In an effort to learn candidates' views, I am providing a gun rights questionnaire to Tennessee political candidates. Here are candidate Jerome Cochran's answers:
April 7 at 9:37pm
1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?
1. Yes I do.
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?
2. Yes I do.
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
3. I believe that laws that prevent violent felons from owning a gun are permissable. Related to this law, I support background checks prior to purchasing as long they do not cause an undue delay in the purchase of the gun. I also believe the prohibition against the sale of certain military type weapons is permissable.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
4. I believe that laws that restrict the type of gun and ammo you can buy are unconstitutional along with the so called gun show loop hole laws that some states have.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
5. I would support this type of legislation since I believe the right to bear arms is a funamental right protected in the Constitution.
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?
6. Please clarify what you mean by military pattern weapons. I am not sure what that is.
7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?
7. Oppose. It is unnecessary and serves no useful govermental purpose.
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms?
Why?
8. I support licensing for the simple reason in that it requires the individual to take a safety course in using, handling, and storing a gun. If there was a method to teach or require these courses other than licensing I certainly would reconsider my support for licensing.
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
9. Nearly all with the exception of the few I mentioned earlier.
10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
10. During my past service in the legislature I was consistently given an A+ rating by the NRA. I have a proven record of supporting and defending the 2nd Amendment.
If you need clarification of these answers please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, if you can get me info on question 6, I will happy to provide you an answer. Thanks.
Jerome
NOTE: This explanation for question 6 was sent, but I have not received his response yet:
Military pattern weapons would include short barreled rifles and shotguns, as well as fully automatic weapons, like individual soldiers carry into combat. In other words, the modern equivalent of the Revolutionary era militiaman's weapon.
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.
Comments
On question 3, it might be worth some effort to inquirer further on his reference to "certain military type weapons" Is he meaning semi-auto ARs and AKs or is he referring to NFA registered machine guns?
I don't think it matters Chris J, he flunked. He may be better than his opponent, but he is no constitutional purist.
I wouldn't say he flunked, maybe more like a C, at least not until we get his answer to question 6. But given his suspect answer to question 3, we may be able to guess what his answer to 6 is and in my opinion he'd then flunk.
The only other problem answer he gave, in my opinion, was for question 8 on licensing. But to his credit he did at least have his head on his shoulders as for the intent, now if only he would have addressed the potential pitfalls as well, like he did for the undue delay on background checks.
He "supports licensing", "background checks prior to purchasing" and he also "believes the prohibition against the sale of certain military types of weapons is permissable".
Since the definitions of "unalienable" and "infringed" remain the same today as they were in the 18th century when the Bill of Rights was ratified, he obviously doesn't own a dictionary. I only have one question: What part of "shall not be infringed" do you fail to grasp, Mr. Cochran?
Flunked.
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