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babylonsister

(170,963 posts)
Mon Jan 16, 2012, 11:11 PM Jan 2012

I need help, re: guns and gun control.

I know I could 'google' and will do that, but the smartest minds I know are here. So...
I'm dating a man who believes everything the NRA tells him, he's grown up with guns, works for a gun company, and has told me time and again this president and this admin wants to do away with guns. Sales of guns has escalated, so he's not the only person who believes this.
Can anyone enlighten me?
Thank you!

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I need help, re: guns and gun control. (Original Post) babylonsister Jan 2012 OP
Well, sounds like his logic is off.. X_Digger Jan 2012 #1
Oh, Babylonsister, bless your heart for asking that question here. aikoaiko Jan 2012 #2
Thanks! I have no problem with people who are members babylonsister Jan 2012 #3
No, the Obama admin has not said it wants to stop the sale of all guns and ammo. aikoaiko Jan 2012 #5
Point out to him that nothing has, in fact, happened. TheWraith Jan 2012 #4
Your are fogetting about the 2005 "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act". GreenStormCloud Jan 2012 #42
Post 2 summed it up best mvccd1000 Jan 2012 #6
I believe that the core of the issue is thus: krispos42 Jan 2012 #7
His first 60 days...... E6-B Jan 2012 #8
That's interesting. What actions or statements are you referring to? aikoaiko Jan 2012 #9
Obama seeks Assault Weapon Ban E6-B Jan 2012 #10
Perhaps you missed this... babylonsister Jan 2012 #11
Perhaps you don't know he wants back the AWB. E6-B Jan 2012 #21
Perhaps there's more to gun control than the AWB... ellisonz Jan 2012 #22
He may want it, but he knows the consequences of pushing for it: Simo 1939_1940 Jan 2012 #37
True enough AG Holder and SoS Clinton both made remarks about renewing the AWB but were silenced. aikoaiko Jan 2012 #14
Bluntly Lurks Often Jan 2012 #12
death spewer enabler....just say no. ileus Jan 2012 #13
Aikoaiko and Krispos have pretty much covered all the bases. Atypical Liberal Jan 2012 #15
You think President Romney won't sign a ban? jeepnstein Jan 2012 #16
I really hope Obama brings up Romney's AWB if he is the Repub candidate aikoaiko Jan 2012 #17
He'd do it, too. jeepnstein Jan 2012 #18
"I can hear it in a debate." Simo 1939_1940 Jan 2012 #38
I agree that the denial to let the US made Garands back in from Korea was lame. aikoaiko Jan 2012 #39
A major factor in gun sales increase is because of tragedies like this one. Unfortunately the Wistful Vista Jan 2012 #19
It is difficult to find major Democratic leaders who are NOT in favor of gun control... SteveW Jan 2012 #20
As pro-gun poster #15 describes: "The NRA is mostly using fear to drum up membership." ellisonz Jan 2012 #23
And so does the Brady Campaign, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the VPC. friendly_iconoclast Jan 2012 #24
There's a difference between fear of a spiraling militarization of society... ellisonz Jan 2012 #25
spiraling militarization? gejohnston Jan 2012 #26
Probably because they don't carry guns around and don't shoot each other. Starboard Tack Jan 2012 #33
which has nothing to do with personal guns gejohnston Jan 2012 #35
I would have to say that while Obama has not acted against guns/2A while president... OneTenthofOnePercent Jan 2012 #27
The NRA is full of shit and lied about Obama in 2008 and will lie about Obama in 2012. They are..... Logical Jan 2012 #28
Allow me to repost from above, his first 40 days in office seeks new assault weapon ban. E6-B Jan 2012 #31
Who will you be voting for in November? Starboard Tack Jan 2012 #34
Want me to list what the NRA said he would do? And compare it to what he REALLY Did? Stop... Logical Jan 2012 #36
Just wear an safeinOhio Jan 2012 #29
Sound advice... ellisonz Jan 2012 #32
I happen to have one, Obama as Superman. babylonsister Jan 2012 #40
I wear one to the gun range and safeinOhio Jan 2012 #41
+1000 ellisonz Jan 2012 #43
It mostly stems from the DLC/Third Way blitz on the "assault weapon" fraud in the '90s through '04. benEzra Jan 2012 #30

X_Digger

(18,585 posts)
1. Well, sounds like his logic is off..
Mon Jan 16, 2012, 11:26 PM
Jan 2012

Sounds like a post hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy ("after this, because of this&quot .

