It seems that many of my best bloging friends are jumping onto the Fred Thompson bandwagon. I am not, and will not. I have serious doubts that I will at any point. Long time readers of this blog are more than aware that my biggest domestic political issues are the first, and second amendment.
Senator Thompson supported McCain Feingold, and apparently still does. That alone, is enough for disqualification in my book.
He also supported, and apparently still does support the Lautenberg Act. That would be the one that turned Anglo American Law on it’s head; Ex Post Facto application of law, the taking of Civil Liberties based upon less than felony conviction, or serious mental disorder, the blocking of any ability for restoring those rights, and, the de facto sexist enforcement of said laws.
Senator Thompson also took great pride in helping to destroy American Tradition by making it impossible for young people to actually own a firearm. No, thanks to Fred and company, you cannot any longer give little Johnny his very first 22 rifle or shotgun.
Check the following for further documentation;
http://gunowners.org/pres08/thompson2.htm
Fred Thompson: “Generally” Consistent
by Craig Fields
Director of Internet Operations
When a person simply musing about the possibility of running for the GOP presidential nomination finds himself essentially tied with the Democratic frontrunner overnight,1 something has happened.
That something was a collective sigh of relief across America’s conservative base. Finally (it was thought), a high-profile candidate… without the liberal baggage of a Giuliani, Romney or McCain.
That’s because Thompson is relatively conservative in his overall philosophy. He has no need to convince voters that he has changed his ways and now sees the light, because he has been fairly consistent throughout his career.
He is in his own words “against gun control, generally.”2 And his voting record shows that to be true, generally. When he voted anti-gun, it was usually to expand federal authority. This is unfortunately consistent with his being a “law and order conservative” (pardon the pun). A complete report on each individual vote is appended below.
Gun owners should also be aware that Thompson unabashedly favors the odious McCain-Feingold Incumbent Protection Act. This legislation, characterized by its proponents as campaign finance reform, severely limits the abilities of groups like GOA to inform the public about the gun rights voting records of politicians already in office. In many cases, it becomes illegal to even mention a politician’s name in on-air advertising the month before an election. Thompson — having voted in favor of the restrictions several times — thinks doing so is “not a non-conservative position, although I agree that a lot of people have interpreted it that way.”3
Fred Thompson was elected to the Senate as a Republican in 1994 — the 105th Congress — to fill the remaining two years of then-Vice-President Al Gore’s term. Thompson was reelected (handily) in 1996 to a full six-year term.
The timing was such that many of his “gun votes” on Capitol Hill came during the hysteria following the Columbine tragedy in 1999. It seemed that everyone in the country (except GOA supporters) considered it a foregone conclusion that something regarding gun control had to pass Congress that summer.
The Republican Leadership, especially in the Senate, adopted a “Gun Control Lite” strategy — hoping to preclude major gun bans by passing specific and less onerous restrictions that were largely extensions of current law.
Happily, GOA supporters rose up in truly Herculean fashion that summer, and when the smoke cleared no new gun control at all had made it to the President’s desk. Thompson’s actions at that time were somewhat haphazard (he voted both for and against the “Lite” strategy at different points, while voting against most, but not all, anti-gun amendments brought by other Senators).
In total, GOA tracked 33 votes in the U.S. Senate while Thompson was there. He voted pro-gun 19 times. Those votes are detailed below:
| The U.S. Senate Debated: |
Thompson |
| Government wiretapping of innocent citizens.4 |
Anti-gun |
| Anti-gun terror bill (S. 735 ).5 |
Anti-gun |
| Taxpayer funding to anti-gun lobby groups.6 |
Pro-gun |
| Taxpayer funding to anti-gun groups — 2nd vote.7 |
Pro-gun |
| Anti-gun terror bill — final passage.8 |
Anti-gun |
| Taggants in gunpowder.9 |
Anti-gun |
| Lautenberg Domestic Confiscation gun ban.10 |
Anti-gun |
| Kohl “Gun Free Zones” ban.11 |
Pro-gun |
| Free Speech restrictions.12 |
Anti-gun |
| Smith “Anti-Brady” Amendment.13 |
Anti-gun |
| Gutting of the Smith “Anti-Brady” Amendment.14 |
Pro-gun |
| Banning the importation of magazines.15 |
Pro-gun |
| Mandatory unsafe gun storage requirements.16 |
Pro-gun |
| “Lock Up Your Safety” mandatory trigger locks.17 |
Pro-gun |
| Anti-gun Clinton judge appointment.18 |
Anti-gun |
| Anti-gun Surgeon General.19 |
Anti-gun |
| Ending the filibuster of a major anti-gun crime bill.20 |
Anti-gun |
| Background registration checks.21 |
Pro-gun |
| Banning private sales of firearms at gun shows.22 |
Pro-gun |
| Anti-gun juvenile crime bill (S. 254).23 |
Pro-gun |
| Mandatory trigger locks with new handgun sales.24 |
Pro-gun |
| Hatch-Craig Gun Control “Lite”.25 |
Pro-gun |
| More severe regulation of internet gun sales.26 |
Pro-gun |
| Young adult gun ban.27 |
Anti-gun |
| Medium-capacity magazine ban.28 |
Pro-gun |
| Adopting the “Gun Control Lite” strategy.29 |
Anti-gun |
| Gun show ban.30 |
Pro-gun |
| Praising the gun control mommies.31 |
Pro-gun |
| Senate instructions to pass gun control (Reed).32 |
Pro-gun |
| Senate instructions to pass gun control (Boxer).33 |
Pro-gun |
| Attacking gun makers in court.34 |
Pro-gun |
| McCain’s Incumbent Protection (2000 version).35 |
Anti-gun |
| Incumbent Protection (2002 failed filibuster).36 |
Anti-gun |
1A national telephone survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports March 21-22, 2007 showed Thompson at 44% vs. then-Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton at 43%.
