Hillary Clinton would take away Americans’ gun rights even though she has been defended by gun-wielding security for 30 years, a top National Rifle Association official said Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention.
“For 30 years, she hasn’t taken a walk, a nap, or a bathroom break without a good guy with a gun there to protect her,” said Chris Cox, the chairman of the NRA’s Political Victory Fund, speaking in a primetime slot on the RNC stage.
The phrase “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” is one the NRA has employed to defend gun rights.
During his speech, Cox suggested the Democratic front-runner was hypocritical for seeking to limit others’ rights to own guns while benefiting from the protection of the Secret Service or other security, as she has since becoming first lady.
Cox cited Clinton’s past statements on the 2008 Supreme Court decision District of Columbia v. Heller as evidence that the Second Amendment hangs in the balance with the selection of a Supreme Court justice to replace the departed Antonin Scalia. Clinton has said that that decision, which upheld an individual right to possess firearms for self-defense in the home, was decided wrongly.
Under Clinton, Cox said, the Second Amendment would be imperiled, and “the only way we save it is by electing Donald Trump the next president of the United States.”
In a response sent out immediately after the conclusion of Cox’s speech, the Clinton campaign challenged his assertions as false, saying that she “believes that we can have common sense gun safety measures consistent with the Second Amendment and has repeatedly stated we can protect it while also protecting our families and communities.”