Sales of guns escalating does not prove anything other than more folks are buying guns.



aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
2. Oh, Babylonsister, bless your heart for asking that question here.
Mon Jan 16, 2012, 11:30 PM
Jan 2012

Last edited Tue Jan 17, 2012, 01:28 AM - Edit history (1)

Truth be told, the answer to your request is complicated. Both sides, exemplified by the NRA on one side, and the Violence Prevention Center/Brady Campaign on the other, lie and distort for their causes. I am a member of the NRA and I readily admit they exaggerate to the point of lying.

Sure, our President has an anti-gun history and campaigned to restrict guns more, but he has backed off from those previous stances almost completely since being elected. He hasn't verbalized a retreat or a change in positions, but he hasn't really talked about it much either.

There is very little danger of guns actually being taken away from owners, but there are many politicians who would like to stop people from buying various newly manufactured firearms.

That's my take on it, in a nutshell.






babylonsister

(170,963 posts)
3. Thanks! I have no problem with people who are members
Mon Jan 16, 2012, 11:48 PM
Jan 2012

of the NRA or who use guns responsibly, but do wonder where all the fear because of this admin is coming from, and then I refer back to the NRA, or something/one more nefarious?
Did this admin seriously say they wanted to stop the sale of guns and ammo? I find that hard to believe...

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
5. No, the Obama admin has not said it wants to stop the sale of all guns and ammo.
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 12:31 AM
Jan 2012

President Obama had a horrible reputation as a gun control advocate. This played well in Chicago and Illinois. Various legislators in the Senate and House appeared to be waiting for a Democratic president who would support increased gun control.

A lot of gun owners were really worried that with a President with an anti-gun rights history as Obama and a Democratic congress, many draconian gun laws would be enacted.

People started buying guns in what many people referred to as the panic buy of 2008 and 2009.

But then something happened...nothing. Although AG Holder and SOS Clinton mentioned bringing back the ban on popular rifles, shotguns, and pistols with certain accessories, they appeared to be stifled quickly.

Even after the Loughner shooting rampage, the President did not propose draconian laws. Those congress members who did saw their bills fall into a black hole.

So why does the NRA turn up the heat? I think they think the strategy works so they are keeping up the pressure. Plus many in the NRA are Republicans.

In fairness to the NRA and those who are still suspicious of the President, he hasn't disavowed his previous stances and he hasn't promised "no new federal gun bans" either.






TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
4. Point out to him that nothing has, in fact, happened.
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 12:17 AM
Jan 2012

Three years they've had, including an overwhelmingly Democratic House and Senate for two, and crickets. Zilch. Nada. Despite a couple members of the administration going off at the mouth early on, the Obama administration has in general been solidly silent on anything to do with gun control, and that Obama has in fact been better for gun owners than Bush was--having signed the bill equalizing firearm rules between National Parks and National Forests, and several other minor measures of the kind.

GreenStormCloud

(12,072 posts)
42. Your are fogetting about the 2005 "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act".
Sat Jan 21, 2012, 08:47 PM
Jan 2012

Bush supported and signed that. Obama voted against it and for the Kennedy amendment to it. The Kennedy amendment would have outlawed common rifle hunting ammuniton. Kennedy specifically spoke of the .30-30 cartridge as a "cop killer".

It was a stand alone bill that saved the gun industry from being drowned in legal fees by anti-gun mayors. Killing the gun industry was the objective of the lawsuits and the PLCAA stopped it.

The national parks bill was a rider to a must-pass credit card reform bill.

mvccd1000

(1,534 posts)
6. Post 2 summed it up best
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 12:57 AM
Jan 2012

Thanks, aikoaiko.

Not much to add to his post.

