Photo from Bud Armstrong campaign site

In an effort to learn candidates' views, I am providing a gun rights questionnaire to Tennessee political candidates. Here are candidate Bud Armstrong's answers:

Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 11:19 PM

As a Life Member of the NRA, attached are my responses.

Gun Rights Questionnaire

1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?

The Constitution is the "supreme law of the land". The Bill of Right only enumerates a few of the inalienable right that God has bestowed on the American People. The Bill of Right does not give citizens rights but limits the Federal Governments power as related to certain rights enumerated.

2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state? 

All rights should be protected from the governments within the bounds of civilized limits and conflicts.

3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.

The Second Amendment.

4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.

All Laws that conflict with the Second Amendment

5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?

I believe it does. However, Tennessee Law will not allow such activity at this time.

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?

Yes but only in accordance with the US Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution.

7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?

I do not support the registration of guns in general. Most registration laws are designed to assist law enforcement and make easy the pursuit of criminal activity at the expense of individual liberties.

8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms?
Why?

Generally oppose. The Second Amendment.

9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?

I am not in a position to get any gun laws repealed as a Commissioner. I can only do that as a general citizen. In Knox County, we have passed resolutions in support of all state carry permits and liberalized such activities in Knox County. The Knoxville City Council however, has not done the same.

10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?

I have already supported these issues by voting to expand State Carry permits in formerly restricted areas such as Parks. I will continue to support the protection of individual gun rights against the restriction of Government.

This questionnaire was developed by National Gun Rights Examiner David Codrea, and is used with his permission. The original site for these questions is HERE. To see his other Examiner works, go HERE. David also writes the War on Guns blog, which can be seen HERE, and writes in Guns Magazine. HERE is a sample from that publication.

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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gunrights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.