2Fox News Sunday, March 11, 2007, transcript at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258222,00.html.
3Ibid.
4On June 6, 1995, the Senate voted for “roving wiretaps” by a vote of 77-19. This amendment to the government terror bill (S. 735) would allow government officials to wiretap one’s home if a person under investigation visits the home — even if one had no knowledge the person was a suspect. Thompson voted in favor of this expansion of government power.
5On June 7, 1995, the Senate passed an anti-gun terror bill (S. 735) by a vote of 91-8. This version of the terror bill included: a BATF pay increase of $100 million; a provision authorizing “roving wiretaps” allowing government officials to wiretap one’s home if a person under investigation visits the home — even if one had no knowledge the person was a suspect; a weakening of the Posse Commitatus law to give the military more authority to get involved in law enforcement in certain circumstances; a grant of power to the FBI to conduct “fishing expeditions” and secure one’s financial and travel records in certain circumstances without any evidence one has committed a crime; and finally, the “Randy Weaver entrapment provision” which extends the statute of limitations for violations under the National Firearms Act of 1934 from three to five years. Thompson voted in favor of the bill.
6On November 9, 1995, the Senate rejected (by a vote of 49 to 46) the so-called Simpson-Istook provision which would restrict welfare to lobby organizations. This provision was of great interest to pro-gun groups as it would help “level the playing field” by severely limiting federal dollars to groups that have often lobbied for gun control — groups like the American Bar Association, the American Association of Retired Persons and many, many others.
7On November 9, 1995, the Senate passed a compromise version of the Simpson-Istook provision (see note 6). The compromise which passed would only limit those non-profit groups with budgets of more than $3 million from both lobbying and receiving federal grants.
8On April 17, 1996, the Senate passed the conference version of the anti-terrorism bill by a vote of 91-8. The final version of the bill (S. 735) contained several problems, including ones that will: order an “anti-hunter” rifle and ammo study; authorize a $40 million pay increase for the BATF (through the Treasury Department); potentially punish gun dealers (and individuals) for selling ammunition to someone they should have known would commit a violent crime; federalize many state crimes, thus tremendously increasing the scope and jurisdiction of the BATF; restrict the right of habeas corpus in such a way as to severely damage the ability of the courts to rescue honest gun owners who are unjustly incarcerated; allow the government to use “secret evidence” against certain individuals; remove protections against wiretapping wireless data; and require banks to freeze the assets of domestic groups in certain situations. Thompson once again voted in favor of the bill.
9On September 12, 1996, the Senate voted (57-42) to keep an anti-gun amendment off of the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). The Kerry amendment — which Thompson voted for — would have made funds available for a study of tagging explosive materials, including black and smokeless powders (thus setting the stage for registering ammunition). The amendment also sought to further demonize firearms by selectively examining the misuse of firearms by criminals. The study would not examine the number of times firearms are used to save the lives of decent citizens.
10On September 12, 1996, the Senate passed the Lautenberg gun ban as an amendment to the Treasury-Postal appropriations bill (H.R. 3756). The Lautenberg Domestic Confiscation Gun Ban disarms gun owners for small (misdemeanor) offenses in the home — “offenses” as slight as spanking a child or grabbing a spouse. This lifetime ban, in certain cases, can even be imposed without a trial by jury. It is also retroactive, so it does not matter if the offense occurred 20 years ago. Thompson voted in favor of the amendment.
11On September 12, 1996, the Senate failed to defeat an anti-gun amendment introduced by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI). The Kohl Gun Free Zones Ban creates a virtual one-half mile wide “gun free” circle around every American school (or a 1,000 foot zone going in any direction from any school) — a zone which could even include home schools.
