Republican Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has said that convicted felons should be allowed to own firearms. The controversial candidate describes himself as a “Second Amendment absolutist” and was asked to explain that title on a recent podcast with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo asked Ramaswamy if all people, including felons, should have access to an assault weapon. The candidate emphasized that everyone should have that right. He said background checks are “absolutely a legitimate part of the process” but added he believes lawful gun ownership is an antidote to violent crime.
After the interview, Cuomo described Ramaswamy’s position as “absurd” and said some GOP candidates are trying to appeal to hardcore conservatives inside the party while alienating most Americans with extreme policy positions.
Trump-supporting Ramaswamy is proving to be one of the more talked-about contenders in the Republican race. Apparently unafraid to take contentious stances, Mr. Ramaswamy even appears to question the events of September 11, 2001. When asked in an August interview if he was unsure who committed the attacks, he said, “This is not something I’m staking anything out on. But I want the truth about 9/11.”
Ramaswamy posted a lengthy tweet on August 9 where he attempted to clarify his view. He claimed that declassified documents in 2021 revealed that the “9/11 Commission flatly lied about potential Saudi government involvement in the attacks.” The candidate maintains that he does not believe 9/11 was an “inside job,” but nor does he accept the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission. His position is that there is evidence suggesting the Saudi government was involved in the attack, and this requires further investigation. He acknowledged the need for a stable relationship with Saudi Arabia, however.
In his conclusion, Ramaswamy says people do not trust the government because the government doesn’t trust the people, and the best way to rebuild public trust is “to acknowledge the truth about one of the defining events in our nation’s history.”
