Cruz: There are a lot of Dems in DC who want the 2nd Amendment repealed

US Senator Ted Cruz makes a stop in Midland 04/04/18 at Discovery Operating, speaking to area residents on a campaign tour of Texas. Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram US Senator Ted Cruz makes a stop in Midland 04/04/18 at Discovery Operating, speaking to area residents on a campaign tour of Texas. Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram Photo: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram Buy photo Photo: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Cruz: There are a lot of Dems in DC who want the 2nd Amendment repealed 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

Ted Cruz made a campaign stop in Midland on Wednesday as he seeks re-election as U.S. senator. Here are some highlights from the event:

— On the Second Amendment: Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote an op-ed in the New York Times recently calling for a repeal of the Second Amendment, which protects gun rights, Cruz told the crowd at Discovery Operating headquarters. The New York Times editorial board agreed with Stevens. The push for repeal exists beyond the pages of one of the nation's most prominent news publications, Cruz said. It extends to the halls of Congress.

“Now, here’s a dirty little secret: There are a whole lot of Democrats in Washington who agree with them; they just don’t have the candor or the honesty of Justice Stevens and the New York Times,” Cruz said. “But that’s not Texas.”

The senator — who faces U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, in the November general election — said the Second Amendment is not about hunting, target shooting or skeet shooting. “Those are great fun, but they have very little to do with the Second Amendment.”

“The Second Amendment is about the fundamental right each and every one of us has to protect our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Cruz said. “The Second Amendment is about if somebody comes in to your home with ill-intent, seeking to harm your family. Then you have a fundamental right to protect your babies and to protect your life. That’s Texas; that’s what we understand.”

— On NAFTA: Oil and gas companies have been pushing for any North American Free Trade Agreement changes to ensure oil companies’ investment protections as they pursue business in Mexico’s now-liberalized upstream petroleum industry. Cruz said the NAFTA renegotiation could be good or bad.

“It’d be a good thing if NAFTA renegotiation is used as a tool to further open up the Mexican and Canadian markets to expand trade. It’d be a bad thing if it’s used as a vehicle to erect barriers to our markets and restrict trade,” he said. A healthy oil and gas industry in Mexico will benefit Texas, as well.

“Mexico has vast energy resources — oil and gas — that are not adequately being developed,” the senator said. “If as part of NAFTA renegotiation we open those up for development, that will produce thousands of high-paying jobs in Mexico, which is good for Mexico. But, naturally, the place they’ll look for that expertise is Texas. That will produce thousands of high-paying jobs in Texas, many of them right here in the Permian Basin because that’s where the expertise is on how to develop those resources.

“It’s a win-win for everyone. I hope that’s the direction the administration goes.”

— On the Permian Basin economy: “I am so bullish on the Permian Basin,” Cruz said, remarking on the uptick in the regional economy that has followed busy times in the oil patch. He said the economy has also improved because of what Republicans have achieved.

“The economy is booming because Republicans have been able to come together and pass major tax cuts, which is are benefiting job creators, benefiting working families,” Cruz said. “We’ve seen major regulatory reform pulling back the burdens that are killing jobs. We’ve repealed the individual mandate from Obamacare, something I took the lead on in the U.S. Senate. All of those are producing real benefits in the Permian Basin.”

— On West Texas culture: “I love Midland-Odessa. I love the people out here. I love West Texas values,” Cruz said, adding that others can learn from this region.

“If the whole country could adopt West Texas values, it would turn this country around. This is the most entrepreneurial place on the face of the planet. This is a town of wildcatters, this is a town of entrepreneurs, this is a town of people with big dreams who can accomplish anything if given the chance.”