Cruz says Obama going after guns with ‘stand your ground’ remark
(CNN) – President Barack Obama’s suggestion that state “Stand your Ground” laws should be examined after the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin could amount to an assault on the right of Americans to own guns, Sen. Ted Cruz said in Iowa Friday.
Speaking after addressing a Republican group, Cruz told reporters he hadn’t yet watched Obama’s remarks. But when asked to respond to Obama’s call for a review of laws in individual states, Cruz responded by saying the president was trampling on constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“It is not surprising that the president uses, it seems, every opportunity that he can to go after our Second Amendment right to bear arms,” the Texas Republican said. “This president and this administration has a consistent disregard for the Bill of Rights.”
For example, Cruz said the Obama administration was violating free speech guarantees by “restricting the rights of our servicemen and women to share their faith and not be gagged,” and that the use of drones raised other constitutional questions.
Obama on Friday made his first public comments about the acquittal of George Zimmerman last week in Martin’s shooting death in 2012.
In his speech, Obama called for reconsideration of “Stand your Ground” self-defense laws in Florida and other states.
“I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case, rather than diffuse potential altercations,” Obama said.
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Cruz is another one of those right-wing politicians who never learned how to love as a child by his parents and society. He has little empathy or concern for women, people of color, gays and lesbians, etc. He's a child running around in adult clothing who loves to make remarks which draw attention to himself, stir the pot of fear and anxiety, and even bully others different from him. He's a racist who doesn't know he is a racist. You can count on that and the fact he seldom offers any positive constructive solutions to move our country forward.
An obvious recipient of NRA contribution, this clown made comments before even listening to the president. Not surprising though; these sort of wind-up paid puppets are what was wrong with the supreme courts decision to give corporations person hood. Clearly its guys like this that are the genesis of a broken system. He and those like him are nothing more than Social and Cultural Terrorist.
I agree. As a supporter of President Obama, I believe he erred when he commented on the Trevon case. The system worked and he represents the system. He lost credibility by speaking out. Mr. President, please work on important matters that count.
How come somebody can criticize a speech from President Barack Obama without even having watched it?! That is awfull!! Mr Cruz is so thirsty to criticize that he does not give to himself time to read or hear President Barack Obama speech in regard to Travyon Martin and George Zimmerman case. Please, Senator Cruz here is one advice before you criticize anyone. Give yourself time to listen even if you do not like or disagree with the person. In many cases we can learn a lot. Just be more humbles and less arrogant.That will make your political career more successful and easy. People in general are not dam. they recognize where there is sincerity and where there is not good will. Thanks to read me Senator Cruz.
Obama's remarks were sensible and emphasized the context of the African-American response .....sick puppies like Cruz nd most of the right wing cannot seem to understand reality or nuance...they are locked into some sort of ideology that blocks out facts or critical thought....imagine America under the rule of these dangerous dark age thinkers...scary
I can't believe this guy is a US Senator? It’s like saying, if a cop stops you for speeding and gives you a ticket, he doesn’t like cars, he going after me because he wants all cars off the road. Apparently if you are a moron of a certain degree you too can be a Senator! They walk among us!
as usual the gun lobby supporters prefer to shoot first and ask questions later. Stand Your Ground has turned into a right to pursue, confront and kill because you alone feel threatened. That should not be the case and it has little to do with the right to bear arms. It has everything to do with the responsibility to handle a gun properly.
Mr. President, I will be happy to relinquish all my firearms if you do first. Get rid of the 500 secret service personal protecting you and the armed guards at the white house. Lay down all your weapons as a sign of your faith in ALL Americans to act civil and just. When I see you do this I'll put mine down too.
I thought not. I have the right to protect myself Sir, just like you
OMG – This man needs to just shut up. He is a divider and has absolutely no idea of the harm he is causing. His party of tea baggers has prevented any progress in this country for years and now this hypocrite thinks he has the qualifications to be POTUS. It's bad enough we have to endure him here in Texas until 2018, but the rest of the country shouldn't have to be subjected to this bigot.
Cruz is a Coward......it amazes me how soon as someone speaks up on gun control the cowards instead of saying yes people Black, White , Red and all colors are being shot down daily with people in the streets getting hold of guns with not training or poor mental states and we need to look at how to correct this.....but instead they cower and hide behind.....THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE YOUR GUNS!!!!..........COWARDS!!!!!!
This guy's trying to be the spokesman for the crazy old white Republican base. There is a difference between criticizing a law that encourages dimwits to commit criminal violence with guns, and sending black U.N. helicopters to confiscate Republicans' guns. But don't try to tell that to the crazies, it's all the same to them.
Nowhere in his statement did the President say ANYTHING about taking away the second amendment. In fact, I'm pretty sure he has NEVER said anything remotely close to that. Sen. Cruz, do us all a favor and just go away.
Oh come on Mr. Whack-a-doodle...quit your standard Republican fear mongering. No one is going after anyone's guns, we just want laws that sort of frown on whack-a-doodle nut jobs like yourself and Mr. Zimmerman from pursuing people, then shooting them because of some story you get going in what passes for your brain.
This guy is a MORON.Plain and simple.
...if the person who was shot was another race, would Obama say the same things? I sincerely believe that a person has the right to defend himself, and if it allows the use of firearms, so be it.
The senator had a lot to say about the President's remarks that Senator Cruz claims to have not heard. The next obfuscation of Senator Cruz will somehow be a claim that he was briefed incorrectly by his staff. But when all is said and done, we must ask ourselves a simple question. Is it okay that an unarmed child should be stalked by an adult and shot dead in the streets?
I will STAND MYGROUND if I am being attacked and will use any means at my disposal to render the attacker maimed or dead. Regardless of any laws. 'Nuff said.
Sen. Ted Cruz how is talking about this "Going after the second amendment". From your comment I gather you condone shooting an unarmed person, after being told by law enforcement to stand down and not to get involved.
He hadn't even seen/heard the President's remarks first-hand...and he has a response. Nitwit...
Cruz, like a chipmunk, should just cruise on back to his hole in the ground.
I wonder what this guy's smoking. There's a difference between questioning someone's right to own a gun and questioning when someone has a right to *use* that gun against another person.
Why is Obama even discussing matters that are not the federal governments business? The stand your ground, or castle laws are state laws. Also his comments were divisive, racist, and hateful.
Ted Cruz says "It is not surprising that the president uses, it seems, every opportunity that he can to go after our Second Amendment right to bear arms. This president and this administration has a consistent disregard for the Bill of Rights.”
I say it is not surprising Ted Cruz would denigrate and use any speech (this one meant to heal racial tensions) made by our President to advance the GOP agenda. That the 2nd amendment to bear arms is in danger of infringement is a crock perpetuated by his ilk for political purposes.
Cruz is just a moron, pandering to the Far Right at every opportunity.
Is that all we have is a bunch of damned knee-jerk reactionary politicians all vying for some spotlight??? Why don't they just chop up, segment. divide the whole country – maybe get rid of "states" and have little boxes we can all live in. Damned fools.