Reagan and the NRA

And speaking of gun control, Ronald Reagan made this speech to members of the NRA shortly after being shot by John Hinkley in 1981. Reagan said:

It’s a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun control laws. I happen to know this from personal experience.

You know, I’ve always felt a special bond with the members of your group. You live by Lincoln’s words, “Important principles may and must be inflexible.” Your philosophy put its trust in people. So, you insist on individuals being held responsible for their actions. The NRA believes that America’s laws were made to be obeyed and that our constitutional liberties are just as important today as 200 years ago.

And by the way, the Constitution does not say that government shall decree the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution says “… the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” [Applause] Thank you very much. I wish I’d saved that and said it last. [Laughter]

But I believe we share the same goal, a strong America, carrying the banner of freedom and secure from threats to our domestic tranquility, economic well-being, and national security.

No group does more to promote gun safety and respect for the laws of this land than the NRA, and I thank you. Still, we’ve both heard the charge that supporting gunowners rights encourages a violent, shoot-em-up society. But just a minute. Don’t they understand that most violent crimes are not committed by decent, law-abiding citizens? They’re committed by career criminals. Guns don’t make criminals. Hard-core criminals use guns. And locking them up, the hard-core criminals up, and throwing away the key is the best gun-control law we could ever have.