Thompson Challenges Giuliani on Guns

By JIM DAVENPORT

By Jim Davenport

The Associated Press

LADSON, S.C.

White House hopeful Fred Thompson called his trip down an aisle of rifles, shotguns and pistols at a gun show Saturday “a day in paradise” and criticized his leading Republican opponents for past positions on gun control and abortion.

Talking to reporters after visiting the Land and Sky Gun Show outside North Charleston , Thompson singled out former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Giuliani “never met a gun-control bill he didn’t like until he started to run for president ,” Thompson said.

A Giuliani campaign spokesman was quick to reply by e-mail to Thompson’s criticism: “Mayor Giuliani is a strong supporter of the second amendment and believes our focus should be on making sure criminals are the ones who can’t get guns. “

Thompson also was asked about mailers Romney has sent talking about his abortion opposition .

“Until about two years ago, when he decided he was going to run for president, Gov. Romney was the most adamant pro-choice advocate that I’ve ever seen,” Thompson said.

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