Rick Perry Talks About ‘Love Affair’ With Guns

Rick Perry has a had a long love affair with his guns. After a hunting excursion in Northwestern Iowa, the presidential hopeful told reporters that his long history with guns and hunting has helped tie his family together.

Perry said:

“As long as I’ve got memory, I had something to go hunting with. It was a long love affair with a boy and his gun that turned into a man and his gun, and then it turned into a man and his son and his daughter and their guns.”

The Washington Post reports that Perry talked to a small group of reporters before heading out on a 90-minute hunt with Steve King and other Iowa Republicans.

Perry said:

“One of the great American traditions is taking your family hunting. I wish my son and daughter were here with us today. They would truly enjoy this. From my perspective, that’s part of America — walking across that hillside with one of your children hunting.”

According to ABC, Perry believes that hunting teaches safety, gives people the ability to protect themselves, and instills lessons from our founding fathers, like protecting the second amendment.

The Washington Post notes that Mitt Romney tried to paint himself as an outdoors men during the 2008 campaign by frequently talking about his hunting experience. It was later revealed that Romney had been exaggerating and had only been hunting twice. I don’t think Rick Perry is going to have that problem.

Do you think Rick Perry is a stronger candidate because he is an experienced hunter? Does hunting bring families together?