Editor’s note: Trump speaks out about the Second Amendment, from DonaldJTrump.com. Read his thoughts below:
PROTECTING OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
Donald J. Trump on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.
The Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right that belongs to all law-abiding Americans. The Constitution doesn’t create that right – it ensures that the government can’t take it away. Our Founding Fathers knew, and our Supreme Court has upheld, that the Second Amendment’s purpose is to guarantee our right to defend ourselves and our families. This is about self-defense, plain and simple.
It’s been said that the Second Amendment is America’s first freedom. That’s because the Right to Keep and Bear Arms protects all our other rights. We are the only country in the world that has a Second Amendment. Protecting that freedom is imperative. Here’s how we will do that:
Enforce The Laws On The Books
We need to get serious about prosecuting violent criminals. The Obama administration’s record on that is abysmal. Violent crime in cities like Baltimore, Chicago and many others is out of control. Drug dealers and gang members are given a slap on the wrist and turned loose on the street. This needs to stop.
Several years ago there was a tremendous program in Richmond, Virginia called Project Exile. It said that if a violent felon uses a gun to commit a crime, you will be prosecuted in federal court and go to prison for five years – no parole or early release. Obama’s former Attorney General, Eric Holder, called that a “cookie cutter” program. That’s ridiculous. I call that program a success. Murders committed with guns in Richmond decreased by over 60% when Project Exile was in place – in the first two years of the program alone, 350 armed felons were taken off the street.
Why does that matter to law-abiding gun owners? Because they’re the ones who anti-gun politicians and the media blame when criminals misuse guns. We need to bring back and expand programs like Project Exile and get gang members and drug dealers off the street. When we do, crime will go down and our cities and communities will be safer places to live.
Here’s another important way to fight crime – empower law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves. Law enforcement is great, they do a tremendous job, but they can’t be everywhere all of the time. Our personal protection is ultimately up to us. That’s why I’m a gun owner, that’s why I have a concealed carry permit, and that’s why tens of millions of Americans have concealed carry permits as well. It’s just common sense. To make America great again, we’re going to go after criminals and put the law back on the side of the law-abiding.
Fix Our Broken Mental Health System
Let’s be clear about this. Our mental health system is broken. It needs to be fixed. Too many politicians have ignored this problem for too long.
All of the tragic mass murders that occurred in the past several years have something in common – there were red flags that were ignored. We can’t allow that to continue. We need to expand treatment programs, because most people with mental health problems aren’t violent, they just need help. But for those who are violent, a danger to themselves or others, we need to get them off the street before they can terrorize our communities. This is just common sense.
And why does this matter to law-abiding gun owners? Once again, because they get blamed by anti-gun politicians, gun control groups and the media for the acts of deranged madmen. When one of these tragedies occurs, we can count on two things: one, that opponents of gun rights will immediately exploit it to push their political agenda; and two, that none of their so-called “solutions” would have prevented the tragedy in the first place. They’ve even admitted it.
We need real solutions to address real problems. Not grandstanding or political agendas.
Defend The Rights of Law-Abiding Gun Owners
GUN AND MAGAZINE BANS. Gun and magazine bans are a total failure. That’s been proven every time it’s been tried. Opponents of gun rights try to come up with scary sounding phrases like “assault weapons”, “military-style weapons” and “high capacity magazines” to confuse people. What they’re really talking about are popular semi-automatic rifles and standard magazines that are owned by tens of millions of Americans. Law-abiding people should be allowed to own the firearm of their choice. The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own.
BACKGROUND CHECKS. There has been a national background check system in place since 1998. Every time a person buys a gun from a federally licensed gun dealer – which is the overwhelming majority of all gun purchases – they go through a federal background check. Study after study has shown that very few criminals are stupid enough to try and pass a background check – they get their guns from friends/family members or by stealing them. So the overwhelming majority of people who go through background checks are law-abiding gun owners. When the system was created, gun owners were promised that it would be instant, accurate and fair. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case today. Too many states are failing to put criminal and mental health records into the system – and it should go without saying that a system’s only going to be as effective as the records that are put into it. What we need to do is fix the system we have and make it work as intended. What we don’t need to do is expand a broken system.
NATIONAL RIGHT TO CARRY. The right of self-defense doesn’t stop at the end of your driveway. That’s why I have a concealed carry permit and why tens of millions of Americans do too. That permit should be valid in all 50 states. A driver’s license works in every state, so it’s common sense that a concealed carry permit should work in every state. If we can do that for driving – which is a privilege, not a right – then surely we can do that for concealed carry, which is a right, not a privilege.
