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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Romney warns NRA of Obama ‘unrestrained’

Mitt Romney speaks at the National Rifle Association convention in St. Louis on Friday. (Associated Press)
Mitchell Landsberg Los Angeles Times

ST. LOUIS – Mitt Romney drew a warm reception from the National Rifle Association on Friday as he attacked President Barack Obama for “employing every imaginable ruse and ploy” to restrict gun rights, which Romney pledged not to do if elected in November.

Although gun control groups have complained that Obama has done little to support their cause, Romney took a page from the NRA leadership, which has been saying that the president is waiting for a second term to crack down on firearms. He warned that Obama would “remake” the Supreme Court in a second term, threatening constitutional freedoms.

“In a second term, he would be unrestrained by the demands of re-election,” Romney told a crowd estimated at 6,000 in the Edward Jones Dome.

Referring specifically to the right to bear arms, Romney said: “If we are going to safeguard our Second Amendment, it is time to elect a president who will defend the rights President Obama ignores or minimizes. I will.”

Although Obama has not been responsible for any notable gun control measures, the NRA has been sharply critical of some of his appointments, especially that of Eric Holder as attorney general.

Even before Romney’s speech, the Obama campaign hit back with a statement attacking the presumptive GOP nominee, along with a hefty file of news clippings intended to show that he had a checkered history on gun rights.

“The president’s record makes clear the he supports and respects the Second Amendment, and we’ll fight back against any attempts to mislead voters,” said campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt.