The Star Tribune reports
Few presidents in modern times have been as interested in gun control as Richard Nixon, of all people. He proposed ridding the market of Saturday night specials, contemplated banning handguns altogether and refused to pander to gun owners by feigning interest in their weapons.
Several previously unreported Oval Office recordings and White House memos from the Nixon years show a conservative president who at times appeared willing to take on the National Rifle Association, a powerful gun lobby then as now, even as his aides worried about the political ramifications.
"I don't know why any individual should have a right to have a revolver in his house," Nixon said in a taped conversation with aides. "The kids usually kill themselves with it and so forth." He asked why "can't we go after handguns, period?"
Nixon went on: "I know the rifle association will be against it, the gun makers will be against it." But "people should not have handguns." He laced his comments with obscenities, as was typical.
Hey, let's cite one of the most corrupt president in recent history as a support for gun control!
ReplyDeleteNice company you're keeping there asshat.
Nixon is an excellent example of gun control freaks. He was deeply paranoid, caring mostly about his own power and about attacking his perceived enemies.
ReplyDeleteWhy else would one feel compelled to reach out personally to Charmain Mao? Mao felt such an affection (almost a sense of brotherhood) for Nixon, that Mao arranged for Nixon to visit China just before he expired a (suitably excruciating demise) from Lou Gehrig's disease.
DeleteAside from his many (authoritarian) drawbacks, Nixon likely achieved more good than any other president in the 21st Century, authoring many progressive Civil Rights legislation while in the Senate. It was Nixon who originally conceived of the lion share of the "Great Society" agenda, ended the Vietnam War, Abolished (suspended) the Draft, Presided over the Apollo moon landings, and did much to ensure the financial stability of America, only to be betrayed, and his teachings lost to the national leadership for the last three decades.
Given the millions that Chairman Mao murdered, I do hope his death was particularly unpleasant.
DeleteCrooked politicians love gun control. Got it.
ReplyDeleteJust in the last week, mikeb has been on the side of Reagan, Hitler, and now, Nixon. I'm guessing Stalin, Mao, and Pot Pol are next.
ReplyDeleteorlin sellers
Orlin,
DeleteWho suspended the draft?
Who ended the Vietnam excursion?
Who proposed sweeping Civil Rights legislation, decades before it was passed by the Charybdis of hypocrisy that was the Johnson administration?
Given his less than fervent support of the Constitution, he makes a fine example for many gun control advocates.
ReplyDelete