Dallas County Democrats
State Republican Platforms: Public Safety

These are excerpts from Platforms and Resolutions passed by various state Republican parties this year. They show how far out of the mainstream are the extremists that have taken over the Republican party.

• Texas: The Party believes that most crime is local and that the states, according to the Tenth Amendment, reserve law enforcement authority. Implementing this policy would effectively eliminate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, which we would applaud.
• California: We oppose gun registration. We support passage of statewide criteria to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.
• Iowa: We support the right of every law abiding adult citizen to carry a concealed or unconcealed weapon.
• Washington: Therefore, we support: ... Stopping the federalization of various criminal activities, because crime is primarily a local problem.
• Georgia: We hereby resolve that we urge and instruct our elected Representatives to oppose any legislation which would restrict the ownership of firearms by law-abiding citizens and instruct them further to work to repeal existing restrictive legislation such as the Lautenberg Bill, which prohibits gun ownership upon conviction of a misdemeanor.
• Iowa: We support the repeal of state and federal hate crimes legislation.
• Oregon: Regulation of law abiding citizens in the purchasing, owning, transporting and responsible use of firearms, their sighting devices, or ammunition must be revoked. Further, we support the right of all law abiding citizens to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
• Wisconsin: We believe in self-control, not gun control. Republicans: Undermining Public Safety:
• California: We call for the elimination of waiting periods that prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing firearms and support implementation of an instant background check system that protects law-abiding citizens while guaranteeing their rights.
• Georgia: We recognize that "hate crimes" legislation creates what it seeks to eliminate by fostering division between citizens in our society. We hereby resolve to urge our elected Republicans to oppose "hate crimes" legislation.
• Idaho: The Idaho Republican Party supports the right to bear arms as guaranteed by the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution and commends efforts of organizations to preserve and foster that right.
• Iowa: We reaffirm the 2nd Amendment right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. We also support gun control laws that stress immediate background checks and recommend, but do not require, firearms safety classes. However, we oppose the requiring of any law-abiding citizen to register and/or license their firearms. We further strongly oppose the use of immediate background checks to create a firearm registry now or in the future.
• Missouri: Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party supports: ... the strict enforcement of existing gun laws and is opposed to the creation of new and unnecessary gun control laws; Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party supports: ... the efforts of Legislators to allow law-abiding Missourians to carry concealed firearms.
• Nebraska: We oppose additional gun control legislation and reaffirm our support of the Second Amendment of the Constitution which guarantees the individual right to keep and bear arms. ... We encourage the Nebraska Legislature to amend current law to permit trained, law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms for personal protection.
• Nevada: We affirm the Second Amendment rights of individuals to keep and bear arms, and support the repeal of legislation infringing on these rights.
• New Hampshire: We... Oppose any legislation to further restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms and justly defend themselves, their families and their property. Repeal existing legislation which is inconsistent with 2nd Amendment rights.
• North Carolina: As Republicans, we defend the right of individuals to bear arms for any law-abiding activity, and oppose governmental efforts to restrict the ownership, sale, purchase and lawful carry of firearms by honest citizens.
• Oregon: Resolved: ... That the Oregon Republican Party is opposed to any and all forms of background checks for gun sales that require information other than that concerning the buyer, as collecting information on the seller or gun is merely a form of gun registration and intimidates law-abiding citizens desiring to bear arms. Resolved: ... That the Oregon Republican Party believes that law-abiding citizens should not require permission from any level of government to bear arms in a manner of their choosing. Resolved: ... That the Oregon Republican Party is opposed to any and all forms of gun registration, as recent history in this country and abroad have demonstrated that registration is merely a prelude to confiscation. Resolved: ... That the Oregon Republican Party is opposed to any record keeping by the government concerning civilian sales, background checks, or gun ownership.
• Texas: The Party calls upon the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress to Repeal any and all law that infringe upon the right of individual citizens to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution; and to reject the establishment of any mechanism to process, license, record, register to monitor the ownership of guns.
• Washington: We oppose any attempt by government to diminish the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, including ammunition and accessories. We support: ... The State of Washington entering into a reciprocal agreement with other States for concealed weapons permits. Therefore, we support: ... The fact that all crime is based on malice. To consider some crimes especially serious based on the protected status of the victim or supposed "mental state" of the criminal, the concept of "hate crime," is unnecessary.
• Wisconsin: We... oppose all efforts to restrict the ownership, manufacture, transfer, or sale of firearms by law-abiding adult citizens. We further oppose all efforts to require registration of firearms in the possession of law-abiding citizens, as well as efforts to bankrupt firearms manufacturers through frivolous, unethical lawsuits. Be it further resolved that the costs of building and operating new and existing prisons be partially defrayed by privatizing the operation of prisons and by encouraging public contributions to the cause. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Republican Party of Wisconsin, in convention assembled, that the State of Washington shall license law-abiding adult citizens to carry concealed weapons for self-defense and other lawful purposes upon showing proficiency in the use of such weapons.

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