12On October 7, 1997, the Senate defeated an “Incumbent Protection Bill” (S. 25) which would have resulted in the government regulation of GOA’s newsletters and other communications with its members, while expanding the relative political power of the liberal media and other anti-gun forces. Senators failed in their effort, 53 to 47, to shut down a filibuster of the bill that was ostensibly aimed at reforming campaign finance laws.
13On July 21, 1998, pro-gun Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) introduced an “Anti-Brady” amendment that passed by a vote of 69-31. The Smith amendment would prohibit the FBI from using Brady background checks to tax or register gun owners. Further, the amendment requires the “immediate destruction of all [gun buyer] information, in any form whatsoever.” Finally, if the FBI disregards this latter provision, the Smith language will allow private citizens to sue the agency and collect monetary damages, including attorney’s fees. Thompson, in keeping with his tendency to usually vote for expanded federal police power, voted against this limitation of FBI registration of gun owners.
14After the Senate passed the landmark Smith amendment by a veto-proof vote of 69-31, a joint House-Senate appropriations conference committee severely weakened its language when reporting it as part of the Omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 4328). Originally, the Smith amendment provided for three things (see note 13 above.) Unfortunately, the requirement to immediately destroy the names was deleted. And, the “private cause of action” was stripped from the bill, meaning that aggrieved gun owners must rely on “oversight” of the FBI to obtain any relief. In a letter sent to Capitol Hill before the vote, GOA urged legislators to vote against the appropriations bill rather than accept this egregious compromise. Nonetheless, The Senate passed the Omnibus bill on October 21, 1998 by a vote of 65-29.
15On July 28, 1998, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) offered an anti-gun provision as an amendment to S. 2312. Her language would prohibit the importation of firearm magazines holding over 10 rounds that were manufactured before the 1994 semi-auto ban was enacted.
16The Senate on July 22, 1998, defeated an anti-gun amendment introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) by a vote of 69-31. Durbin’s provision would make it a federal crime to keep a firearm and ammunition on your premises under the following conditions: you know or should know that a juvenile can gain access to your firearm, and a juvenile does obtain access to it and does as little as exhibit it. Exceptions are provided for guns stored under major security measures (such as lock boxes), for police, or for self-defense.
17The Senate on July 21, 1998, defeated a “lock-up-your-safety” amendment by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that would make it a federal violation — subject to a $10,000 “civil penalty” — for an FFL dealer to transfer a firearm to a non-dealer without a trigger lock or comparable locking device.
18On February 11, 1998, the Senate voted 67-28 to confirm Margaret Morrow to the Federal bench. GOA vigorously opposed this Clinton-appointed judge, as she has not only taken strident anti-gun positions, she has showed herself to be a gun control activist.
19Having nominated anti-gun David Satcher for Surgeon General, President Bill Clinton was forced to wait several months as debate raged over his controversial pick. But on February 10, 1998, the President finally realized victory. By a vote of 75-23, anti-gun Republicans teamed up with the Democrats to kill the filibuster over the Satcher nomination. Mr. Satcher was later confirmed by a vote of 63-35. Since the key vote was to end the filibuster, that is the one that was rated by GOA.
20On July 28, 1999, the Senate ended a filibuster led by Senator Bob Smith (I-NH) — a filibuster intended to keep anti-gun crime legislation from progressing any further. After the 77-22 vote, the Senate moved to send the language of the anti-gun Senate crime bill (S. 254) to a House-Senate conference committee. Thompson voted to break the pro-gun filibuster.
21On May 20, 1999, Republican Senators Gordon Smith (OR) and James Jeffords (VT) offered up more restrictions on the sale of firearms. Their amendment, which passed 79-21, subjects pawn shop and repair shop transactions to the same registration and background check requirements as purchases from dealers.
22After a series of votes on provisions relating to gun shows, this amendment offered by Sen. Lautenberg of New Jersey gained the ascendancy. This amendment would ban private sales at gun shows– sales between two PRIVATE individuals — unless the buyer first submits to a background registration check. (Private firearms sales must be routed through a licensed dealer, and the purchase of more than one handgun by an individual will result in that information being sent to the BATF.) Even displaying a firearm at a gun show, and subsequently transferring that gun to a non-licensee (if it is displayed with a notice that it is for sale), will result in a two-year prison sentence– five years for the second violation. This amendment would also impose a series of restrictions and requirements upon gun show promoters. Finally, this provision grants BATF open-ended inspection authority to harass vendors at gun shows, and explicitly gives BATF the right to keep a gun owner registration list for up to 90 days. On May 20, 1999, this amendment passed 51-50, with Vice President Al Gore breaking the tie.
23The Senate passed the gun control laden juvenile crime bill by a 73-25 vote on May 20, 1999. Besides the several provisions related to punishing juveniles who commit crimes, S. 254 contained several gun control amendments (such as not allowing teenagers to even touch certain semi-autos, a ban on magazine imports, a ban on private sales at gun shows, and mandatory trigger locks).
