Election Central | Talking Points Memo | Rudy: 9/11 Changed My Mind On Gun Control

Rudy: 9/11 Changed My Mind On Gun Control

By Greg Sargent - September 21, 2007, 12:12PM

Rudy, speaking before the National Rifle Association today, offered a creative explanation for why his views have changed from ardent support for gun control as Mayor of New York to strong support for the Second Amendment as a GOP Presidential candidate.

His reason? September 11th has persuaded him that gun rights are necessary. He said:

"I also think that there have been subsequent intervening events — September 11 — which cast somewhat of a different light on the Second Amendment and Second Amendment rights. It doesn't change the fundamental rights, but maybe it highlights the necessity for them more."

More soon, including video.

Late Update: Here it is:

Comments (47)

Shii wrote on September 21, 2007 12:17 PM:

Yeah, if only we let people carry guns on planes.

The Confidence Man wrote on September 21, 2007 12:24 PM:

No, Shii, Rudy wasn't arguing that we needed guns on planes.

Remember, he was mayor of NYC at the time of 9/11, so he's bringing his experience of the day to this issue.

If only NYC had had more relaxed gun laws on 9/11, armed New Yorkers in the streets could have shot the planes down with their handguns.

NCSteve wrote on September 21, 2007 12:25 PM:

Right now I'm laughing so hard I nearly lost bladder control.

Tomorrow, when Matt Lauer is reporting this with a straight face and the talking heads on Tweety's show are nodding sagely over Rudy's brilliance savviness in linking 9/11 to gun uncontrol, I'm sure I'll be chewing on the carpet.

Wayne S wrote on September 21, 2007 12:25 PM:

Did this guy wipe his ass before 9-11?

gcs wrote on September 21, 2007 12:26 PM:

Interesting take. It's insane, of course, but it's interesting.

Think about it. With this demented excuse, Rudy has actually managed to conjure up the specter of an invasion of America by al Qaeda. And that, I think, is precisely what he wants. We need more guns so we can fight the invading Muslim hordes house to house in our own neighborhoods. How better to scare the bejesus out of people into voting for him?

I think Rudy just promoted himself from lunatic to criminally insane.

Bill wrote on September 21, 2007 12:34 PM:

Please, please include the video of Rudy taking the cell phone call from the wife - during his speech. It's a warm, touching few moments.

bryan wrote on September 21, 2007 12:36 PM:

How to run for president as a republican.

Rule 1: If you have ever changed your position on ANYTHING, it's because of 9/11.

Lionel wrote on September 21, 2007 12:37 PM:

and remember, if Iraq has taught us nothing, it's that an armed society is a polite society. :)

benjoya wrote on September 21, 2007 12:37 PM:

actually, this isn't insane as much as cut 'n' paste. "9/11" is permanently lodged in his mental clipboard.

Brian P wrote on September 21, 2007 12:37 PM:

wait...Rudy was mayor of NYC when 9/11 happened? I didnt know that, maybe he should mention it more often.

demwinger wrote on September 21, 2007 12:39 PM:

anything to win an election

bubba wrote on September 21, 2007 12:45 PM:

I am surprised that Hizzoner Il Duce did not also toss out the Katrina aftermath as well.

mickey g wrote on September 21, 2007 12:48 PM:

I told ya's before & I'll tell ya's again. Those of you who don't live in the Tri-State area are in for a treat. Julie-Annie has the potential to make The Chimp look like a statesman.

Davis wrote on September 21, 2007 12:51 PM:

Rudy shows a disconnect from reality if he thinks the typical voter will accept this load of crap. How stupid does he think we are? What contempt!

tom wrote on September 21, 2007 1:01 PM:

My guess is that Rudy will soon announce to Dobson's group that he has had an epiphany regarding the evil of abortion and that too was caused by 9/11. Rudy finally realized that every aborted fetus is one less soldier in the War on Terror.

William Stricklin wrote on September 21, 2007 1:01 PM:

Mikey has it right; this man is Chimp on Meth! God help us all if he ever gets anywhere near the White House.

jeff Grunewald wrote on September 21, 2007 1:07 PM:

shii said it best. The comment strips Rudy bare to true ridiculousness.
Will he tell TSA to let guns through, as long as the guns aren't carried by Middle Eastern types?

ihatebeets wrote on September 21, 2007 1:11 PM:

9/11 changed everything, 9/11 changed EVERYthing, 9/11 CHANGED EVERYTHING!!!!!blah, blah, blah. That's ALL this man has to sell. Somehow I find it totally incredible that Rudy, on the night of 9/11, stayed up to read a book about Churchill. This man has absolutely NO shame. He is a pandering lying sack. Hopefully the rest of America will wake up to the fraud that he is before they elect another moron.

sailmaker wrote on September 21, 2007 1:23 PM:

Maybe he's encouraging the ownership of PRGs and surface to air missiles? My guess is that next he will want us to buy hazmat suits, get anthrax vaccinations, stock up on duct tape, and plastic sheeting.

Meh. Republican reaction to terror: go shopping, at least for a gun.

sy wrote on September 21, 2007 1:51 PM:

Rudy Strategic Memorandum

What changed my mind about gun control: 9/11.

Why must the US attack Iran: 9/11.

When did my career as a politician crawl out of the crapper: 9/11.

What is the best answer I can offer when called to the carpet about my conservative credentials, or lack thereof: 9/11.

Why am I the best candidate for the Republican nomination: 9/11.

What was my greatest contribution to the 9/11 Panel: 9/11.

