Thursday, July 26, 2012

Today’s Challenge – Find an Issue That Mitt Romney Has Not Flip Flopped On – Is It A Ban on Assault Rifles?

No, Try Again (Thanks to Harold Pollock, The Incidental Economist)

The Wall Street Journal, believe it or not, has the story of Mitt Romney’s position on allowing Americans to own assault rifles.  After the horrific Colorado shootings Mr. Romney once again affirmed his belief in keeping current laws in place, including federal laws that allow ownership of the type of semi-automatic assault rifles that were used in the killings.


Mr. Romney looking at his notes to try and
determine where he is on an issue today, as opposed to
yesterday or tomorrow
Today, Mr. Romney’s campaign Web site says no new laws are needed. “Like the majority of Americans, Mitt does not believe that the United States needs additional laws that restrict the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms,” the site says.

Okay, so it would be wrong to point out that while Governor of Massachusetts Mr. Romney not only supported banning assault rifles, he actually signed a law to that effect.

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney opposes all new gun control laws today, but that wasn’t always the case. In 2004, as governor, he signed a permanent assault weapons ban into law in Massachusetts. The law included other elements welcomed by gun-rights supporters, but Mr. Romney defended the assault weapons provision on its own merits.

“I believe the people should have the right to bear arms, but I don’t believe that we have to have assault weapons as part of our personal arsenal,” he said on Fox News in 2004.

So people keep looking, go ahead find an issue on which Mitt Romney has been consistent.  We dare you.

1 comment:

  1. If this flip-flop becomes a campaign issue - and it won't, because Obama is taking the same soft position - Romney can just trot out the same excuses he uses with health care, abortion, and any other area where he has reversed himself:

    1. What I did as governor was right for Massachusetts, but would be wrong for the federal government.

    2. When I was governor, I could only sign what the Legislature gave me, and the liberals there snuck in all kinds of stuff I didn't want, but my hands were tied.

    3. My views on the issue evolved after profound consideration and discussion with trusted advisors.

    Also, I accept your challenge and supply an issue on which Romney has been consistent: he has always been pro-making lots of money.

    ReplyDelete