NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker warned Friday the nation’s freedoms are under assault at home and abroad, telling gun rights advocates at the annual National Rifle Association meeting here that President Obama is neglecting his duty to stand up for constitutional rights of ordinary Americans — including when it comes to the Second Amendment.
Mr. Walker pledged to stand for gun rights, and said he is concerned about the safety of the nation.
“I don’t know about all of you, but in an America where my children are going to grow up, I want a commander in chief who will look the American people in the eye and say that radical Islamic terrorism is a threat and we are going to do something about it,” Mr. Walker said, sparking applause from the crowd in the massive ballroom at Music City Center.
“We need a president who will be straight up with the American people and look them in the eye and tell them ’It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when they try another attempt on America soil, and for the sake of my children and yours I am not going to wait. I am going to take the fight to them before they bring the fight to us.”
Early polls show that Mr. Walker is running second nationally to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the race for the GOP nomination. Mr. Walker is running first in Iowa and second in New Hampshire, the first two stops on the nomination calendar.
Mr. Walker is among a number of likely GOP presidential candidates scheduled to address the NRA-ILA’s “Leadership Forum.”
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In his speech, he touted his record on gun rights and described his “A+” NRA rating as a “badge of honor.”
“I see an occupant in the White House right now who seems to forget that when the president is sworn in he takes an oath of office to preserve, to protect and to defend the Constitution of the United States,’” Mr. Walker said. “Well, Mr. President, the last time I checked, the 2nd Amendment was part of the Constitution.”
He added, “You don’t get to pick and choose which part of the Constitution you like, and which part you don’t.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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