clubs, restoration of the Inland Fish and Game Fund, and requirements that all new hunters pass a hunter safety course. He is also credited with relaxing manufacturing testing for some models of pistols.

In 2004, Gov. Romney signed a firearms reform bill that made permanent the ban on assault weapons as well as clarified and insured other rights and responsibilities for gun owners. It was a hard-fought compromise between interest groups on both sides of the issue. The NRA Gun Owners’ Action League, law enforcement, and Massachusetts gun owners endorsed the bill.

Source: The Man, His Values, & His Vision, p. 72-73 , Aug 31, 2007

Supports Second Amendment rights but also assault weapon ban

Q: As governor you signed into law one of the toughest restrictions on assault weapons in the country.

A: Let’s get the record straight. First of all, there’s no question that I support 2nd Amendment rights, but I also support an assault weapon ban. Look, I’ve been governor in a pretty tough state. You’ve heard of blue states. In the toughest of blue states, I made the toughest decisions and did what was right for America. I have conservative values.

Source: 2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina , May 15, 2007

Will support assault weapons bill and Brady Bill

The candidate reiterated his support for an assault weapons ban contained in Congress’ crime bill, and the Brady law which imposes a five-day waiting period on handgun purchases. ‘I don’t think (the waiting period) will have a massive effect on crime but I think it will have a positive effect,’ Romney said. Source: Joe Battenfeld in Boston Herald , Aug 1, 1994

Brian,

OK, I hear ya BUT, what is the alternative???? So are you saying that you think Obama is a better choice???

Nope, I'm simply saying I cannot vote for a gun banner.

I'm not in any way, shape or form suggesting anyone else vote like I am.

Just don't put your heads in the sand thinking Romney is a friend of gun owners. From a gun owner standpoint this election is truly the lesser of two evils.

Mitt Romney is an OWNED SOCK PUPPET. Period. Ya'all got that?

You can wring your hands and talk about the lesser of evils- but deep down, ya know it.

"OWNED SOCK PUPPET"- that's funny whatever it means.

My ex-girlfriend owned some pretty nice sweater puppets.

-Gary

I thought those were called "fun bags"?

I still have to go with the lesser of two evils, because the evilest is way off scale and I can't imagine him in power in a lame duck setting. He might do things that would be detrimental to our freedom, liberty, economy, way of life etc... (PUN INTENDED)

The choice this year is a no brainer.

It comes down to anyone but Obama in my book. Not the best but no alternatives. Jeff

For the last 16 years all we have to vote for is the"lesser of two evils".I voted for the AZ senator and it sickened me to vote for him instead of obama,NO MORE VOTE for trash. Lee

Unfortunately, any vote other than for Mitt is a vote for Obama. I fully appreciate the discontent with the Republican candidate, but why waste a valuable vote on another candidate that has no chance of winning. I'm not thrilled with Mitt either, but given the alternative (Obama) I'll vote for Mitt......heck, I'd vote for Cheetah the Chimpanzee if he were the only candidate with a chance of ousting Obama....and Cheetah is dead.

JMHO

Jim C

Even it you abstain from voting for Mitt it will be a vote for Obama. There is no other choice.

Brian, Your one vote won't make a difference but lets hope others can see the light no matter how dim it is.

Nope, my one vote won't make any difference, so I don't understand why people foam at the mouth when I say I cannot vote for a gun banner. Whether I'm right or wrong depends on your point of view, but there is no question that I am standing on principle.

If you didn't know.... John Browning was a Mormon. Yep, the founder of Browning Arms Company was a Mormon....why do you think they had operations in Utah???

Wikipedia...."Browning was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two-year mission in Georgia beginning on March 28, 1887. His father Jonathan Browning, who was among the thousands of Mormon pioneers in the mass exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois to Utah, established a gunsmith shop in Ogden in 1852." As a side note...his father had a small gunsmith shop in Nauvoo, Ill. prior to the Mormon exodus.

Just a bit of background........

