Clinton Announces Gun Violence Prevention Plan For 2016 Race

Clinton Plan: Expand And Improve Background Checks On Gun Sales, Repeal The Gun Industry's Civil Immunity, Prevent Dangerous People From Acquiring Firearms, And Regulate Assault Weapons. In an October 5 briefing released on her website, Clinton explained her support for several gun safety measures, arguing that “America simply cannot accept as ”normal" about 33,000 gun deaths every year" (emphasis original):

America simply cannot accept as “normal” about 33,000 gun deaths every year. The vast majority of the American people - including law abiding gun owners - believe we can and must do better. Hillary Clinton lived in Arkansas and represented Upstate New York - she knows that gun ownership is part of the fabric of many law-abiding communities. But as a nation we can no longer allow guns to fall into the hands of domestic abusers, other violent criminals, and the seriously mentally ill. It is a rebuke to the families that have lost loved ones, to the communities that are plagued by gun violence, and to this nation that we love.

Clinton believes some fights are too important to give up on--and this is one of them. Her fights are your fights and she will act on gun violence. [HillaryClinton.com, accessed 10/6/15]

In 2008 Debate Answer, Clinton Expressed Approval Of Idea That States Can Decide For Themselves Whether Or Not To Require Handgun Licensing And Registration 

During 2008 Debate, Clinton Explained She Was Against Federal “Blanket Rules” On Licensing And Registering Handguns. During an April 2008 Democratic primary campaign debate, Clinton argued that on handgun licensing and registration, it would be appropriate for New York to decide to have a state requirement for registration, while also appropriate for Montana to decide that it does not want a law requiring handgun registration. Summarizing the idea of having different handgun licensing and registration policies for different states, Clinton said, “So for the federal government to be having any kind of, you know, blanket rules that they're going to try to impose I think doesn't make sense”:

CHARLIE GIBSON: Well, with all due respect, I'm not sure I got an answer from Senator Obama, but do you still favor licensing and registration of handguns?

HILLARY CLINTON: What I favor is what works in New York. You know, we have a set of rules in New York City, and we have a totally different set of rules in the rest of the state. What might work in New York City is certainly not going to work in Montana.

So for the federal government to be having any kind of, you know, blanket rules that they're going to try to impose I think doesn't make sense. 

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But, Senator, you were for that when you ran for Senate in New York.

CLINTON: I was for the New York rules; that's right. I was for the New York rules, because they have worked over time. And there isn't a lot uproar in New York about changing them, because I go to upstate New York, where we have a lot of hunters and people who are collectors and people who are sport shooters. They have every reason to believe that their rights are being respected.

You walk down the street with a police officer in Manhattan, he wants to be sure that there is some way of protecting him and protecting the people that are in his charge. [ABC News, 4/16/08]

Conservative Media Distort Clinton's “Blanket Rules” Comment To Invent Inconsistency In Her Record On Guns 

Fox's Brian Kilmeade: “Hillary Clinton Was Speaking In 2008, It Was A Totally Different Person” On Gun Control. On the October 6 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade asserted that during the 2008 presidential campaign, Clinton “was a totally different person” in terms of her views on gun control while co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck suggested Clinton's view on guns is “very different” compared to 2008 because “she was against a blanket policy”:

BRIAN KILMEADE: He wants no arms for domestic abusers, that's what she's saying, wants to repeal the law, this Hillary Clinton, that prevents people from suing negligent gun manufacturers. I don't know that would go through, because this kid and his mom got all his guns legally. So on top of that, she wants to get the assault weapons ban back. So she actually has a problem. Because Hillary Clinton was speaking in 2008, it was a totally different person.

ELISABETH HASSELBECK: Very different. She was against a blanket policy. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 10/6/15]

Kilmeade Doubled Down On His Mischaracterization Of Clinton In A Later Fox & Friends Segment. Kilmeade claimed Clinton is “going against the 2008 candidate who said the federal government really shouldn't be doing that, the state should be handling that” while discussing Clinton's newly announced gun violence plan. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 10/6/15]

The Blaze Claimed Clinton Changed Stance On Federal Gun Laws. In an October 6 post by Oliver Darcy of The Blaze, Darcy claimed that Clinton's new gun control proposal “took another tone” from her stance on gun laws in her 2008 campaign:

Hillary Clinton dodged a reporter's question Monday about a previous statement she made opposing “blanket rules” implemented by the federal government that would govern gun purchases.

“What I favor is what works in New York,” Clinton said in 2008, as uncovered by BuzzFeed. “You know, we have a set of rules in New York City and we have a totally different set of rules in the rest of the state. What might work in New York City is certainly not going to work in Montana.”

She added, “So, for the federal government to be having any kind of, you know, blanket rules that they're going to try to impose, I think doesn't make sense.”

However, on Monday, Clinton took another tone. The likely Democratic nominee proposed tightening regulations on firearm buyers through executive and congressional action. [The Blaze, 10/5/15]

The Daily Caller Claims Clinton “Opposed” Federal Gun Laws She Now Favors. In an October 5 post on The Daily Caller, Chuck Ross claimed that Clinton's new gun control proposals are from “a different Hillary Clinton”  because she “opposed such 'blanket rules' during a debate in April of [2008],” including the claim Clinton opposed federal action to close the gun show loophole in 2008:

Hillary Clinton's new gun control policy proposal includes a threat to take unilateral executive action to close the so-called gun show loophole. But a different Hillary Clinton -- the one that ran for president in 2008 -- opposed such “blanket rules” during a debate in April of that year.

