Where do Obama and Romney Stand?
The Aurora shooting left 12 people dead and 58 injured in Colorado. The massacre at a Sikh gurudwara left 6 dead and all of Wisconsin in shock. Those wounds were still fresh when a shooting near Texas A&M university rocked the nation. All these crimes were committed with guns. As election day draws near, we look to both candidates for a clear policy on gun control.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney said this in 2002. "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them. I believe they help protect us."
But last month, he changed his tune and said, "I happen to be a strong 2nd amendment believer."
Confused?
Political commentator T J Walker says Romney is neither for or against gun control. What he's really for, is votes!
"Romney's stance on gun control is 'I will do anything the NRA tells me'. He's made it very clear that he wants gun lovers' votes, he's not going to introduce anything that imposes controls on gun lovers," explains Walker.
While Romney bills himself as the candidate who's protecting gun owners' rights, his record proves otherwise.
In 2004, he signed a Massachusetts ban on assault weapons.
Some political ads paint President Barack Obama as trying to take away gun owner's rights. But Walker says that is just not true.
"As a state legislator he sponsored legislation, voted for legislation that banned assault weapons. He did a a number of things that gun control advocates were excited about and liked," says Walker.
Obama has done so little to push gun restrictions. In 2010, gun control advocacy group The Bradley Center, gave Obama an F- grade for gun control.
"There is not a dimes worth of difference between Obama's position on guns and Romney's position on guns. When you look at the facts, there's really no difference between gun policy between Romney and Obama," claims Walker.
If the president isn't really pushing gun control laws, why do the GOP, the NRA and manufacturers say he is? Some pundits say it's just a scare tactic. It will make Americans join the NRA- raising money and of course buying guns.
"The NRA needs a bogeyman. You have to have some scary evil monster over here. If we don't get this monster, we have no reason for getting money, for contributing, for coming to the annual convention. The NRA and the gun lobby, they need to have a bogeyman, they need a monster, they need a reason for being. If they don't actually have one, they need to fabricate one," concludes Walker.
Most of the country waited with bated breath for stricter gun control, following three massacres. Both candidates proved, that in election year, you have to please the gun lobby.
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