Gun control candidates become Second Amendment supporters.

[jody]

Giuliani in 1997 Citizens Crime Comission, Archives of Rudolph W. Giuliani

Because of this transformation of perception, when this latest tragedy occurred, instead of having to defend New York City, we were able to focus national attention on the real problem, which is gun control.

And even as we grieve for those who lost their lives, and our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones, we may be able to find some sort of meaning in this tragedy by using it as a catalyst to revive national gun control efforts.

Giuliani in 2007 Join Rudy 2008

Rudy Giuliani is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. When he was Mayor of a city suffering an average of almost 2000 murders a year, he protected people by getting illegal handguns out of the hands of criminals. As a result, shootings fell by 72% and the murder rate was cut by two-thirds. But Rudy understands that what works in New York doesn’t necessarily work in Mississippi or Montana.

Romney in 1994 Romney retreats on gun control

In his 1994 US Senate run, Romney backed two gun-control measures strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups: the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons.

"That's not going to make me the hero of the NRA," Romney told the Boston Herald in 1994.

Romney in 2007 Romney retreats on gun control

"He believes Americans have the right to own and possess firearms as guaranteed under the US Constitution," spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom wrote in an e-mail. "He's proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms. Like President Bush, he supports restrictions on assault weapons, but Mitt Romney has also worked with gun owners and sportsmen to ease the gun-licensing laws in Massachusetts."

Looks like Giuliani and Romney support the 2004 Democratic Party Platform that says:

We will protect Americans' Second Amendment right to own firearms, and we will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists by fighting gun crime, reauthorizing the assault weapons ban, and closing the gun show loophole, as President Bush proposed and failed to do.

See http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

[Squatch]

1. Strategy: tell the voters what they want to hear.

[jody]

2. At least tell the majority of voters what they want to hear, that wins elections.

[elocs]

3. Most Second Amendment supporters cannot or refuse to quote the entire Amendment.

They only quote the part they like. The Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Second Amendment supporters never want to say anything about a "well regulated militia", but will continually harp about "the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed".

[jody]

4. Your post sounds like you don't agree with the Democratic Party Platform. n/t

[elocs]

5. Don't know, but I imagine many Democrats would disagree with some portion of it.

Since I don't need to have my finger in the wind and worry about losing votes, I am free to believe in my personal opinions whatever I like. What a country!

[jody]

6. I agree but collectively we Democrats need to reach reasonable positions on divisive issues like

the Right to Keep and Bear Arms for self-defense, include those positions in our party platform, and make certain voters know what the Democratic Party stands for.

Individual Democratic candidates certainly can oppose the party platform but IMO it's harmful to the Democratic Party if those candidates mislead voters into believing their opposing position is the Democratic Party's position.

[elocs]

7. I will vote for Democratic candidates,

but I will not line up and support every issue in the Democratic platform like a little robot, like a Republican, my Party, my president, right or wrong. There are certainly millions of people who are against abortion, but yet will vote for Democratic candidates. They do not need to go along with the Democratic Party's position on abortion or choice or even pretend to support it. We are Democrats, not Republicans, and we can disagree on certain issues but still come together to support our Democratic candidates. My position on guns is exactly like millions of others who vote for Democrats, but do not feel the need to line up like sheep behind the Party line, which is only there to avoid losing votes.

[jody]

8. I assume you are a voter not a candidate and that's your right. If you were a candidate, then

I would angrily oppose you touting a position that you support as the Democratic Party position if your position opposes the Democratic Party position.

I would also object to the Democratic Party using my donations to the party to support your campaign as a Democrat because you do not support the Democratic Party.

[elocs]

9. Yes, I am a voter

and I am under no obligation to support the Democratic Party on every one of their issues. If I were a Republican I would need to support the Republican Party all down the line unquestioningly.

[jody]

10. You ignore my point. I don't object to you or a candidate opposing the Dem Platform but I do object

to candidates who oppose to the Dem Platform misleading voters into believing their position is that of the Dem Party.

A simple disclaimer would be adequate, e.g. "My views are not those of the Democratic Party".