Monday, October 13, 2008
The NRA Line on Obama
I've got to give credit to my former employer, the NRA. I was very interested in how they were going to finesse the 2008 White House race as soon as it became apparent that a GOP nominee with a poor record on gun owners rights was going to take on a Democratic nominee with an abysmal history of respecting the Second Amendment.
The NRA answered by attacking Obama through e-mail and press releases, as an Obama presidency obviously hurts those who respect the Second Amendment. However, the NRA hasn't really propped up McCain, which more than likely would have angered significant numbers of their membership. Of course, McCain (and the NRA) has been helped by strong firearms advocate Sarah Palin bringing the only true credentials to either ticket.
The NRA has done a good job of finessing the national race. It's a shame, though, that they have done such a poor job here in Tennessee of using their political influence to make sure that pro-gunners control the General Assembly. But that's a topic for another day...
Here is what the NRA had to say today about Obama:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
- Senator Barack Obama (April 6, 2008)
Obama's Gun Control History
- Running for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, Senator Obama supported banning "the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns." Senator Obama also supported waiting periods and background checks to purchase all firearms.
- In 2001, Senator Obama voted against a bill to allow individuals to carry a concealed weapon when they have a valid order of protection out against another person.
- In 2003, Senator Obama voted in support of legislation that "would have banned most of the privately held hunting shotguns, target rifles, and black powder rifles" in Illinois. He also voted in support of a measure that would have prohibited multiple sales of handguns within a 30-day period.
- In 2004, Senator Obama voted against legislation "drafted to protect homeowners from being prosecuted in cases where they used a firearm to halt a home invasion."
- In 2004, Senator Obama expressed his opposition to right to carry concealed weapons by saying, "I mean, I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry."
- Running for the U.S. Senate in 2004, Senator Obama received an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund. Senator Obama advocated national legislation banning concealed carry.
- In a 2004 candidate questionnaire, Senator Obama supported banning assault weapons.
The NRA answered by attacking Obama through e-mail and press releases, as an Obama presidency obviously hurts those who respect the Second Amendment. However, the NRA hasn't really propped up McCain, which more than likely would have angered significant numbers of their membership. Of course, McCain (and the NRA) has been helped by strong firearms advocate Sarah Palin bringing the only true credentials to either ticket.
The NRA has done a good job of finessing the national race. It's a shame, though, that they have done such a poor job here in Tennessee of using their political influence to make sure that pro-gunners control the General Assembly. But that's a topic for another day...
Here is what the NRA had to say today about Obama:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
- Senator Barack Obama (April 6, 2008)
Obama's Gun Control History
- Running for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, Senator Obama supported banning "the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns." Senator Obama also supported waiting periods and background checks to purchase all firearms.
- In 2001, Senator Obama voted against a bill to allow individuals to carry a concealed weapon when they have a valid order of protection out against another person.
- In 2003, Senator Obama voted in support of legislation that "would have banned most of the privately held hunting shotguns, target rifles, and black powder rifles" in Illinois. He also voted in support of a measure that would have prohibited multiple sales of handguns within a 30-day period.
- In 2004, Senator Obama voted against legislation "drafted to protect homeowners from being prosecuted in cases where they used a firearm to halt a home invasion."
- In 2004, Senator Obama expressed his opposition to right to carry concealed weapons by saying, "I mean, I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry."
- Running for the U.S. Senate in 2004, Senator Obama received an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund. Senator Obama advocated national legislation banning concealed carry.
- In a 2004 candidate questionnaire, Senator Obama supported banning assault weapons.
Labels: 2008 General Election, Second Amendment
Permalink posted by Rob Huddleston @ 12:05 PM 