As far as sales of guns escalating, surely it's not all due to fear of "gub'mint gun grabbers." Some of it is probably people's fear of uncertainty due to the economy, some due to the greater publication of the ever expanding CCW laws (more people realize they have the option), and some is due to the fact that it's just plain fun to go shooting.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
7. I believe that the core of the issue is thus:
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 12:57 AM
Jan 2012

Part 1:

As Chief Executive, Obama has the power to issue executive orders, and appoint powerful people, that can make buying, selling, owning, lawfully using, and transporting guns difficult. He can do this even if Congress doesn't add, subtract, or change any legislation.

As a community organizer, state senator, and federal senator, Obama supported and promoted several anti-gun measures that are the mainstay of the gun-control movement: assault weapons ban, magazine-capacity limit, etc.

The fear was that, based on his history, once in a position to issue those executive orders and appoint those high-powered officials, he would act in such a manner as he was able to in order to achieve his previously-stated goals.



Part 2:

As a Democrat, President Obama is the titular head of the Democratic Party. And since the party platform and a couple of decades of experience have shown that the party is dedicated to being anti-gun. Naturally, they would assume that Congressional Democrats would work towards this (especially after the huge majorities we had in 2008). And that Obama, even if he wasn't personally a frothing anti-gun person, would not take a public stand against anti-gun legislation, would not work with Congress to get it removed from legislation, and wouldn't veto it if it made it to his desk.

The fear was that dedicated Democrats might pass anti-gun laws and that Obama would sign them, even if he wasn't that keen on it.



Part 3:

The NRA is right on the technical legal issues. Unfortunately, they coach this rightness in overly-emotional and somewhat wild-eyed rhetoric.

I hesitate to call them "paranoid", for the simple fact that repetitive questioning can make a person seem paranoid. Always asking "but why do you need..." eventually make the answer sound defensive.

 

E6-B

(153 posts)
8. His first 60 days......
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 02:04 AM
Jan 2012

Jan 20 2009 he is sworn in.

Feb 25 he seeks to re-start assault weapon ban.

He started this project even before health care.

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
9. That's interesting. What actions or statements are you referring to?
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 07:41 AM
Jan 2012

I'm not aware of anything.

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
22. Perhaps there's more to gun control than the AWB...
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 04:47 PM
Jan 2012

..and gun control doesn't constitute "infringement."

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
14. True enough AG Holder and SoS Clinton both made remarks about renewing the AWB but were silenced.
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 10:13 AM
Jan 2012


http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/03/27/a-gun-ban-gets-shot-down.html

Although President Obama had a miserable RKBA record before his inauguration, since then he has done nothing except sign the pro-rkba law allowing guns in national parks.

When you say "he will do everything to limit gun ownership", the evidence appears to be the opposite since January 20, 2009.

I don't have any evidence that he has had a true change of heart or can be considered a RLBA defender, but saying he will do everything to limit gun ownership just isn't true for the last 3 years.

His propensity to limit gun ownership is, I think, currently contained.

 

Lurks Often

(5,455 posts)
12. Bluntly
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 10:04 AM
Jan 2012

very few people are going to believe a liberal Democrat (and President Obama is liberal, if not as liberal as many on DU would like) that came up and out of the Chicago political scene is going to be anything but anti-gun.

The President can't sign anti-gun legislation if it never gets to his desk and I don't think anybody in Congress except those in very safe seats are willing to put their political carreer on the line and risk getting voted out of office trying to get anti gun legislation passed.

 

Atypical Liberal

(5,412 posts)
15. Aikoaiko and Krispos have pretty much covered all the bases.
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 10:13 AM
Jan 2012

I am also a member of the NRA. The NRA is mostly using fear to drum up membership. Obama has not done one single thing to limit the right to keep and bear arms during his presidency, and in fact the has passed laws allowing the carrying of concealed weapons inside national parks.

That said, he did campaign on re-instating the assault weapons ban. It is still up here:

http://change.gov/agenda/urbanpolicy_agenda/

Also, the Democratic Party Platform still lists re-instating the assault weapons ban as a priority.