MILITARY BASES AND RECRUITING CENTERS. Banning our military from carrying firearms on bases and at recruiting centers is ridiculous. We train our military how to safely and responsibly use firearms, but our current policies leave them defenseless. To make America great again, we need a strong military. To have a strong military, we need to allow them to defend themselves.
He’s not Hillary Clinton, for whom the Second Amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights are the “ten suggestions.” Now, it’s Trump or guaranteed Federal overreach by someone whose temperament makes Obama seem equable and thick-skinned.
Yeah, I’ve changed my Twitter tag from #nevertrump to #neverclinton. It’s the only roll of the dice we get in November.
The statements made by “The Donald” regarding Article 2, are very much the way I have always felt about the issue. My problem with Trump is his nature. He has demonstrated over years, that he will back anyone at anytime as long as it benefits his needs (sounds a lot like politicians in general). The difference is that he shows loyalty only to himself. Doesn’t that worry anyone else? I can only see him doing what is expedient at the moment. I believe more or less that he is running because he’s sick of watching our government fail to function over so many years (not just Obama’s). I’m sick of it also, but I still don’t trust that he will have my back if he can benefit more from having someone else’s,
I HATE that over-opinionated, loud mouth, obnoxious, Donald Trump asshole.
I would be pissed if he wins the election, and FURIOUS if I frigging ended up voting for his ass!
Let me hear him say those things so I know it’s “possibly” true
My friend, please, get someone to help pull your head out of your ass. Trump is a business guy and he is trying to save America. He is a pro gun guy and his boys are serious bird hunters and gun guys. Trump is a life long member of the NRA. Now look at the leftist crocodile Clinton and her slimy record. You can tell when she is lying….her lips are moving. If you said “hello, how are ya?” her answer would undoubtedly be a lie. She will attack gun ownership and everything associated with guns. Her registration ideas would kill the gun business and hobby trading and gun shows. She will try to dry up amo supplies, and would push to make it tough for sportsmen to take their guns on aircraft. Put aside your petty gripes about the Donald’s often angry attitude. He has a RIGHT to be pissed at all who run the country. He is ONE GUY who has the cajones to rescue the country, turn it around, and protect the second amendment charter rights. Please, friend. Get on board, or sell your guns now. That simple!
“Opponents of gun rights try to come up with scary sounding phrases like “assault weapons”, “military-style weapons” … to confuse people. … The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own.”
I have misgivings about Mr. Trump, mostly because he has been short on specifics. However, he does say here that he will enforce existing laws that the present Administration seems to ignore. Good for him! If only he’d come out with more specifics instead of just saying “We’ll have the best you’ve ever seen.”
As an aside, I’ve often heard the gun-grabbers talk of banning “military-style” weapons. It just occurred to me that I don’t own any military-style weapons. I own two Russian Mosin-Nagant 91/30 rifles and a Russian M44 carbine. These are not “military-style” weapons but REAL military weapons of WWII vintage, no “-style” about them!
Eight years ago, I said there was no way Obama could win and believed it. There were too many questions about citizenship, he had almost no political experience and even his race. I didn’t think there were enough white voters who would vote for a black President. Although I don’t think race should be a deciding factor, 99 percent of black voters voted for Obama and when a white opposed him he or she would be deemed a racist, figure that one for yourselves. I am ecstatic that two Republican candidates Trump & Dr. Benson have spoken their minds instead of being “politically correct”. That right to speak your mind is our most powerful right, abuse of the 1st Amendment which occurs daily in politics and by the media has cost more lives (human) than citizens exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. I don’t know who I will vote for, but I assure you it won’t be a Democrat. Anybody who pays attention to the various crisis’s Ferguson, Baltimore, Zimmerman standing his ground and have heard the response by Democratic Politicians on all levels who encouraged violence and looting. I would like to see a President protect the Constitution (ALL OF IT) which he has sworn to do and support law and order on our streets while using common sense. Is that too much to ask? I didn’t think Donald Trump had a chance, now I’m hoping if not Trump at least a candidate who protects the rights of ALL Americans and see’s the checks and balances of the document that governs WE THE PEOPLE as the brilliant document it is.