[...]

Clinton said that the issue should be left up to individual localities, not enacted by the federal government.

“What I favor is what works in New York,” she told debate moderators Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos. “You know, we have a set of rules in New York City and we have a totally different set of rules in the rest of the state. What might work in New York City is certainly not going to work in Montana. So, for the federal government to be having any kind of, you know, blanket rules that they're going to try to impose, I think doesn't make sense.” [The Daily Caller, 10/5/15]

Clinton Has Consistently Supported Federal Action To Expand Background Checks And Close The Gun Show Loophole

2008 Ad Highlighted How Clinton, Obama, And McCain All Favored Closing The Gun Show Loophole. An ad that first aired on April 16, 2008, from Mayors Against Illegal Guns highlighted support to expand background checks in order to close a loophole that allows the purchase of guns without background checks at gun shows in many states, including footage of Clinton in 2000 saying, “I'll be on your side for closing the gun show loophole.” [New York Times, 4/16/08]

Clinton Says She Will “Fight For Comprehensive Background Checks” In 2016 Plan. Clinton's aims to address the sale of guns over the Internet and at gun shows without a background check (emphasis original):

Fight for comprehensive background checks.

It is estimated that 20 to 40 percent of all gun purchases in America are conducted with no background check because federal law fails to cover unlicensed transfers online, at gun shows, and between anonymous strangers. Yet, more than 90 percent of Americans support background checks because they work. Since President Clinton signed the Brady background check bill into law, more than 2.4 million prohibited gun purchases have been blocked. More than one million of those attempted purchases were by felons. To increase the number of gun sales subject to background checks, Clinton will:

• Advocate for comprehensive federal background check legislation. Laws prohibiting dangerous individuals from buying guns are only as effective as our background check system is comprehensive. Background checks reduce gun trafficking,  reduce the lethality of domestic violence,  and reduce unlawful gun transfers to dangerous individuals.  It is reprehensible that bipartisan legislation supporting background checks failed in Congress after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. But Clinton is not giving up - she will continue to fight for legislation to build on the Brady bill's success.
• Close the “Charleston Loophole.” Clinton will push Congress to close the “Charleston Loophole” that allows a gun sale to proceed without a completed background check if that check is not complete within three days. The alleged Charleston shooter had a federal criminal record but was able to purchase a gun precisely because of this loophole. This same loophole allowed over 2,500 prohibited gun purchases in 2014. Clinton will support congressional efforts to close the “Charleston Loophole” and provide sufficient time and resources to complete a background check before a sale is approved.
• Tighten the gun show and Internet sales loophole if Congress won't. If Congress refuses to act, Clinton will take administrative action to require that any person attempting to sell a significant number of guns be deemed “in the business” of selling firearms. This would ensure that high-volume gun sellers are covered by the same common sense rules that apply to gun stores--including requiring background checks on gun sales. [HillaryClinton.com, accessed 10/6/15]  

Clinton Still Supports “Keeping Assault Weapons Off Our Streets”

The Hill: “Clinton ... Has Been A Staunch Advocate Of Gun-Control Proposals, Such As Expanding Background Checks And Banning Assault Weapons.” In an April 24 article in The Hill, Tim Devaney reported on Clinton's “staunch” support for gun safety legislation, including her support for a ban on assault weapons in her 2008 presidential campaign:

Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, has been a staunch advocate of gun-control proposals, such as expanding background checks and banning assault weapons. Last summer, she ripped groups that oppose those ideas as out of step with public opinion.

[...]

Clinton didn't shy away from gun control during her last presidential run in 2008, floating a new ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

“I would also work to reinstate the assault weapons ban,” she said during a Democratic primary debate in January 2008. “We now have, once again, police deaths going up around the country, and in large measure, because bad guys now have assault weapons again.”

Last summer, she again pitched the assault weapons ban in the context of protecting school children.

“I don't think any parent -- any person -- should have to fear about their child going to school or going to college because someone, for whatever reason -- psychological, emotional, political, whatever it means -- could possibly enter that school property with an automatic weapon and murder innocent children, students, teachers,” she said at the CNN town hall. [The Hill, 4/24/15] 

Clinton Opposed Federal Law Limiting Gun Violence Victims' Recourse Against Negligent Manufacturers, And Says She Would Repeal The Law As President

Clinton Voted Against The Protection Of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act In 2005. Clinton voted against the legislation which has been used since 2005 as a shield by negligent gun manufacturers and retailers to avoid liability for conduct that places firearms in the hands of dangerous individuals. [GovTrack.us, accessed 10/6/15]

Clinton In 2016 Race Plan: "Repeal The Gun Industry's Unique Immunity Protection." From Clinton's plan (emphasis original):

Hold dealers and manufacturers fully accountable if they endanger Americans.While the vast majority of gun dealers and manufacturers operate safely and responsibly, the select few that do not should be held accountable. However, due to lobbying efforts by the NRA, these bad actors are granted unique protections in our laws, and the country's law enforcement agencies often face barriers when attempting to hold them accountable. To ensure that the safety of our communities is prioritized over the profits of the gun lobby, Clinton will:

• Repeal the gun industry's unique immunity protection. The NRA lobbied Congress to pass the so-called “Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,” a dangerous law which prevents victims of gun violence from holding negligent manufacturers and dealers accountable for violence perpetrated with their guns. It is past time to repeal this law and hold the gun industry accountable just like everyone else. Clinton voted against this law in 2005 and will lead the charge to repeal it as president. [HillaryClinton.com, accessed 10/6/15]