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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Obama is going after the right to defend yourself from attack.
NOT guns. Guns are incidental.
Noone will ever take our guns away. That alone could start a revolution.
Cruz is a moron. Obama has made no move against the precious guns that the NRA routinely whips its members into a frenzy over. But then lies are the GOP's stock and trade.
I like this guy. He's seems so smart and likes to really tell the truth.
Another idiot statement from the runner up to the most redneck states in the good ole USA. That's right Florida, you currently hold that honor.
There is no middle ground for gun zealots paid for by the gun lobby. Why can't Stand Your Ground laws exist but limited to only on your own property? Because the gun lobby WANTS a wild west, then making an argument to guess what? Buy even MORE guns for self defense of self defense! Guns are our right, many things are are our right, but there are reasonable limits. The problem is, gun zealots are not reasonable people – they are in it for the money.
Cruz is such an ideologue he has no clue ... He has bought the right wing propaganda hook, line, and sinker ...
This issue is about how minorities face discrimination and the perceptions of race in America from every side ...
Ted Cruz disgusts me. And I'm from Texas. He's an embarassment to our state and not representative of the good people in Texas.
"But, just to be clear, Senator, you haven't actually heard the comments to which you are responding?"
Everybody gota say something about something these days.
Must be a NRA supported Senator.
Ehhhh not sure about that. I think President Obama is tired of gun legislation. Not his biggest concern and too many people want guns.... me for one.
Cruz is dangerous. He comments on the President's remarks before he has even heard them.
As soon as I got to "Texas Republican" I quit reading...
What's wrong with these unheard of Senators?
Maybe the good senator should actually listen to the President's remarks before he goes off the deep end.
Sigh. Revisiting "Stand Your Ground" laws have nothing to do with repealing the 2nd amendment. It's about limiting the ability of people to shoot people instead of exiting the situation before it becomes a self-defence issue. I think a lot of Americans actually agree that this law is problematic and promotes vigilantism. Seriously. Do these people actually listen to what is said? Sad state of affairs in the ability for people to correctly process information. As a university educator, I find the reactions to Obama's comments problematic because they show people don't actually listen to the message; they filter what they want to hear.
How typical, he admits he didn't hear or read Obama's comments but rips the President for attempting to take away guns. Ladies and Gentlemen, your United States Senators!!!
What? The circus decided to stay in town apparently. How is a review of stand your ground an assault on gun ownership? It has nothing to do with gun ownership! All it says is that you don't have to retreat before you blast someone into the next life... you can still own a gun and not have the right to do that.
senator cruz should have continued with his original plan and said something like: "i can't comment on that, since i have not reviewed president's statement. obama didnt say take guns away. he even hinted at the fact that maybe the TM should have been carrying a gun to protect himself. all he said was revisit the law so people dont just think they can shoot anyone and say they were standing their ground. stand your ground sounds like a duel. first to shoot wins. oh, you don't have a gun? then you lose.
I wouldn't expect anything else from Cruz. What Cruz really means is "I'm running for president and will say anything to get elected." Obama may be going after the stand your ground laws but no one is going to take your guns away. He tried and failed to even get background laws tightened.
What an idiot. His statements weren't about trying to take away your 2nd amendment rights. Taking away the right to just shoot somebody is different than trying to take away your right to bear arms
Amazing, he could give comments without watching Obama's speech. So typical, "shot and aim" Republican style. Sen. Ted Cruz, mind you, this is your last turn.
Ted Cruz needs to get a grip on himself. Does his hatred have to be so very pervasive that no discussion of any subject can not escape it? No mention was made of taking guns – only the need to examine "stand your ground" laws. He also described events and feelings of being a black boy/man in America. Not all utterances from our President need to be attacked, respect for his point of view might be in order.
Guns don't kill people! People kill people.
Only a GOP from Texas would interpret comments on a speech he hasn't yet heard. He doesn't need facts. He just knows there's a black liberal in the oval office and things aren't like they were in 1940, which is the worst sin possible. Time is marching on. It's leaving this guy and his sort behind.
Was Senator Cruz born this ignorant, or did he have to study?