The only thing I don’t whole-heartedly agree with is the idea that law-abiding citizens should be required to apply for, obtain and have to renew a concealled carry permit, to carry a firearm. Donald said it himself, our right to keep and BEAR a firearm is a RIGHT, not a privilege. National Right to Carry and the permit process is just a cleverly masked means of the state and federal governments knowing who is armed and would obviously be utilized at some future date of oppression. We don’t need concealled carry permits to exerccise the right to bear a firearm that the Second Amendment has already guaranteed, and the NRA and all other gun rights groups need to fight to expose that false concept and end it. Our Second Amendment right to BEAR any firearm, including a concealled gun, is a U.S.A. federal/national “RIGHT”, and no state, county or city has the right to supercede/infringe on it, period.
While I do have a CCW for a couple of states, I only have them because that is what is required in those states to be able to carry a concealed fire arm. I am in total agreement that it is a right NOT a privilege. Unfortunately, you some times have to play by THEIR rules, until we can get the rules changed. There are a few states which have concealed carry w/out a permit for law abiding (non-felon) citizens who can legally own a fire arm!
There was a time when we had businessmen who stepped up to become statesmen, rather than party hacks that are career politicians who feel it’s “their turn” to run for the office. Trump has my vote in the primary.
I agree with what he says, but my main concern is whether or not he gets the Republican presidential nomination and if not, what he’ll decide to do. If he runs as an independent, it’s a guaranteed win for the Democrats just like it was with Ross Perot running a few years ago. We have to stand united in our backing of a Republican nominee otherwise we play into the hands of the Dems. Trump won’t pull votes from the Democrats, he will pull votes away from a Republican nominee. We need to hang tight before backing anyone until they get our nomination.
If The Donald and Rand Paul ran together I’d go down that road!
The only way we can lessen or stop violent crime is to make those who do it AFRAID of everyone they’re sizing up as a potential victim. Meaning, they COULD be armed! Trump has got it nailed and we need him in the Whitehouse to make it the law of the land. GET OUT AND VOTE HIM IN!
The main point is that most of us will vote for the GOP candidate regardless of who he or she is, we have no choice, The most important thing is to don’t let the liberal left media pick our candidate as they have in the last two cycles.
They are going to hammer away at all but one and after that one wins they will turn on him or her like rabid dogs and that one will be the weakest of the bunch.
I agree with Trump on almost every issue but I wish he would knock off the comic faces and the BS and try to answer a question without interrupting himself five times and going off on some different path, people aren’t stupid for the most part and will tire of these things damn fast, I like CF also, at least she had her stuff in a pile and kept to the point and last but for sure not least why in the world does the GOP allow liberal left wing media hack jobs do the debates? I’d rather see ” The Judge” doing it, he would get them to talking issues not sparing over who has the biggest Johnson which looks like CF at the moment.
Vote for your guns and second amendment rights. Vote for a businessman to run America’s business. This is the year when if you don’t vote for your gun rights, you won’t have any. Forget all the petty details and look at the big picture. Trump=economic recovery and absolute gun rights continuance. Hillary=abject socialism, lost jobs, internationally disastrous decisions, and the abolition of the second amendment rights and gun owners values. That choice will take a free enterpriser and a gun guy about ten seconds.
I’m confused here:
Was this written by Trump?
Was this quoted from Trump?
Is this a second party’s summary of what they believe Trump to stand for?
I’m generally digging what Trump has had to say when I actually hear it but not when it is “represented” by others and I feel that the above intimating that these are Trump’s words without directly and clearly attributing them to him is disingenuous at best.
Perhaps this is merely a poorly edited, actual written “statement” made by him but if so… Why not represent it as such.
This has all the opportunities for those who ant to believe it to hitch their wagons to and yet is completely deniable by Trump or his people as presented.
Todd..
To the “author” of this story and GA, please site where you got your info in the future. This is directly copied from https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/second-amendment-rights , if anyone was curious where this came from, like I was. I wanted to make sure this actually came from Mr. Trump and not by the writers here. Since it is on the site paid by his campaign, I believe it is from Mr.Trump. In this twisted media society we live in it is good to check the source before just assuming it is true. So many media outlets, both for and against the 2A, twist the facts and truths in all directions. I am glad GA did this story, just wish they quoted the source so I knew it wasn’t something a writer made up for a story.
With that said, Mr. Trump has earned my vote with this. Until seeing this I wasn’t sure what his stance was on 2A.
Thanks for including this! I neglected to link out to the website. I added it now so it’s at the top of the article.