My opinion is that the President still adheres to an anti-gun philosophy but has not acted on it because it is political suicide to do so. My fear is that when he is elected a second term he will have nothing to lose and will then move on gun control. (Note that I voted for him in 2008 but he lost my support after signing the NDAA.)

It is also true that just a couple of months into his presidency his appointed Attorney General, Eric Holder, publicly proposed re-instating the assault weapons ban. This was roundly shouted down even by Speaker of the House Pelosi, and the idea went away.

Now recently we have uncovered the Fast and Furious (and other) operations whereby the US Government, under Eric Holder's Justice Department, have been caught allowing firearms to be sold through civilian channels to drug cartels in Mexico. Ostensibly this was done to track them to the cartels, except they never notified Mexico, never notified Mexican ATF offices, and stopped tracking the weapons once they crossed the border. The cynical folks suspect that this was done to use foreign gun running to drum up support for gun control, since here at home all rifles, let alone assault rifles, are hardly ever used in crime. More people are killed with hands and feet.

jeepnstein

(2,631 posts)
16. You think President Romney won't sign a ban?
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 10:13 AM
Jan 2012

He'd do it in a heartbeat if it only limits the rights of the non-wealthy. His charade of being a "conservative" is just that, a charade. He's a statist and will be nothing but a lap dog for the monied interests who really don't care all that much for you and me. And make no mistake, the monied class of the GOP will see to it that Romney is their man. He's one of them.

Obama, for all his weaknesses, is by far and away the safest choice. Nothing he has done since he's taken office leads me to believe he's going to go for a ban. The man can count and he knows what that would mean for voting in flyover land.

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
17. I really hope Obama brings up Romney's AWB if he is the Repub candidate
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 10:38 AM
Jan 2012


I can hear it in a debate.

Obama: There is only one chief executive officer on this stage who has signed an Assault Weapons Ban and it isn't the liberal.

jeepnstein

(2,631 posts)
18. He'd do it, too.
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 11:26 AM
Jan 2012

The man is a smart and ruthless politician. I kind of admire that about him. Given the state of affairs in American politics these days I'm absolutely shocked the Republican Congress hasn't managed to come up with some kind of show trial yet.

His carefully worded article released a couple of months after the shooting spree in Arizona was about as moderate as anything I can remember seeing out of a politician at the national level in many years. He seems positively quaint when compared to the yahoos we have on the national stage thanks to the monied interests that keep them there.

Now, like the majority of Americans, I believe that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. And the courts have settled that as the law of the land. In this country, we have a strong tradition of gun ownership that's handed from generation to generation. Hunting and shooting are part of our national heritage. And, in fact, my administration has not curtailed the rights of gun owners - it has expanded them, including allowing people to carry their guns in national parks and wildlife refuges.

The fact is, almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible. They're our friends and neighbors. They buy their guns legally and use them safely, whether for hunting or target shooting, collection or protection. And that's something that gun-safety advocates need to accept. Likewise, advocates for gun owners should accept the awful reality that gun violence affects Americans everywhere, whether on the streets of Chicago or at a supermarket in Tucson. - President Obama

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/article_011e7118-8951-5206-a878-39bfbc9dc89d.html#ixzz1jjHQnOSU


Romney is going to have to run from his record on this issue. I can't believe it hasn't been tossed around like an Arizona gun show grenade in the Republican debates.

Simo 1939_1940

(768 posts)
38. "I can hear it in a debate."
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 05:19 AM
Jan 2012

The saying "Be careful what you wish for" comes to mind.

While I believe that such a aggressive posture would catch Mittens flat-footed, it would be strategically foolish nevertheless IMO, given Obama's senseless reversal of position on the importation of M1 Garands from South Korea - not to mention his poor track record on gun restriction. Going on the offensive could backfire in a very big way. Immediately after this decision I started getting e-mails from Rand Paul, blathering along the lines of "gun grabbing Democrats". (presumably because I'm a member of the NRA and CRPA) Clearly, the importation of these rifles would have zero (or next to zero) impact on gun crime. President Obama hasn't been terribly concerned about alienating the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, so I have a hard time believing that the move was designed to placate the liberal portion of his base. While his decision on this issue certainly doesn't represent a threat to the RKBA, in my mind it was extremely self-defeating in that it reinforces the notion that Democrats are ignorant and hostile w/regard to gun rights at best, and harbor hidden prohibitionist intent at worst. I'm truly at loss as to what a very sharp mind was thinking here. Was his decision influenced by some felony-poor input from advisors? Perhaps I'm making too much of this issue, but I feel that the President gave ammunition to the GOP with it - and it has disturbed me a great deal. I'd be very curious as to what other members of this forum feel about this.