I doubt in the bigger picture, Romney will be able to force the surrender of arms. It would also be contrary to his religious beliefs to harm a fellow follower.....

JMHO

Jim C

I'm not seeing where the reference to Browning means anything in this thread.

I, for one, couldn't care less if Romney is a Mormon. That's immaterial to me.

My point is that in the bigger picture, I doubt Romney will not be any moving force in gun control or surrender due not only to external political pressure but also his fundamental religious belief of not harming in anyway a fellow Mormon.

I understand your position, but I doubt seriously Romney will carry much or any clout in the the gun control debate.

JMHO

Jim C

Brian,

You can't vote for Romney so you will either stay home or leave that line empty. If you do so, you are voting - for Obama! See how far that gets you with regards to gun control. Wait until Holder has no tether. Then you will be looking for anyone except Obama WHO YOU VOTED FOR by your abstainence. TOO LATE!

Sometimes you have to accept that you can't get what you want but abstaining gets you an even worse alternative. Time to start thinking like a responsible adult. Your country is at stake not just your "gun rights". Vote for a person who does not wnat to "fundamentally change" America. Then you can fight the gun control wars in a democracy NOT a socialist utopia.

Well you assume wrong. I will vote third party.

And please spare me the old worn out "You're voting for Obama" garbage. If I wanted to vote for Obama I would check the box next to his name.

And you can scold me all your want, but I have been forced into this position by liberal Republicans who want a gun banning liberal to represent them. Problem is they did not bother to think that such a lemon does not appeal to many of us, or they just didn't care. But now they need our vote. They should have thought that one through better.

It really cracks me up to see the utter hypocrisy of those telling me that I am enabling a gun banning, socialised medicine loving, tax and spend, big government, liberal judge appointing, job killing liberal so I need to vote for their gun banning, socialised medicine loving, tax and spend, big government, liberal judge appointing, job killing liberal.

I was disgusted when I was told I had no choice but to vote for George H W Bush as the lesser of two evils in his second term.

I was disgusted when I was told I had no choice but to vote for Bob Dole as the lesser of two evils.

I was disgusted when I was told I had no choice but to vote for John McCain as the lesser of two evils.

I am disgusted being told I have no choice but to vote for Mitt Romney as the lesser of two evils.

WHERE is the conservative that is NOT the lesser of two evils? WHERE is the conservative I can vote for? WHY has the GOP gone liberal?" WHY is the GOP supporting gun banners (yet wants our support)?

Please direct your fingerpointing to those who thought nominating this lemon was a good idea. It's THEIR fault that Republicans are suddenly feeling vulnerable in the upcoming election, not ours.

As for me, unless Romney does something totally out of character for him and picks a solid pro-gun tea partier as VP, I'm done with the GOP. The thrill is gone.

Brian,

I think you should read the information on above website link....you may re-evaluate your position.

JMHO

Jim C

Spin and damage control. In fact, an outright lie. Republicans are reinventing Romney. Just like Dems reinvented John Kerry. If Romney was pro-gun he would not need to be reinvented. This lemon is saying anything to get elected.

I've posted Romney's REAL record on the Second Amendment on this site earlier this year. It's a train wreck. He was BRAGGING about banning guns.

If you want to vote for Romney because you dislike Obama, fine, but don't drink the Kool-Aid that he is pro-Second Amendment. Liars will lie again.

Brian in Oregon

I'm not sure if you realize it but between Hillary And the President our rights as gun owners are much more insecure!

I'll take the way to moderate to the way to progressive Comunist any day!

It's over for B!

Even MSNBC has Questioned the Presidents viability considering the recient economic reporting and his tendancies to blame everyone for everything including the American Public.

Joe

Well if it's over for Obama then why are you worried about conservatives who will not compromise and support a gun banning liberal like Romney? We were told months ago we were immaterial, so apparently our votes were immaterial too.

Brian, unfortunately you have made yourself irrelevant. Your protest vote will count for nothing but do what your inner lights tell you is right. It may be your last best chance to do so. You risk losing your rights AND your guns but you know best.