As a 100% disabled vet, and retired la enforcement with 24 years experience, both as a police officer working in that arena for tn years culminating with my last position as the assistant chief. Also worked in the private security for a couple years providing sites with physical security and then on into other areas of the security field, finally I was a state correctional officer, which was how I ended up being retired way before I should have. I was injured in a prison riot which exacerbated injuries I incurred while on active duty. I felt the need to preface my statements with the previous, I am all for having a 50 state CCW, I have had my CCW for the past 15 years, and tell those to dumb to understand; I am now too old (58) and too messed up to be rolling in the mud and the blood and broken glass. I would just as soon shoot your dumb ass as to fight with you.
Now, I’m not saying I would shoot somebody just to shoot them because they threatened me or my family, but when it comes down to it my and my families safety is paramount, don’t mess with my family or myself,ie; robbery, muggings, etc.
Mr. Trump has a lot of good points, and I will agree that his assessment of the second amendment is on the spot. I will also say that Mr. Trump unlike a lot of us, especially the politicians and the so called “civilized people” says what a lot of us won’t or are too afraid to say. To me…hey..call a spade a spade, no offense to all my black friends an those in uniform, not how I mean this to sound. Mr. Trump isn’t where he is by being stupid, on the contrary, he is a very, very intelligent person, his bankruptcies aside, sometimes it is in that businesses best interest to claim bankruptcy, then again….not always.
I still have not decided weather or not to vote for Mr. Trump, that isn’t to say I won’t when the time comes, I just haven’t decided yet. There is a long time before election day, a lot of things can and do happen on the campaign trail. Mr. Trump has a way of pissing people off, his grasp of the political arena is not quite up there, not that it is a bad thing, but he should have some understanding of how world politics work, and pissing off a world leader is not always a good idea….just sayin. There are a lot of things Mr. Trump needs to learn and fast if he is to become the next leader of the most powerful nation on earth, that we are is a good thing, it wouldn’t take much for us not to be. Dr. Carson is another good hoice, team the two of them together and I think they would do well, each feeding off the others strengths.
Only time will tell, will Mr. trump be our next president? What about Carly Fiorina? she has come from way down, and is now second only to Mr. Trump. I think that the US is way past due to have a business person as president, run the country as a business, something I have been touting for a good many years. We shall see when the time comes, as long as we don’t get the bitch in there, whose husband couldn’t keep his dick in his pants, then again..would you want to cuddle up to HER at night? My apologies for the length of my views did not mean to go on this way. Thanks to all our military and law enforcement and emergency services. They do an outstanding job and get little thanks. Be well, be safe, God bless.
I love it! “I would just as soon shoot your dumb ass as to fight with you”. My sentiments, exactly. I put in my time on the job & I’ve got 10 years on you & couldn’t agree more. Thanks for your service to America, Mark.
When he could say and do whatever he wanted, he was for the AWB, against the NRA, and gave money to the Clintons, Reid, Pelosi, Rangel, etc. Now that he’s running as a Republican and HAS to be pro-gun, he’s pro-gun.
I don’t trust a man who lies in his own press conference about things he did 30 seconds prior in front of the audience.
Does anyone know information to research this information.. I need to know that these statements are real and not put together by some flunky or news person.
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/second-amendment-rights
I am not sure Trump is electable, but with words like these, indicating some deal of common sense so lacking in most politicians,
he SHOULD be electable. I have not formed any real opinions on any candidate so far, and have been very dubious of Trump,
but this is at least making take a more serious look at this man.
Having been terribly disenfranchised with the Bush’s, and hating Clinton and Obama, and having little respect for any President since Reagan, maybe we all need to take a hard look at who we vote for.
I won’t say it can’t get any worse, because Hillary is still out there!!!!
The man tells it like it is and I am in total agreement with every thing he said. Hang in there Don hope you make it. You have my vote.
If Trump were to be that clear and concise on the myriad other issues we face today: health care, foreign policy, US/Israel relations, immigration – it would be hard to find a better candidate.
Mr Trump I’ve been watching you from the start ! I really like what I see and after reading this you will be getting my vote !!! I really think your what this country needs !!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been watching you from the beginning ! I really like what you have to say your straight forward no bullshit like most people who run for office I agree carry permits should be like drivers licenses state to state I hope you fix that ! You got my VOTE in 2016 god bless you and your family this is from a retired US Army Sholdier thank you
Say what you want about the man but he is saying what everyone else is afraid to say. I think he is the quickest way back to restoring this great country.