aikoaiko

(34,127 posts)
39. I agree that the denial to let the US made Garands back in from Korea was lame.
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 09:43 AM
Jan 2012

As I think the BATFE to require reporting of multiple long guns in Mexico border states.

These two administration decisions won't do a thing to reduce crime.

Still, Romney can be attacked for signing a state AWB if gun control comes up.

Actually, I'm surprised this hasn't come up in the Repub candidate debates.

SteveW

(754 posts)
20. It is difficult to find major Democratic leaders who are NOT in favor of gun control...
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 02:43 PM
Jan 2012

Since the gun-control is an elitist outlook for elitists. It is hardly a 'movement' since there is little grass roots following, and monetary support, but those who take the gun-control stance are "top heavy" within the Democratic Party. (Perhaps because they thought there was a mass base?) Yet even here, the support for gun-control is found in some cities on the coasts and in Chicago, and in a declining MSM (always the most influential component within the gun-control outlook).

You might direct him to the latest Gallup survey on gun-ownership/availability which shows that the number of folks who self-identify as Democratic or Democratic-leaning who also have access to firearms has risen by a third in the last two years (30% - 40%). More importantly, he may wish to ask himself this question: What political force in this country has the power to attempt gun prohibition, the GOP Right or the remaining center-liberal Democrats? It was Ronald Reagan, after all, who got the ball rolling for gun-control in the late 60s. And this effort has been feebly sustained by the GOP-founded, GOP-led Brady Center, with ample support from William Bennett (believed to be a co-author of the "assault weapons ban&quot , and the rightist Charles Krauthammer.

Better yet, he might wish to re-consider his priorities, with an eye toward the Unitary Presidency (installed by Cheney/Bush) which gives the president power to suspend constitutional protections if a national emergency exists, such emergencies being whatever the president defines. I hope this helps.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self-reported-gun-ownership-highest-1993.aspx

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
23. As pro-gun poster #15 describes: "The NRA is mostly using fear to drum up membership."
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 04:51 PM
Jan 2012

The truth is that the pro-gun position is quite outlandish, denies our ability to do anything about the social costs of failing gun control laws, and encourages wingnutism.

You should get this book for him: http://www.amazon.com/Ricochet-Confessions-Lobbyist-Richard-Feldman/dp/0471679283/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326833456&sr=8-1

 

friendly_iconoclast

(15,333 posts)
24. And so does the Brady Campaign, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the VPC.
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 05:47 PM
Jan 2012

To be precise, they use fear to drum up donations and get headlines, as the three best-known gun control orgs were rather accurately described as a "movement without followers" a week or so ago...

ellisonz

(27,709 posts)
25. There's a difference between fear of a spiraling militarization of society...
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 05:50 PM
Jan 2012

...and a fear of having your toys taken away

Thanks thought police!

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
26. spiraling militarization?
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 06:38 PM
Jan 2012

Not hardly. You do have Swiss counterparts claiming stricter laws doing would do something about their suicide rate. Most of the time they bitch about Schützenfest.

Starboard Tack

(11,181 posts)
33. Probably because they don't carry guns around and don't shoot each other.
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 06:22 PM
Jan 2012
The Swiss army has long been a militia trained and structured to rapidly respond against foreign aggression. Swiss males grow up expecting to undergo basic military training, usually at age 20 in the Rekrutenschule (German for "recruit school&quot , the initial boot camp, after which Swiss men remain part of the "militia" in reserve capacity until age 30 (age 34 for officers). Each such individual is required to keep his army-issued personal weapon (the 5.56x45mm Sig 550 rifle for enlisted personnel and/or the 9mm SIG-Sauer P226 semi-automatic pistol for officers, medical and postal personnel) at home. Up until October 2007, a specified personal retention quantity of government-issued personal ammunition (50 rounds 5.56 mm / 48 rounds 9mm) was issued as well, which was sealed and inspected regularly to ensure that no unauthorized use had taken place.[4] The ammunition was intended for use while traveling to the army barracks in case of invasion.

