“[CaliforniaRepublican gubernatorial candidate] Neel Kashkari said Wednesday that he owns four guns and supports gun rights but -” Stop! I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: there are not ifs, ands or buts when it comes to the Second Amendment. “Shall not be infringed” does not have an asterisk indicating conditions where the right to keep and bear arms can be infringed by the government (e.g. in the interests of public safety). Putting the word “but” after expressing support for the law of the land regarding firearms freedom is like saying “I support the right to drink sugar drinks but not if they’re a danger to the consumer’s health.” OK, so, blogs.sacbee.com reports that Kashkari told a group of college Republicans at California State University, Sacramento that . . .
he’s “not running on an agenda of the Second Amendment.” In fact, “If you’re a single issue voter, and you just want someone to give you a full capacity assault rifle magazine, God bless you, you can go vote for somebody else. I’m not your guy.”
No. No he’s not. Check this:
“I do know philosophically that I deeply believe in protecting my own gun rights, and that means protecting your gun rights,” Kashkari said. “But I also believe that, you know, we need to be reasonable about things.”
Kashkari spoke broadly against “layering more gun rules on me, on responsible gun owners,” saying additional restrictions will not prevent gun violence or make people safer. But the former U.S. Treasury Department official said he does not oppose waiting periods or background checks, which he said “didn’t inconvenience me in the slightest” when he has purchased guns.
Kashkari also said, “I’m not fearful of the Army coming and marching on my home, so I don’t have guns to try to defend myself against the Army. I have guns for my own sport, for my own personal protection, etcetera.”
Kashkari said after the event that he owns two 9mm Glock 17 pistols, one Weatherby rifle and one shotgun, a Remington 870 Express.
When a student suggested the purpose of the Second Amendment is to ensure citizens can overthrow a tyrannical government, if necessary, Kashkari said, “I understand that, and I hear you on that, but if the Army decides to come in with an M1 tank, good luck.”
No matter how much backpedaling and prevarication Kashkari posts on his 2A supporter-besieged Twitter account, the guy is not a friend of ours. “I’m a gun owner and believe in responsible gun ownership. Thanks,” Kashkari Tweets. To be fair, Neel did give us a heads-up. “Jobs and education,” his Twitter account proclaims. “That’s it!” I guess liberty doesn’t get a look in. I hope this isn’t the best that California voters can get.