I don’t know yet if I will vote for him, but his comments on this topic mirror my feelings exactly. Enforce the laws that are on the books, and have MANDATORY sentences for those who break the law! A felon committing a crime, if armed with a pistol, rifle, revolver or shotgun, even if he didn’t use the firearm, should be convicted of the separate crime of a Felon in Possession of a Firearm regardless of what the other charge is, and should be given a mandatory five year sentence to run consecutively, not concurrently, with the sentence he receives for the other offense. Hey liberals! Don’t blame me (a law abiding citizen with a concealed weapons permit) if your namby-pamby, soft-hearted judges are fooled into thinking that recidivist criminals can be rehabilitated by a slap on the wrist. When these criminals turn around and use a gun in some other crime again you libs think passing more laws (which only restrict those of us who already obey the law) will solve the problem. News flash…It won’t! Get some backbone and start supporting law abiding gun owners and not the criminals.
I am becoming a believer in Mr Trump. He is not a pandering political lifer. His stance on the second ammendment is spot on. I feel he and Dr Carson would be the perfect team to bring our countries strength, honor, and integrity back from the brink of disaster
I cannot fault him for any of those ideas. I guess if you’re a billionaire you can get a concealed weapon permit in New York after all. Since New York doesn’t recognize the permits issued by other states, I would guess there is no reciprocity. His permit is only good in New York. No wonder he wants to have universal recognition of all concealed weapons permits.
Idaho does recognize NY permits. He is welcome here – with his CCW and gun.
Jim, you don’t have to be a billionaire to get an out-state-permit, which offers reciprocity with other states. While New York, New Jersey, DC, and Illinois currently offer no reciprocity, most other states do in some capacity. You just have to do a little research. The NRA, USCCA, and others can help you with that. Proactive TRUMPS reactive.
I was a PA ccw permit holder until driving in NY. My firearm was locked in my center console, and 2 in my trunk. NY charged and convicted me of a violent crime. I now live in a state where my “crime” would not of been a crime but I cannot get a carry permit because of my conviction. I am marked as a felon for life because of politics. I now work for myself and am partially retired it effects my life everyday, as I carry everywhere I go and am subject to insane prison sentence’s if caught. I hope that we can vote a brain cell into Washington so that no one else must endure what I have.
I’m with Draino, Trump has my vote and always has had it since he decided to run! This country needs a business man running it and not a politician, he isn’t a self made Billionaire because he is dumb and maybe he can get a good start on digging this country out of its debt hole it has made, like cutting stuff off by starting with our worthless current president and his cow wife taking multi-million dollar vacations every year (31 trips since assuming office in ’09 costing over $44 million to us taxpayers) i had to look that up and no wonder this country is so messed up.
Anyway, I’m an American gun owner and i fully support our Constitution and i always find it so funny when the first thing politicians do when assuming office is to put hand to Bible and promise to protect that 226 year old piece of paper but they all seem to forget that oath right away??
God Bless America!
Im with Draino, Trump has my vote and always have had it since he decided to run! This country needs a business man running it and not a politician. he isn’t a self made Billionaire because he is dumb and maybe he can get a damn good start on digging this country out of its debt hole it has made, like cutting stuff off by starting with a dumbass black president and his cow wife taking multi-million dollar vacations every year (31 trips since assuming office in ’09 costing over $44 million to us taxpayers) HOLYSHITCAKES!! i had to look that up and no wonder this country is so messed up.
Anyway, i’m an American gun owner and i fully support our Constitution and i always find it so funny when the first thing politicians do when assuming office is to put hand to Bible and promise to protect that 226 year old piece of paper but they all seem to forget that oath right away??
God Bless America!
you are right about that! i pray Trump is what he says and acts like he is! the 2nd amendment is not to be messed with!
Well what more do you want the man to say??!!! I have a hard time believing he is a fake like a lot of folks do. Maybe shame on me for taking him at his word…..But I like what he said here. Makes sense….and its easy. You can’t make it more plain or simple. I am sick of the “politicians”!! Time for something new. He’s got my vote.
He’s a breath of fresh air, and not one jot of the mind-numbing, intellectual rot of “political-correctness” escapes his speech. Our lives matter, that’s why.
Or is he just being another politician saying what we want to hear to get our vote then turn ryte around and try to take our 2nd amendment away
AMEN, brother!