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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This guy is downright frightening. I know it's been over half a century since the McCarthy era. But I would have thought we would still see this kind of thing for what it is.
Yet another Repubican without the sense to keep his mouth shut. How are such idiots elected??
Cruz admits he has not heard Obama's comments yet he makes the gigantic leap to a violation of the 2nd Amendment!!! Cruz is the reason why people-of-color feel harassed by those who "feel" they don't belong on city streets, in stores, on elevators or anywhere else they have a RIGHT to be! People, please READ the entire Bill of rights and forget ethnicity while you're doing it.
Woohoo. Another republican senator blindly defending guns! That took longer than I expected. Anything Obama says regarding stand your ground is probably a holy war against guns according to crazy cruz.
Shoot before thinking Ted Cruz. Reviewing a law is not the same as banning gun ownership. I don't even see the connection. Get a life Ted Cruz. There is always room for review or changes to a law if there is need for it to be more effective and encompassing.
I disagree. He isnt going after guns. He is alienating half the country as he always does.
Obama has won because the other 20% have been undecided. You have 52% support, 48% against, and 20% undecided. The undecided will be his downfall. They have been silent.
However, the more Obama opens his mouth and gives his opinion the more he scares everyone with a brain in their head.
Might have known it would be a loud-mouthed Texas cowboy type.
What a tool. He has not listened to Obama's remarks yet makes inaccurate and inflammatory statements.
"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". Obama said Useful to examine......where does it say overturn gun laws, trample rights, etc....?.I am ashamed that Cruz (and Cornyn too) are my so called Senators.
I'm glad Ted Cruz has at least been given the privilege of stating his opinion here.
Geez, can the politicians just shutup? The nation is sad and confused right now, no reason to start fighting with each other or take things out of context to get media attention. Obama said the trial was fair, let it alone. Let's unite.
Keep talking, Ted. Every word that comes out of your mouth further drags your party a little farther down the slippery slope of irrelevance.
He's right. Cruz that is !
Keep talking Ted....... You are throwing your own self down the hole with Romney.
Federal government has no right to interfere with State decisions.
What part of "Mind your own damn business" does this President not understand?
Wow, is this guy is really trying to stay relevant...It's sad when you can't see you're making a spectacle of yourself. This is not the time for him to make foolish remarks; show SOME compassion, this matter involved a child!
It surely doesn't take long for a windbag to empty his brain. Absolutely no sign of compassion, no indication that there should be a dialog about what is happening to young black men in this country. Just spilling the garbage written by the gun manufacturers of this country. People there is more to Life, Liberty and the Persute of Happiness in the USA than making use of the second amendment as a tool for the gun lobby. Of course when you don't have anything of value yourself, I guess you have to rely upon them to give you a job! YMMV
Holy Cow, Senator Cruz is crazy and represents everything that is wrong with politicians today. What he said is simply a flat out lie.
Just another Republican blowhard towing the party line. After all, you can't win elections anymore without the NRA's help, right?
President Obama spoke from his heart. The Senator's rebuke demonstrates the still wide gap between the experiences of Black Americans and White Americans particularly with respect to law enforcement.
Maybe he should try listening to the remarks before ripping them. Silly tea party...
WOW. "Stand your ground" law review means give up your guns? I must have missed something.
telling someone that they can shoot someone the moment they feel they are in danger brings the dumb out in people. Zimmerman would not have followed him if he did not have one–see?
Really stand your ground is what he is talking about really why must people be walking around on the streets with guns i love guns for your HOME stand your ground should be for your home, and really i was a security officer in California here they asked IF we was going to get are permit for a gun we had to have are PR24 and pepper spray so we had tool to take an unarmed man down without shooting him. Get real IF you want to play as a cop or security you should haft to be trained like one!
I wish Obama used such fervor to tell us the truth about Benghazi, the IRS, the NSA, and failed gun control enforcement.
Ted Cruz...get over yourself. You have not earned any credibility at all since you've arrived. Try saying something that makes some sense for a change!