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Aurora movie massacre: Gunman turns 'Dark Night' premiere into reality horror film

A tragic shooting at premiere of the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" could have political implications in the 2012 presidential elections. A look at the gun control positions of the candidates.

BOSTON – The tragic shooting in Colorado last night at a premiere of the Batman movie "The Dark Night Rises" will almost certainly thrust gun control front and center in the 2012 presidential campaign.

So where does Republican challenger Mitt Romney stand?

Well, it depends on which Mitt Romney you ask: The one who needed to appeal to liberal voters in Massachusetts when running for senator and governor, or the one who needs to win Virginia and Appalacian swing states in 2012.

The fact-checking site Politifact has a thorough analysis.

As governor, Romney signed what was reportedly the nation's first permanent ban on assault weapons. "These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people," he told the Boston Globe, according to Politifact.

While pro-gun groups generally reject measures restricting assault rifle ownership, Romney's bill won support from gun groups due to provisions that lengthened the terms of firearm ID cards and licenses to carry firearms.

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But Romney's opposition to letting citizens own automatic weapons shifted as Romney began eying the White House. By 2007, prior to his failed campaign for the 2008 Republican nomination, he had joined the pro-gun National Rifle Association.

In April 2012 in a keynote speach to the NRA's National Convention in St. Louis, Romney equated the NRA's agenda with freedom. "All of you can be proud of your long and unwavering defense of our constitutional rights and liberties," he said.

Romney laid out his gun ownership position to the 2012 NRA audience as follows: "We need a president who will stand up for the rights of hunters, sportsmen, and those seeking to protect their homes and their families. President Obama has not; I will. And 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."

He is even more succinct on his campaign website, stating that America's current gun laws are restrictive enough. Here are some key statements:

Nowhere does the "gun rights" page on MittRomney.com mention the assault rifle ban, nor his more restrictive, previous stance on the matter.

Politifacts concludes that Romney attempts to straddle both the pro- and ant-gun control camps. In their words:

Has Romney flip-flopped on the matter? According to Politifact, "He earns the rating of Half Flip."

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