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Fred Thompson on Gun Control

The right to bear arms is part of the United States Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Exactly what this right means today is a debate that all the candidates have weighed in on from many different perspectives. This topic includes information about candidate positions on: restricting access to firearms, the assault rifles ban, and background checks on gun purchasers.

The issues

Fred Thompson opposes restrictions on access to firearms

THOMPSON: I am against gun control generally. Check my record and you will find I'm pretty consistent on that. Q: You'd be perfectly happy to let people have handguns in their home? THOMPSON: Yeah, absolutely.

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I strongly support the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms. Gun control is touted as a major crime-control measure. But some of the places with the strictest gun-control laws also have high violent-crime rates. Disarming law-abiding citizens does not prevent crime. The answer to violent crime is smart, effective, and aggressive law enforcement. The real effect of these gun-control measures is to place onerous restrictions on law-abiding citizens who use firearms for such legal activities as self-defense, sport-shooting, hunting, and collecting.

Campaign website, www.Fred08.com, "Issues" Sep 20, 2007

Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. Require background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows. Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)50; N)50; VP decided YES

Lautenberg Amdt #362; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-134 on May 20, 1999

Asked about regulation at gun shows, Thompson responded, "Well, having just come from one..." referring to the gun show he visited in Florida last week. After some laughter, Thompson said the government should not restrict the rights of private citizens, in the home or at gun shows.

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Fred Thompson opposes a ban on assault weapons

Thompson also reaffirmed his pro-gun rights stance when asked about a man who used an AK-47 assault rifle to shoot four Miami-Dade County police officers Thursday, killing one. He said an assault weapon ban isn't the answer. "We'll never be able to keep people like that from getting their hands on weapons and it does not result in a good thing to disarm law abiding Americans," Thompson said.

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Fred Thompson opposes running background checks on individuals purchasing guns.

Asked about regulation at gun shows, Thompson responded, "Well, having just come from one..." referring to the gun show he visited in Florida last week. After some laughter, Thompson said the government should not restrict the rights of private citizens, in the home or at gun shows.

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Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. Require background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows. Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)50; N)50; VP decided YES

Lautenberg Amdt #362; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-134 on May 20, 1999