What is my favorite number: 9/11.

btonnessen wrote on September 21, 2007 2:03 PM:

was that 9-11-01 or 9-11-07? has he ever said this before, or did he just realize why he changed his mind?

Aaronsmiles wrote on September 21, 2007 2:22 PM:

So he's saying that 9/11 made him change his views on the 2nd Amendment? Does this mean that he believes Americans do need more guns in their homes so they can rise up against a govt. that continues to take away our rights, invade our privacy and commit atrocities in our names? Because that was the purpose of the 2nd Amendment. Not for hunting reasons, not for gun lovers, but so you could rise up against your govt. Somehow I doubt that's what he meant by it, but its interesting to think about...

Sam wrote on September 21, 2007 2:33 PM:

Best way to run for president as a Republican:

Shoot a gay abortion doctor at Ground Zero.

mark wrote on September 21, 2007 2:54 PM:

Can someone explain to me how 911 would make one change their mind about handguns?

rudy wrote on September 21, 2007 3:00 PM:

9/11 made me dress up in drag!

NJ Lawyer wrote on September 21, 2007 3:04 PM:

With Christmas not too far away, I am anxiously awaiting the release of the Rudy doll.

No matter what question you ask it, when you pull the string on the back of its neck, it mindlessly repeats the same thing:

"9/11, 9/11, 9/11"

Hemlock for Gadflies wrote on September 21, 2007 3:10 PM:

Yee-haw! Rudy's nailed it fer this boy, I tell ya!

If'n only Rudy had seen the light before 9/11, he wouldn't have deprived one of his fellow New Yorkers from packing an M2A1 40-mm twin anti-aircraft gun along with his lunch and laptop as he left his god-fearin' wife 'n' chillun for work in them Twin Towers.

When that old boy saw them airplanes a'coming in with them Islamo-fascists at the controls, he could have busted out a couple clips of armor-piercing ammo 'n' laid waste to the whole shebang.

But, no, instead Rudy caved to the liberal New York Times readin' anti-gun elite who want to deprive us of our god-givin' right to shoot hijacked aircraft out of the sky over midtown Manhattan while the black helicopters from the Trilateral Commission take off from the UN with their SWAT teams a'going to stop some Christian folk in Montana from doing the Lord's work a'killing abortion doctors.

Hell, even Bill Clinton said he believed in conversion, so now that Rudy's on Team NRA he got my vote.

Or would have, if'n I hadn't been convicted on a felony weapons smuggling charge.

Winston Smith wrote on September 21, 2007 3:33 PM:

"9/11 really changed my mind about marital fidelity. You never now when a terrorist will attack, so I wanna screw as many crazy broads as possible before it's too late."

derekcito wrote on September 21, 2007 3:35 PM:

Of course -- 9/11 changed EVERYTHING! It's perfect! Rudy and Mitt have their answer now.

padarala wrote on September 21, 2007 3:49 PM:

Hey guys 911 changed everything, right.
How comes Julie-Anny didn't show up in his bunker that day? T'was supposed to be safe tough, in WTC7, wasn't it- didn't take an aircraft or even any serious damage.
Ooops, t's right, I almost forgot the building was to be pulled in the afternoon.
Ah, and oh btw, has anyone of you made a simple calculation: assuming the towers were make of 111 magically hovering slabs of concrete (111 and not 110 to account for the roof) that start falling without any resistance when the upper one slams into it, the total collapse time is above the measured one.
Don't take my word, pick up your pocket calculator or excel spreadsheet and please, (please) prove me wrong.
Interesting, huh?

Dan wrote on September 21, 2007 3:53 PM:

Manhattanites need machine guns for protection from al Queda!

GBHeron wrote on September 21, 2007 5:01 PM:

How long before we hear the argument that 9/11 has changed his views on abortion? "We need as many Americans as possible to fight the terrorists, so we should ban all abortions."

Marc wrote on September 21, 2007 5:27 PM:

That has to be one of the most disingenous things I've ever heard, even from as nakedly craven a politician as Rudolph Giuliani. Have any of his fellow losers brought up his past support for gun control in the GOP debates?

Squeaky McCrinkle wrote on September 21, 2007 5:31 PM:

Best collection of comments I've read in a long time, thanks to all!

poetry wrote on September 21, 2007 11:07 PM:

NEVERTHELESS, my friends (and you can laugh all you want to about Rudy), but Rudy Giuliani is the Republican FRONT-RUNNER and well on his way to WINNING the nomination and, maybe, the presidency.

Not everyone seems to know as much about the real Giuliani as we do. Many think Rudy is a hero. Many do not know that Rudy Giuliani NEVER PREVENTED even a single terrorist attack anywhere. They think Giuliani will reach up in the sky and grab the next terrorist-filled airplane (like Superman would) and pull it down out of the sky -- all by himself.

What do you plan to do? Will you write letters to editors? Will you write to the media punks like Chris Matthews, who man-loves Rudy? Will you do everything you can to inform your friends, neighbors and relatives about the truth abut Rudy Giuliani?

papagato618 wrote on September 22, 2007 11:56 AM:

I will poetry...this guy crazy,phony,hyprocritical as he is ,still has teeth and we must take him seriously,and that means challenging every lie from his mouth!

numi wrote on September 22, 2007 12:19 PM:

We do need more guns - in the hands of true patriots so that we can resist the slow-mo fascist coup in progress. Gee, I bet Rudy never thought of that. But I bet Rudy never thinks very much at all anyway.

What do you call a liberal without a gun? A concentration camp inmate.

pg1621 wrote on September 22, 2007 12:25 PM:

I won't vote for a hypocrite!

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Rudy: 9/11 Changed My Mind On Gun Control

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