NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush called on the Obama administration to spend more time focusing on defending the nation against Islamic extremists and less time on curbing the constitutional rights of ordinary Americans.
Mr. Bush, speaking Friday at the annual National Rifle Association meeting, said that the best form of national defense is “a nation of free men and women exercising their Second amendment rights.”
“I have a message for the Obama administration: Why don’t you focus more on keeping weapons out of the hands of Islamic terrorist and less on keeping weapons out of the hands of law-abiding citizens?” Mr. Bush said.
Mr. Bush, who is laying the groundwork for a presidential run, is running at the front of the pack among the likely GOP White House contenders.
Like several of his potential Republican rivals, Mr. Bush used his address at the NRA-ILA “Leadership Forum” to make the case that he stands with the NRA and its allies on gun rights.
“I will match my record against anyone else when it comes to the support and defense of the Second Amendment,” he said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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