Oh brother, just saw an ad run by an org. called Gun Ban Obama

[Hawaii Hiker]

Same old shit, Barack Obama is going to take away everyone's guns, blah, blah, blah.....I don't know how many f-ing times I've heard Obama say he's not going to infringe upon anyone's 2nd. Amendment rights (and he went on to say in that particular townhall meeting from PA. couple weeks ago that he wouldn't be able to take people's guns away even if he wanted to)....

Second Amendment issue doesn't concern me, i don't own a gun, nor do I hunt, ...

www.gunbanobama.com

[tblue]

1. I can't wait for someone to take on the gun lobby directly. "They wanna put an AK47 in every

6 year olds hands."

I knew I hated Sarah when I learned she's a lifetime member of the NRA. `

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Up heah

...in ME -- and the signal carries into NH -- the Obama people are running ads wall-to-wall on sports talk radio delivered by Ray Schoenke, ex Redskin star, and head of AHSA, to try and stay ahead of this.

[derby378]

3. The problem is...

...as long as Obama expresses support for a ban on semi-automatic firearms, he cannot say that he won't infringe on anyone's Second Amendment rights. He can't have his cake and eat it too.

Believe me, I want the man to win. I just don't want him the same mistake that Bill Clinton did. Last time that happened, Congress wound up in Republican hands for 12 years.

[wmbrew0206]

4. Obama also is pretty silent on the right to defnd yourself with a gun

He needs to include that when he talks about the 2nd Amendment or the silence about it is deafening. It leaves a lot of doubt about Obama's position on self defnse with a fire arm is. That is something the NRA is going to continue to hit him on.

[elkston]

10. He said in a town hall (in PA I think) ...

that he has no problems with people using guns for sporting or defending your home.

I don't get all these gun nuts who want to walk around with FN-FALs or P-90s. I mean if you wanna play around with hardcore firepower then join the military. Sheez.

Rifles and handguns are enough for self defense.

[wmbrew0206]

5. Also, FYI that is the NRA's political arm's new website

[spanone]

6. i would hope america is tired of this worn out old shit

[derby378]

13. Get used to it...

There are plenty of Democrats like me out there who want to prevent Obama from making the same mistake that Clinton made - one that not only violated our Second Amendment rights, but delivered Congress into Republican hands for 12 years, resulting in untold damage to our nation.

And I'm not even a member of the NRA. I have my own problems with them.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Well Vern, at least they're predictable ...

Half-truths and distractions is what they excel at.

Little tiny brains?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7VCHj2OSdw

[TxRider]

8. Unfortunately...

Unfortunately our party platform is strongly anti gun.

Does Obama stand against it? He hasn't made a clear statement.

I don't think the party as a whole realizes how much that stance hurts us.

[ShortnFiery]

9. Bullshit! We're pro gun education and gun safety. Lordy, how the NRA loves to exaggerate. eom

[derby378]

11. Have you even read the 2008 platform?

It calls for banning civilian ownership of semi-automatic firearms. Firearms that have legally been in civilian hands for one hundred years.

If the ban is reinstated, Congress winds up back in Republican hands, and the ban goes bye-bye again. Just like last time, and with plenty of collateral damage, to boot. Y'know, like the illegal occupation of Iraq, deregulation of banking and energy industries, a health insurance crisis, a mortgage crisis, a looming $700 billion bailout - shall I go on?

Suddenly, letting me own an AK-47 without any legal hassle seems like a small price to pay if you want to elect Democrats who will keep the aforementioned travesties from ever happening again.

[ShortnFiery]

15. I believe that, with further cooperation and discussion, a true compromise can be worked out.

It's not "all or nothing" and these laws can be modified. :shrug:

But unfortunately, everyone ratchets up the hyperbole and nothing productive can be negotiated/discussed.

[derby378]

16. Cooperation and discussion, yes - compromise, possibly

There are a few gun laws that I am supportive of. If someone's gun is stolen, I do not see why anyone would not report it to the police, so I can see making such reporting mandatory. Gun education is another big thing with me, as I believe gun education fosters gun safety.

So yes, I can compromise on a few points. But on civilian ownership of semi-automatics and .50-caliber rifles, I draw the line. And I assert that the Heller ruling backs me up.

[TxRider]

19. That's where we differ.

To remove all but bolt action rifles is just silly. Americans have owned semi auto rifles and shotguns for over 100 years. Almost nobody uses them for crimes, there is no logical reason for a ban.

Handguns are what are used for the vast majority of crime, and the vast majority of those handgun deaths are the result of gang turf wars spurred by our drug prohibition policies and the hugely profitable black market the gangs control.

Legalizing pot would likely save far more lives than a gun ban though, by removing 75% of that black market from the gangs. It's all about money. Just like alcohol prohibition spawned Al Capone and his ilk.. Which incidentally, exactly like today, spawned the FIRST federal AWB, the ban on fully automatic rifles. And surprise surprise, only ending prohibition ended the carnage, not the gun ban.

[derby378]

20. Exactly!

Well said. :hi:

[TxRider]

17. Yes

Yes I own 2 rifles that wouldn't pass the proposed ban. Both are very popular rifles, one for cost, the other for competitive shooting, a Springfield national match M1A.

Assuming the latest and much more sweeping AWB is what the platform is talking about reinstating, it's not going to go down well. Handing power to the attorney general to deem any gun he wants to as banned is not something that can win votes.

The current AWB proposed in HR 1022 is a box of political poison. The more educated you are on guns and gun issues, the worse this legislation looks. Not to mention Biden's silly ammunition ban.

The shame is that it's a constitutional issue that rises above all else with a lot of people. Economies rise and fall, wars come and go, but changing individual rights in the constitution is seen as permanent and just as non negotiable as changing the first amendment to ban "dangerous" books would be.

I wish our party would drop this losing issue, as it would kick the door wide open for taking back states like Texas.

[derby378]

18. I'm organizing a Democratic Gun Owners Caucus here in Texas

We'll elect our first officers and ratify our bylaws next month. If you want to know more, PM me.

[1corona4u]

12. Yoy have no idea what kind of can of worms you have just opened...

[TheKentuckian]

14. All the anti gun stuff killed us in rural areas and especially the west

One of the main reasons we're perceived as weak on defense (aside from some unfair but completely isolated reactions from the Iranian Hostage Crisis) is because we are seen as PURPOSEFULLY too weak to defend ourselves. We depend on government to protect us, which is stupid, police occasionally solve crimes but almost never prevent them.

The semi-auto ban was one of the dumbest pieces of legislation ever, concerning it's self with cosmetics and next thing you know a touch of truth makes a gallon of lies go down without complaint.