(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.
Ted Cruz never misses an opportunity to show the nation that he is a disgusting person through and through. Whenever I think he has reached bottom, he surprises me.
Cruz may be taking over first place in the Republican race to the bottom.
The republicans seem to be able to criticize everything Obama does.
If Obama walked on water they would say he couldn't swim.
If he brought peace to the world they would complain he is trying to take away our rights to own guns.
There is no leadership among all the republicans – they are just a bunch of 2-year olds upset because they don't always get their way.
They are pathetic.
It is difficult to express the level of distain in which I hold Cruz.
It would definitely due no harm to reexamine some of these laws.
With all the racial overtones of the Zimmerman case, everybody has overlooked the elephant in the room. Widespread access to guns.
There are countries in which police on patrol do not normally carry guns. Why does a neighborhood watch man need one?
I suspect that in Mr. Zimmerman's case, as he lay on the ground, one concern he had was losing control of the gun and having it used against him. Really, that gun was not his friend in the end.
uh really??? another old white guy afraid of everything this is getting old
What difference what Cruz has to say?? We all know he thinks he's a clever racists!
Well, if you're going to make a leap in logic like that, I hope you are wearing a parachute, Sen. Cruz.
Cruz is an idiot and kind of reminds me of one of those crazy chucky dolls gone mad. We have heard all his one liners here in texas and now he is using them on the national stage. Get ready for another crazy entering the Republican Presidential Primaries in 2016.
What difference does it matter what Cruz has to say?? We all know he thinks he's a clever racists!
Ted Cruz is an idiot and America should be ashamed to have someone like this in the US Senate
Lets start the Republican vs Democrat arguing on 3...1...2...3! ! All a bunch of whiny girls and never actually do anything but blame it on each side.. We need new parties or people Non affiliated to run things...
Its amazing , but true ... the republican gets it wrong ... AGAIN . It's a comment on the the feelings of fear and inequality among the African American commu nity when it comes to the justice system , not guns , you moron . I*s it anywonder this country is grid locked like it is when the GOP keeps trotting out these racist nazi's every time the President says anything . Thanks god , that whites will soon be the minority , and I'm white . What a country , huh !!!!!!!
“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"
It's not surprising that right wing nutjobs, it seems, use every opportunity that they can to shoot from the hip and attack anything Obama says, without bothering to actually listen to it first.
Senator, if you didn't listen to the speech or read the transcript, you have no business pontificating about it. Tool.
Ted Cruz is a total psycho.
Yep.
ted Cruz is psychotic.
and as for the soldiers wanting to spread their faith, sorry, but the military isn't the place for that. Evangelize in your off time, off base. We have soldiers of all faiths in our military and the last thing we need is to have members of the armed services arguing religion when they've got important jobs to do. Soldiers can have personal faith in whatever religion they want, and they're free to group with like minded sorts for services or what-have-you, but don't push your religion to others in our military. Senator Cruz is knows a big part of his base is comprised of evangelicals though so rather than legislating to make our military more efficient, or better in any way, he wants to draw attention to an issue that shouldn't have ever come up in the first place.
Ted Cruz is a crazy person.
Another idiots in the work. Cruz is on the way like Backmann.
Why was this story written? It says in the second paragraph Sen. Cruz had not seen the speech yet. Nevermind the garbage he actually said, but there should be nothing else to read after the second paragraph...he should not be talking about something he has not seen! What kind of reporting/journalism is this?
Cruz didn't hear the remark exactly, so he'll make something up just for spite.
It sounds like Sen. Ted Cruz would be OK with every incident of road rage leading to a shootout along the freeway as both sides "Stand their ground". Another idiot in the government. Who votes for these people anyway? Oh yeah.. other idiots, he's a Texas Republican.
Why would Cruz comment on something he has not listened to, that shows a lack of judgement on his part. Cruz talks first and asks questions later. Glad he is not my senator.
Ted Cruz is an arrogant and obnoxious jackhole. Who does he think he is? He's been a senator for a few months, and he needs to sit back and learn how to be one. Instead, he's out there spewing lies and hate. Get over it with the guns already. No one is coming to take them away. It's your right to have them. Saying that Obama is coming to get them just incites people. I really wish Texas would secede from the union. We sure don't need them.