To suggest that Reagan’s support for the Second Amendment puts him at odds with
those who support gun laws is highly specious. While it is appropriate for the gun lobby
to note President Reagan’s endorsement of some of its initiatives, such as the 1986
Firearm Owners’ Protection Act, a review of Reagan’s own words shows he was not a
staunch advocate for the gun lobby’s agenda, particularly in his later years:“[The Brady Bill] is just plain common sense that there be a waiting period
to allow local law enforcement officials to conduct background checks on
those who wish to buy a handgun.”
–
Reagan Backs Waiting Period to Buy Guns, USA Today, 3/29/91
6
Reagan Backs Waiting Period to Buy Guns. ( 1991, March 29). USA Today. Retrieved June 22,
2004, from LEXIS-NEXIS Academic database.
7
Bowling, M., et al., Background Checks for Firearm Transfers, 2002, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
September 2003 (NCJ 200116).
Page 5
4
“[L]isten to the American public and to the law enforcement community
and support a ban on the further manufacture of [assault] weapons.”
–
Joint letter from former Presidents Ronald Reagan, Jimmy
Carter, and Gerald Ford, Assault Weapons Ban Appears to Gain, The
Boston Globe, 5/5/94“As a longtime gun owner and supporter of the right to bear arms, I, too,
have carefully thought about this issue. I am convinced that the limitations
imposed in this bill are absolutely necessary. I know there is heavy
pressure on you to go the other way, but I strongly urge you to join me in
supporting this bill. It must be passed.”
– Letter to former Rep. Scott Klug (R-WI), Klug Bows to Reagan Plea on
Ban, The Capital Times, 5/6/94
I hadn’t really been aware of this. How about you?
Please don’t reply that you don’t trust the Boston Globe, or whatever. This stuff really is a matter of public record. Ronald Reagan strongly supported the two most hated gun-control laws of the past three decades, and may have been personally responsible for getting the AWB passed. This doesn’t square very well with his supposed “staunch support” of the right guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
UPDATE: More on Ronald Reagan’s gun-grabbing ways.
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Yes. One of the reasons I never worshiped at the altar of Reagan. I freely admit he was a better Prez than any of the other realistic candidates, but gun rights have been the dominant issue for me since very early adulthood.
One might note the word “Alzheimer’s”.
Genes, I noted the dates as well and thought the same thing. Especially since this does contradict everything he said and did as Governor and President. If someone can show me something from those periods I would reconsider my sceptcism.
That being said, Reagan was not perfect. No one should worship a politician. Just assess them. But if the spirit of RR’ philosphy and policies had been continued America would be better off today.
The Mulford Law, 1967, signed by Gov Reagan, prohibited carry of firearms in cars or on the street. As with many poorly-drafted laws, this one banned carry by everyone, not just the Black Panthers.
Reagan administratively banned the import of “scary” shotguns. This is more egregious than unConstitutional laws banning guns, as this didn’t even attempt the figleaf of legislative cover. (This ban was later put into law as part of the 1994 Scary Weapons Ban.)
I found info on Mulford in about a minute with a search engine. Already knew about the shotgun ban, as it doubled the price of the SPAS-12 I wanted. ISTR a couple of others, but the two above should suffice for a quick refutation.
As I said, Reagan was probably the best of the available lot in the 80s. But not ideal by any means.
On the Mulford Law they may have had more than enough support to override a veto. A politician would figure why waste the political capitol on a lost cause. The Panthers unintentionally ensured passage of Calli’s early anti-gun laws.
Nice Liberals afraid of black men with guns. Of course they aren’t racist ’cause they are afraid of anyone else with a gun too.