Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Clinton Her Old Self During Interview

Friday, August 5, 2016

Clinton Her Old Self During Interview

Last weekend, Democratic Party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, where she was asked about the Second Amendment, the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, and whether court decisions constitute precedent that should be respected.

Clinton answered, or did she? Here’s the exchange between Wallace and Clinton, beginning at 4:05 in this video:

Wallace: At a fundraiser last year, you said this: “The Supreme Court is wrong on the Second Amendment.” Now, in the 2008 Heller case, the Court said that there is a constitutional, individual right to bear arms. What’s wrong with that?

Clinton: Well, I think what the Court said about there being an individual right is in line with constitutional thinking and, I said in the [Democratic Party National] convention, I’m not looking to repeal the Second Amendment, I’m not looking to take people’s guns away. But I am looking for more support for the reasonable efforts that need to be undertaken to keep guns out of the wrong hands. 

Wallace: And the Second Amendment includes an individual right to bear arms.

Clinton: Yes, but that right, like every other of our rights—our First Amendment rights, every right that we have—is open to and even subject to reasonable regulations . . . 

[Note: Clinton currently advocates banning the AR-15 and other semi-automatic firearms that gun control supporters call “assault weapons,” banning any firearm magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds, mandatory background checks on all gun transfers, prohibiting the possession of firearms by people mistakenly placed on the TSA “no fly” list, and repealing the law that protects firearm manufacturers against lawsuits seeking to hold them financially responsible for the acts of criminals.]

Wallace: I just want to pursue this a little bit, because Heller—Justice [Antonin] Scalia—he said that the right to bear arms is reasonably limited. He left the door open to regulation. If you’re elected president, you’re going to appoint the ninth Supreme Court justice.

Clinton: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Wallace: Are you saying you do not want to see the Heller decision, the individual right to bear arms, overturned?

Clinton: No, I don’t, but here’s what I do want, and I want to be very clear about this. I want the Congress to step up and do its job. I want to get out of the horrible cycle we’re in, where we go and mourn dozens, hundreds, thousands of people killed by gun violence. Everybody says, “oh, let’s pray, let’s, you know, send our hearts and our feelings,” and then nothing happens. We’re better than this. The gun lobby intimidates elected officials. The vast majority of Americans, including gun owners, support the kind of common sense reforms that I’m proposing.

Wallace then questioned Clinton about her opinion that the president has the constitutional power to rewrite immigration law through executive action. Wallace asked, “Aren’t you changing the law? Aren’t you writing the law?”

Clinton began answering relative to immigration, but quickly expanded her answer to relate to court decisions on other issues.

Clinton: No, because here’s what I think: The Supreme Court has sent back for trial the challenges to the president’s authority to take categories of people and remove the threat of deportation.

Wallace: And as president, you would be able to name the (ninth) justice who could break the tie.

Clinton: . . . That is true, that I hope that I will have that chance, because it’s not just that. It’s [the Supreme Court’s decision in] Citizens United [which removed restrictions on political advocacy by groups like the NRA]. It’s a lot of things that I think the current Court got wrong. Got wrong, respectfully, for our democracy.

Wallace: So you would like to see all those things changed with your Supreme Court justice.

Clinton: Well, whoever the next president is will get to appoint at least one, maybe more Supreme Court justices, and there are a lot of decisions that I approve of that this Court has made. First and foremost, marriage equality. But there are decisions that I do think, when taken to their natural conclusion, have hurt our democracy, undermined our economy.

Wallace: But what about [legal] precedent?

Clinton: The precedent is absolutely in line. You know, I taught law. I’m a [unintelligible] lawyer. I know that precedent is something that you look to. But I also know that courts can take a look at precedent and determine that maybe they weren’t right the first time.

Unfortunately, Clinton never said why she believes “The Supreme Court is wrong on the Second Amendment,” and Wallace let her get away with it. Whether anyone will believe that she considers the Second Amendment to protect an individual right is doubtful. Not only do her past statements about gun control indicate otherwise, it appears that many Americans don’t believe Clinton on just about anything. The latest CNN poll found that that 68 percent of registered voters think that Clinton is not “honest and trustworthy,” and on Monday the Washington Post Fact Checker gave Clinton “Four Pinocchios” for claiming that she has been truthful with the FBI and the American people about her private email server and her mishandling of classified information.

Clinton probably got closest to the truth when she said that she disagrees with some court decisions, and that courts can reverse earlier decisions. If so, gun owners know which ones she had in mind, Heller and McDonald v. Chicago, which applied the Heller ruling nationwide.

TRENDING NOW
U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

NRA and 2A Allies Announce NFA Lawsuit

Monday, July 7, 2025

NRA and 2A Allies Announce NFA Lawsuit

Following the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—which eliminates the National Firearms Act of 1934’s (NFA) excise tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs—the National Rifle Association issued a joint statement along with the ...

Congress Passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Now Headed to President Trump

News  

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Congress Passes the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Now Headed to President Trump

Earlier today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill contained a provision that would, among other things, eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, ...

United Nation’s Attack on Ammunition Formally Begins

News  

Monday, July 7, 2025

United Nation’s Attack on Ammunition Formally Begins

The recently concluded negotiations on the United Nations’ Global Framework on Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management (Framework) should be of grave concern to anyone who values the constitutional protections afforded by the Second Amendment. 

U.K. Embarks on Fresh Knife Amnesty, Reminds Americans Why 1776 was a Good Idea

News  

Monday, July 7, 2025

U.K. Embarks on Fresh Knife Amnesty, Reminds Americans Why 1776 was a Good Idea

It has been a while since we’ve looked at weapon news from across the pond, but with Americans everywhere having just celebrated the Glorious Fourth and our independence from British monarchy, the timing seems particular ...

President Trump Signs the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into Law

News  

Friday, July 4, 2025

President Trump Signs the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into Law

Earlier today, on the 4th of July, a day on which our Founding Fathers declared their intent for a free nation, the President of the United State of America, Donald Trump, signed the “One Big ...

Maine: Public University Professor Belittles Student for 2A and Religious Views

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Maine: Public University Professor Belittles Student for 2A and Religious Views

Maine's public education system has recently faced national scrutiny, and it appears things are only getting worse, not better, in the Pine Tree State. 

DOJ Declines to Seek Supreme Court Review of Decision Striking Down Federal Laws Prohibiting FFLs From Selling Handguns to 18-to-20-Year-Olds

Thursday, July 10, 2025

DOJ Declines to Seek Supreme Court Review of Decision Striking Down Federal Laws Prohibiting FFLs From Selling Handguns to 18-to-20-Year-Olds

In Reese v. ATF, the Fifth Circuit held that 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(b)(1) and (c)(1)—which together forbid Federal Firearms Licensees from selling handguns to 18-to-20-year-olds—violate the Second Amendment.

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

Pennsylvania: Governor Signs Legislation Lifting Sunday Hunting Restrictions

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Pennsylvania: Governor Signs Legislation Lifting Sunday Hunting Restrictions

On Wednesday, July 9, Governor Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1431, lifting restrictions on Sunday hunting and bringing Pennsylvania in line with the vast majority of states.     

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.