In October 2007, the Swiss Federal Council decided that the distribution of ammunition to soldiers shall stop and that all previously issued ammo shall be returned. By March 2011, more than 99% of the ammo has been received. Only special rapid deployment units and the military police still have ammunition stored at home today

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
35. which has nothing to do with personal guns
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 06:40 PM
Jan 2012

and they can easily buy ammo for those guns. Or, just go to the range and get it at a major discount. At the end of the service, the rifles are converted to semi auto only and become your personal property. The pistols are already semi auto.
During the fest, they do carry guns around and freak out Japanese tourists. Since the competitions became open to girls, girls have dominated the games. Given their low crime rate, I doubt people would CCW even if the could. Take Vermont, Czech Republic, and Wyoming for example.
Americans don't shoot each other for the most part either.

Before the red scare, CCW was not uncommon in continental Europe.

 

OneTenthofOnePercent

(6,268 posts)
27. I would have to say that while Obama has not acted against guns/2A while president...
Tue Jan 17, 2012, 07:54 PM
Jan 2012

his past history and past actions clearly show that he is no freind of gun rights.

BUT!!! ...

Obama, even if antigun, is decidedly more opportunistic. It hasn't been politically convient to be antigun as president... so obama has been pretty quiet on the issue. He knows antigun laws and bans are very unpopular and will cost even more democratic seats. Also, no antigun legislation has made it to his desk (he doesn't get to write the laws and sign them, too). However this was not in the case in strong antigun areas like Illinois/Chicago where being antigun may be popular.

So it can be determined he either has no strong stance on guns or that he's antigun and unwilling to lose support over that issue.

 

Logical

(22,457 posts)
28. The NRA is full of shit and lied about Obama in 2008 and will lie about Obama in 2012. They are.....
Wed Jan 18, 2012, 11:22 PM
Jan 2012

only trying to raise money from their nutty members who panic easily.

Find another boyfriend in my opinion!

 

Logical

(22,457 posts)
36. Want me to list what the NRA said he would do? And compare it to what he REALLY Did? Stop...
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 08:15 PM
Jan 2012

believing the NRA shit and think for yourself. Look at Obama in 2008 till now and tell me how he hurt any of your gun rights???
The 2nd is stronger now than ever.

safeinOhio

(32,531 posts)
41. I wear one to the gun range and
Sat Jan 21, 2012, 03:47 PM
Jan 2012

watch the steam coming out of peoples ears as they want to explode. I am surprised that only supporters of Obama ever mention it. The others just stare.

benEzra

(12,148 posts)
30. It mostly stems from the DLC/Third Way blitz on the "assault weapon" fraud in the '90s through '04.
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 11:23 AM
Jan 2012

A lot of the DNC/DLC leadership at that time didn't realize that "assault weapon" was scare-speak for popular civilian rifles or any civilian gun holding over 10 rounds (e.g., most midsize and full-size 9mm's and .40's, among other things) and the backlash among gun owners of all political stripes was immense, even among long-time Dems.

Obama came out of that background and made some intemperate statements about banning "assault weapons" prior to becoming President, but later backed way off the issue (and told AG Holder and congressional Dems to STFU when they started making noises about a new ban in '09) and for the most part has been a rather pro-gun President, as the AHSA (DLC affiliated shooting group) predicted.

FWIW, you could point out that Romney would be worse on guns, I think. Here's what Romney said about the most popular civilian target rifles and defensive carbines in the United States:

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.

--Mitt Romney, 2004


Obama signed the law reauthorizing licensed carry in National Parks (Reagan had banned it) and the law allowing gun owners to transport unloaded guns in checked baggage on Amtrak trains like we've always done on airlines, so he has hardly been in the pockets of the gun-control lobby---much to their chagrin.
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