24On May 18, 1999, the Senate passed an amendment introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R) and Herb Kohl (D). This amendment forces gun sellers to include trigger locks with every handgun sold.
25On May 14, 1999, the Senate passed the Hatch-Craig gun control amendment by a 48-47 vote in an attempt to stave off a more severe version of gun control favored by Senate Democrats. Nonetheless, this “gun control lite” amendment would impose several Second Amendment restrictions. It would ban ANY private sale at a gun show that does not first go through a background registration check. In addition, the Hatch-Craig amendment would assign one U.S. attorney in every district exclusively to harass gun owners. And of the $50,000,000 allocated towards this purpose, a full $40 million of it will go to increasing the presence of the BATF– not to investigate murders, violent felonies, or crimes of violence, but to pursue “firearms” offenses (most of which will be recordkeeping and other innocuous errors by law-abiding Americans). It would also impose a lifetime gun ban for juveniles committing youthful indiscretions at a very young age; extend the arcane and confusing juvenile handgun ban to semi-autos; and increase penalties for violating the almost incomprehensible regulations governing the circumstances under which one may legally take one’s child hunting or target shooting with a handgun or semi-auto.
26On May 14, 1999, the Senate tabled (or defeated) an amendment introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) that would regulate the transfer of firearms over the Internet.
27The young adult gun ban could severely punish parents who allow their kids to even touch a so-called semi-automatic “assault weapon.” While the amendment allows for certain exemptions, there are some imponderable questions which NO senator could answer, but which a parent would have to answer in order to avoid incarceration. For example: What is a “semiautomatic assault weapon”? The definition, plus exemptions, takes up six pages of fine print in the U.S. Code. Second, a child can handle a banned semi-auto if he is in the “immediate and supervisory presence” of a parent or if he possess a written permission slip from the parent. But what happens when, during a target practice session, the parent walks to the car to retrieve his lunch and the juvenile is no longer in the parents “immediate” presence and does not have a permission slip? A parent can receive jail time for this infraction. The provision passed the Senate on May 13, 1999, with Thompson voting in the majority.
28Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) pushed an amendment through the Senate on May 13, 1999. The provision would ban the importation of any magazine that can hold over 10 rounds– no matter when the magazine was manufactured. The Senate passed the amendment on a voice vote after Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) put forth a motion to table (or kill) the amendment. His attempt to stop the amendment failed by a vote of 59-39; since that was the deciding vote, it is the one that was rated by GOA.
29On May 13, 1999, a majority of Senators — including Thompson — defeated a motion to table (or kill) an anti-gun amendment introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Larry Craig (R-UT). This amendment was offered as an alternative to gun control proposals being pushed by Sen. Frank Lautenberg. [For specifics of the amendment, see note 22.]
30On May 12, 1999, the Senate tabled (defeated) an amendment introduced by anti-gun Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on a vote of 51-47. The provision would have banned the private sales of firearms at gun shows unless buyers submitted to background registration checks. Draconian restrictions would have also been imposed on gun show promoters.
31On May 17, 2000 Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) offered a resolution praising the marchers at the so-called Million Mom March, and calling on Congress to pass the anti-gun juvenile crime bill. The non-binding resolution narrowly passed 50-49.
32On Thursday, April 6, 2000, the Senate attached a non-binding gun amendment to the budget bill for 2001. The Senate voted 53-47 in favor of an amendment offered by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)– a non-binding provision that asks the House-Senate conferees to get the juvenile anti-gun bill to the floor of each house in no more than two weeks.
33On March 1, 2000, Sen. Barbara Boxer failed in her attempt to instruct House-Senate conferees to finish its work on the anti-gun juvenile crime bill. After attacking Gun Owners of America for its refusal to compromise and for opposing firearms restrictions, Boxer saw her non-binding resolution fail on a 49-49 tie.
34On February 2, 2000, Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered an anti-gun amendment to S. 625 in an effort to help the cities bringing frivolous suits against gun makers. Specifically, the Levin amendment prevents gun makers from declaring legitimate bankruptcy, and thus, discharging any enormous judgments that result from frivolous lawsuits. The amendment failed on a 68-29 vote.
35By 59 to 41, the Senate passed S. 27, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to include Incumbent Protection provisions. The bill severely curtails the ability of outside groups such as GOA to communicate the actions of incumbent politicians to members and supporters prior to an election.
36This was the key vote in the Senate regarding the odious Incumbent Protection bill in 2002 (H.R. 2356). The legislation (see note 35 above) finally became law that year. As he had on previous occasions, Thompson voted in favor of the bill.
So there you have it friends. He looks like a classic Washington insider to me.
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 