Ronald Reagan on Gun Control
“Every year, an
average of 9,200
Americans are
murdered by
handguns, according to
Department of Justice
statistics. This does not
include suicides or the
tens of thousands of
robberies, rapes, and
assaults committed
with handguns. This
level of violence must
be stopped.”
—Ronald Reagan
“Well, I think there
has to be some
[gun] control.”
—Ronald Reagan
“This is a matter of
vital importance to the
public safety ... While
we recognize that
assault‐weapon
legislation will not
stop all assault‐
weapon crime,
statistics prove that
we can dry up the
supply of these guns,
making them less
accessible to
criminals.”
—Ronald Reagan
“With the right to
bear arms comes a
great responsibility to
use caution and
common sense on
handgun purchases.”
—Ronald Reagan
“I do not believe in taking away the right
of the citizen for sporting, for hunting and
so forth, or for home defense. But I do
believe that an AK‐47, a machine gun, is
not a sporting weapon or needed for
defense of a home.”
—Ronald Reagan
“Five days?!
But he’ll be
gone by then.”
— cartoon caption
“Certain forms of
ammunition have no
legitimate sporting,
recreational, or self‐
defense use and thus
should be prohibited.”
—Ronald Reagan
Tom’s Issue Briefs: One page of Ronald Reagan quotes on gun control, Rev. Feb. 21, 2013, zFacts.com, h p://zfacts.com/Toms-Issue-Briefs
References •
“This is a matter of vital importance to the public safety ... While we recognize that assault‐weapon legislation will not stop all assault‐weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals.” Ronald Reagan, in a May 3, 1994 letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, which was also signed by Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. http://articles.latimes.com/1994‐05‐05/news/mn‐
54185_1_assault‐weapons‐ban •
“I do not believe in taking away the right of the citizen for sporting, for hunting and so forth, or for home defense. But I do believe that an AK‐47, a machine gun, is not a sporting weapon or needed for defense of a home.” Ronald Reagan, in a speech at his 78th birthday celebration in Los Angeles on February 6, 1989. http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1989/Reagan‐s‐78th‐Birthday‐
Includes‐Posh‐Party‐Campus‐Speech‐Courtesy‐Call/id‐
2792a3c920c27eaebb4109a1a1dfddec “Certain forms of ammunition have no legitimate sporting, recreational, or self‐defense use and thus should be prohibited.” Ronald Reagan, in an August 28, 1986 signing statement on a bill that banned the production and importation of armor‐
piercing bullets. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=37785 “Every year, an average of 9,200 Americans are murdered by handguns, according to Department of Justice statistics. This does not include suicides or the tens of thousands of robberies, rapes and assaults committed with handguns. This level of violence must be stopped.” Ronald Reagan, in a March 29, 1991 New York Times op‐ed in support of the Brady Bill. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/opinion/why‐i‐m‐for‐
the‐brady‐bill.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm< 
•
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“I think maybe there could be some restrictions that there had to be a certain amount of training taken.” Ronald Reagan, in a press conference in Toronto on June 21, 1988, suggesting that prospective gun owners should have to receive training before purchasing a firearm. http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1988/06218
8b.htm 
“Well, I think there has to be some [gun] control.” Ronald Reagan, during a question‐and‐answer session with high‐school students on November 14, 1988. http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/dtSearch/dtisapi6.dll?cmd=get
doc&DocId=8903&Index=*efd0fee5343905cffa0f0158ab4a751e
&HitCount=2&hits=10f3+10f4+&SearchForm=F%3a\Reagan_Pu
blic_Web\search\speeches\speech_srch_form.html •
“With the right to bear arms comes a great responsibility to use caution and common sense on handgun purchases.” Ronald Reagan, speech at George Washington University in a on March 29, 1991. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/us/gun‐control‐bill‐
backed‐by‐reagan‐in‐appeal‐to‐bush.html One‐page of Ronald Reagan quotes on gun control, Rev. Feb. 21, 2013, zFacts.com, http://zfacts.com/Toms‐Issue‐Briefs