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Presidential Debate in St. Louis
October 17, 2000
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MODERATOR: Governor Bush, another kind of gun question. It will be asked by Robert Lutz. Mr. Lutz?

MEMBER OF AUDIENCE: Governor Bush --

BUSH: Yes, sir.

MEMBER OF AUDIENCE: We would just like to know what is your opposition to the Brady Handgun bill?

BUSH: I'm sorry, I didn't hear that.

MEMBER OF AUDIENCE: We would like to know why you object to the Brady Handgun bill, if you do object to it. Because in a recent TV ad it showed that the National Rifle Association says that if you are elected, that they will be working out of your office.

BUSH: I don't think the National Rifle Association ran that ad. But let me just tell you my position on guns in general, sir, if you don't mind.

MODERATOR: Excuse me, I'm not sure he's finished with his question.

BUSH: I'm sorry.

MEMBER OF AUDIENCE: That kind of bothers me when I see an ad like that. I want you to explain that ad to me.

BUSH: Well, I don't think I ran the ad. I think somebody who doesn't want me to be president might have run that ad. That wasn't my ad. I think it might have been one of my opponent's ads. Here is what I believe, sir. I believe law-abiding citizens ought to be allowed to protect themselves and their families. I believe that we ought to keep guns out of the hands of people that shouldn't have them. That's why I'm for instant background checks at gun shows, I'm for trigger locks, I think that makes sense. Matter of fact, we distributed free trigger locks in the State of Texas so that people can get them and put them on their guns to make their guns more safe. I think we ought to raise the age at which juveniles can have a gun. But I also believe strongly that we need to enforce laws on the books that the best way to make sure that we keep our society safe and secure is to hold people accountable for breaking the law. If we catch somebody illegally selling a gun, there needs to be a consequence. If we keep somebody -- you know, illegally using a gun, there needs to be a consequence. Enforcement of law, and the federal government can help. There is a great program called Project Exile in Richmond, Virginia, where we focused federal taxpayers' money and federal prosecutors and went after people who were illegally using guns. To me that's how you make society the safest it can be. And so, yeah, sometimes I agree with some of these groups in Washington and sometimes I don't. I'm a pretty independent thinker. The one thing I'm for is a safe society. And I'm for enforcing laws on the books. And that's what is going to happen should I earn your confidence.

MODERATOR: Vice President Gore?

GORE: Well, it was not one of my ads, either, Governor. But I am familiar with the statement, and it was made by one of the top-ranking officials of that organization. Let me tell you my position. I think that while the Bradley Handgun has good intentions, it's not going to prevent much crime. I come from Tennesee, where a gun can be considered a family pet (Audience Laughter), I've know many handgun owners and I don't see any of them becoming criminals any time soon. If someone is willing to break the law and use the gun violently, I'm sure they'd be willing to break the law that prevents them from getting that gun. Will it make it harder for them to get the guns? Yes. But there will still be ways for them to get it, and in the end, I'd only end up taking the guns away from people who might use them to stop criminals. Law abiding citizens should be able to own handguns. I know I had a different position on this issue before, but when I visted my home state on the campaign trail, I realized that guns are not the problem. I agree with my opponent on this issue.

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"I'm going to kill him."-Tipper Gore, privately.

"Never thought I'd see it, a Democrat who actually knows what the hell they're talking about on guns."- Ted Nugent, on Fox News. October 18th, 2000

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November 9th, 2000
CNN Election HQ

BILL SCHNEIDER: Washington has been called for Gore. Tennesee, Florida, New Mexico, and Oregon are still too close to call. We are now calling Tennesee for Gore, which means Al Gore wins the Presidential election.

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November 10th, 2000
FOX News

BILL O'REILLY: We now have the official map from last night, let's take a look at that.

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