Dear Mr. Cain,
Many conservatives have been touting your candidacy for president as cause for great hope that they will be able to support someone who understands limited government and freedom. That’s why your answers to Wolf Blitzer’s questions on gun control (see sidebar video player at 3:04 mark) have raised concerns among right to keep and bear arms advocates.
Specifically, you affirmed your belief that “states or local government [should] be allowed to control guns.” That's the same "home rule" position advocated by the Brady Campaign.
Some in the conservative camp are trying to find excuses for you, telling us not to panic and that you “slipped up a bit.” Some, hopeful for your candidacy, urge us to cut you some slack and give you an opportunity to clarify what you meant.
Glad to. Here’s a questionnaire I’ve been using for some years—managing to get quite a few responses from some major players in the last election cycle. I developed it because a lot of politicians tell us they’re “staunch supporters” of the right to keep and bear arms, but don’t really tell us what they mean by that—and then go on to show us their big “buts,” as in “I strongly support the second Amendment but [insert infringement here].”
That is precisely what you just did.
If you’re sticking with what you affirmed to Wolf Blitzer—and you did tell him “yes” three times after he gave you a chance to clarify things—that’s something we deserve to know. If, on the other hand, you “simply misfired in response to Blitzer’s flurry of questions,” as some apologists suggest, here’s an opportunity to tell gun-owning voters exactly where you stand—that is, if you’ll take your time and answer these questions unequivocally and with forethought:
1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern, and will you use the prestige of elected office to publicly promote that right?
7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
Mr. Cain, it's past time for people who would presume to represent us to show us they understand what our rights are. As someone seeking power, I expect you to consider the right to keep and bear arms not as an embarrassing lip service requirement, but as an enshrined unalienable right. And I don't want you just to defend the right; I want you to proudly champion it.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be an important enough priority to your campaign to even be listed on your “issues” page.
I note your campaign slogan is “Let’s get real.” Done. Your response or refusal to provide one will be shared.
I hope you respond and I hope you respond well. You have a lot of good qualities, experience and insights that make your candidacy both intriguing and attractive. But the job you’re applying for is a bit more involved than selling pizza. And not understanding how to serve up and deliver basic liberty will cause some of us to take our business elsewhere.
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“No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give the Congress a power to disarm the people. Such a flagitious attempt could only be made under a general pretence by a state legislature. But if in any pursuit of an inordinate power either should attempt it, this amendment may be appealed to as a restraint on both.”—William Rawle, “A View of the Constitution” (standard Constitutional law text at Harvard and Dartmouth until the mid-19th Century)
UPDATE: A reader suggested sharing the Cain campaign contact form link so others can add their voice in requesting he answer these questions. Here it is.
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Help wanted--inquire within
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