Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, said on Sunday that Americans and the government need to “stick to our guns” when it comes to fighting gun control laws for the United States.
The former Pennsylvania senator and presidential candidate appeared in a roundtable discussion on ABC's “This Week” to discuss President Obama’s gun control initiatives and several other key issues along with George Will, Cokie Roberts, former Democratic Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and Matthew Dowd.
At times, particularly during the gun control discussion, the debate got somewhat heated, especially between Santorum and Granholm.
“Given the increasing level of violence in our society, people feel unsafe, said Santorum. “And having a gun and gun ownership is part of how people can feel safer.”
However, the Obama administration is being “disingenuous,” said Santorum. He noted that when Vice-President Joe Biden met with officials from the National Rifle Association, the group brought up the fact that prosecutions are down for people who lie on their registration forms when buying guns.
“The vice president responded 'We don't have time to devote to seeing whether people fill out a form right,'” explained Santorum, questioning whether the Obama administration is “serious” about reducing gun violence.
Santorum, who now heads Patriot Voices, went on to say that more Americans use their weapons to stop violence than people who use them to commit crimes.
Pressed by Roberts as to whether Americans should have access to gun magazines “that can riddle a 6-year-old into shreds,” the former senator responded that there were no restrictions on gun ownership or magazines years ago “and we had a lot less violence in society than we do today.”
He noted that Obama's gun control proposals don't address violent movies, or video games that glorify violence.
Santorum also complained that Obama does not appear to be any closer to compromise at the start of his second term.
“From what I hear, it's going to be guns, it's going to be climate change, both of which are nonstarters up on Capitol Hill, and he knows it,” said Santorum. “If the president really wants to make a difference, he'll lead with immigration, because there's not a single Republican up on Capitol Hill who believes he wants to get it done."
Santorum, nevertheless, said he doesn't expect Obama to change his tone on Capitol Hill, complaining that the president “demonizes Congress on a regular basis.”
“Republicans extend an olive branch,” Santorum said. “Obama says, 'Ah, they're caving. Ah, we got them.' That's not how a leader acts. That's the problem with this administration . . . they're not very gracious winners.”
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