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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"With the right to bear arms comes a great responsibility to use caution and common sense on handgun purchases."
– Ronald Reagan, at George Washington University in a on March 29, 1991.
Senator Cruz does not speak for sensible citizens on this or any other topic. He is an irresponsible shill for the most extreme right wing. That's the group that makes the most noise about what they know nothing about, and are too hungover and too apathetic to show up at the polls to vote.
Ted Cruz is a bright guy, but he needs to put his, ego, ideology, and political ambition aside for the time being, and learn how to be a Senator, not just another Tea Party side show. To comment on sometime that he hasn't even seen is nothing more than pandering to his conservative audience. If anything, it make him appear ill informed.
Sorry bit that law should be reviewed...I do not even know why should exist. The law about self defense is enough .... I understand your GOP people want to promote the selling of guns, but this is not about guns. It is about avoiding confrontations.
@Joe Larch: "Obama should be impeached immediately for trying to put race into this ."
You righties are all a bunch of whimpy whiners with your inability to actually acknowledge the challenges facing our country.
If you want to go after someone, go after GW Bush and his unfunded wars and unfunded Medicare Part D. He lied to the American people to get us into Iraq and then lied to us by not putting the cost of those wars and that bill on the books. He also cut taxes during wartime – something NEVER done before in our nation's history.
so your kid is walking down the street ,a stranger walks up to him and starts asking questions ,your kid fights back the guy shoots him dead,and all you are going to say is ,oh well thats the law .i dont think so
Cruz is a panderer who receives tons of money from a billionaire in Texas. It is one thing to Stand Your Ground in your own home or business, and quite another if you leave your property and follow someone.
Once again, Mr. Cruz demonstrates his own lack of intelligence or integrity.
Ok, this guy is complaining about Obama's "attack" on God and Guns.
So when Obama said that people will cling to their bibles and their guns, ya he was totally wrong with that one...
Hey Cruz – what if it were your kid???
In keeping with recent precedent regarding abortions, Texas should enact a new law to protect the health of the gun owner. All guns must be suitable for military use. A Texas Ranger must be present anytime a gun is fired. No one will be allowed to own a gun unless they live within 30 miles of a hospital.
Ted Cruz is just the kind of elected politician who can come from a state which is just about dead last in the % of registered voters who actually vote. Of course, it's a state that is close to if not dead last in every other life affirming issue you can think of. And I'm a Texan. Cruz is just the latest and worst of the bunch and he actually has a brain. He's just brain dead on social issues. Also look at his face in that photo. Says it all as far as I'm concerned. HATE
Wow, its true, all liberals are stupid, after reading these posts
Senator Cruz, its no wonder with people like you in the GOP why we can't get anything done in this country. No one is taking nobody's guns away.
You go Cruz. Obama represents division, socialism, leading from behind and an embarrassment to US values and morals.
Civil war part 2 coming soon...
Stand your ground laws are an idea suggested/ invented by the NRA to give ordinary people a right to use their expensive precious deadly weapons to actually kill someone else. Isn't this what these weapons are for anyway? Think about it.
People have the right to defend themselves from the crazy people who attack them or their family. But in cases like the Trayvon Martin murder, they should take into account what factored into the result of the event. George should have been convicted for not leaving Martin alone. I've heard all the retorts but fact is he should have identified himself to Trayvon and he didn't. I think for that alone he should have at least got a year or two in prison. My humble opinion.
What don't I understand about the second half of the 2nd Amendment, that says "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, SHALL NOT be infringed?
I for one would like to high five Senator Cruz...to the face...with a chair.
Why does Obama use an excuse for being black which us white people cannot say.."35 years ago" it could have been him. Give me a break....he is the black president.....???? How about the children that were gunned down in CT...and other problems that we have that has NOT been addressed...get a life President and earn the respect and acknowledgement to your PEOPLE>>>>
"The second amendment doesn't say anything at all about your right to shoot guns."
The 1st amend does not say leftist aka progressive socialist rioters can block the streets of America!
Another typical white Race Baiter just like Palin, Faux News, Rush, Talk Radio. The Right will continue to keep low income whites terrified, disgruntled, poor and clinging to their guns. He's disgraceful and another publicity hound just like Palin. He'll chase any story trying to get noticed.
Hey Ted, sometimes a kiss is just a kiss. Stop letting your paranoia led you to false conclusions.
Oh what a surprise, a republican takes a swipe at the president. Why are republicans on the wrong side of every single social issue?