Why as a gun owner i want obama as president

[bossy22]

As a gun owner and a member of the democratic party i want obama to be my next president. Though he might not be necessarily "pro-gun" he atleast seems clear that he is not a complete anti-gun zealot like Hillary Clinton. He voted for prohibiting confiscation of lawfully held firearms in an emergency which shows me he is reasonable and won't cross the confiscation line. Also many times in his speeches about guns he does mention self defense as a legitimate reason for owning a firearm...which hillary does not.

And more importantly i believe that we need a democrat in office. Though our gun rights may be safer with bush and repubs all our other rights are not. And the truth is are rights really aren't in any jeapordy with a democratically controlled government. With a supreme court decision most likely going our way and the pro-gun dems in congress- there is very little chance of us "losing our guns" if we have a liberal "anti-gun" president.

To me there is more pressing issues- guns for me are important and i always put them high on my list when considering a candidate, but somethings are more important...for now and the foreseeble future my guns are safe...but my country is not

these are my two-cents on the issue

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. I am a proud, unapologetic liberal...

a black woman and a gun owner. Barack HUSSEIN Obama *is* my president!!

[SteveM]

2. I see your points and would add one more...

Despite what some talking heads say, I think the GOP is more afraid of Obama than Clinton (she's completely damaged goods with regards 2A). Obama shows a change of direction on 2A which can peel away some of the single-issue "gun vote." 2A may not be the overwhelming factor which scares the GOP, but they won't have a comfortable target with him. I think what underlies much of the race-baiting (Rev. Wright "factor") is an attempt to confuse voters and damage his reputation before the "gun issue" becomes more stark, but less favorable to the GOP, by the general election.

Funny, when I voted in Texas in March I didn't see any "Rev. Wright" on the ballot. Anyone else notice that name on the ballot?

[Tejas]

11. hmm

"I think the GOP is more afraid of Obama than Clinton (she's completely damaged goods with regards 2A)."

Her recent statement about needing to have an AWB was not a good idea. Biden harped on it, didn't make him look good either.


"Obama shows a change of direction on 2A which can peel away some of the single-issue "gun vote.""

A presidential candidate being casual about wanting to fiddle with the RKBA is not exactly what 80 million gunowners want to see or hear either.

[SteveM]

16. It's not an ideal choice; hell, it stinks. But people do change.

[Tejas]

18. question

Schumer and Feinstein, are they closer to Clinton or Obama (or both) with respect to anti-RKBA activies?

In a sense, I'm wondering who is tighter or deals with Schumer and Feinstein more closely.

[SteveM]

19. Based on years of association/seniority, I'd say Clinton.

In addition, Schumer is the other NY senator, and Feinstein is deeply embedded with the Democratic establishment which is deeply pro-gun control. Obama's gun control activities seem centered on local Chicago politics and the ever-present Joyce Foundation.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bossy22]

4. or maybe

i want a democrat in office because there are more pressing issues

If i had to choose one it would be obama, he does have an anti-gun record but it is better than hillary's.

As i mentioned in the first part "as a gun owner and a member of the democratic party"....im a democrat, i vote democrat, i will not vote for a repub even if he promises me free machine guns...

there are somethings that are more important than guns

[bossy22]

5. ohh yess wise master

i see your week+1 here has made you an expert on trolliness

you caught me...im a troll...i give up\

If you read any of my previous posts you could see im as pro-gun and pro-dem as the next person

[apocalypsehow]

6. "Come on, this has to be a troll."

"From the gun rights standpoint, Obama might be the better choice because his inexperience will cause his antagonism to be clumsy and more open to counterattack. Hillary is almost certainly going to put her hooks into us through various subtle mechanisms- leaking ATF trace records to the brady bunch, retaining NICS records contrary to federal law, helping coordinate the anti-gunners through the oval office and DOJ (all things that have been done before by a Clinton administration)."

*Ahem*

[apocalypsehow]

9. Another day, another cutie-pie dispatch pointed (this time) right at this thread.

And it bounces, too! Go figure.

This is a novel way of carrying on a discussion, I must say, but just so there's no confusion: I don't care what you believe. I don't care what the "pro-gun Democrats" who post in this sub-forum believe. I don't care what the so-called "antis" believe along those lines, either, even if, in fact, they do believe what you claim. In point of fact, I don't really care what anyone believes - there is an obvious course of action open to those in charge if they're "convinced" that your absurd speculations have merit. Why don't you contact them? Oh, I forgot: you're sure that they're just "biding their time" waiting for the "right moment." (?)

If true, which I doubt, I'd say a railroad has some odd engineers a runnin' it, but it really is academic in any event. Because if I never tapped so much as one more keystroke on the DU - or any other internet forum, for that matter - it would singe very little hair on my chinny-chin-chin. It's called, as I believe I told you once before, having a life. I suggest you go looking for one; you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

[apocalypsehow]

10. ***OP, #9 is no-wise directed at you, but to my (anonymous) fan club president*** n/t.

[iverglas]

7. spot the troll, eh?

Well, my money's on a completely different one from everybody else's.

Not that they're mutually exclusive ... do I get to double down or something?

[spin]

8. Barack and Hillary's position on gun control...

Obama's Position:

* Respect 2nd Amendment, but local gun bans ok. (Feb 2008)
* Provide some common-sense enforcement on gun licensing. (Jan 2008)
* 2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month. (Oct 2007)
* Concealed carry OK for retired police officers. (Aug 2007)
* Stop unscrupulous gun dealers dumping guns in cities. (Jul 2007)
* Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality. (Oct 2006)
* Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions. (Jul 1998)
* Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)

Hillary's Position:

* Against illegal guns, crack down on illegal gun dealers. (Jan 2008)
* Backed off a national licensing registration plan on guns. (Jan 2008)
* Get assault weapons & guns off the street. (Jul 2007)
* Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre. (Apr 2007)
* FactCheck: VA Tech shooter not declared a danger to others. (Apr 2007)
* Congress' failure at Littleton response inspired Senate run. (Nov 2003)
* Keep guns away from people who shouldn’t have them. (Sep 2000)
* Limit access to weapons; look for early warning signs. (Sep 2000)
* License and register all handgun sales. (Jun 2000)
* Tough gun control keeps guns out of wrong hands. (Jul 1999)
* Gun control protects our children. (Jul 1999)
* Don’t water down sensible gun control legislation. (Jul 1999)
* Lock up guns; store ammo separately. (Jun 1999)
* Ban kids’ unsupervised access to guns. (Jun 1999)
* Get weapons off the streets; zero tolerance for weapons. (Sep 1996)
* Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
* Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
* Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)

http://www.ontheissues.org/Gun_Control.htm

Obama quotes on gun control: http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm

Hillary quotes on gun control: http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Hillary_Clinton_Gun_Control.htm

[facepalm]

13. Obama was in politics before 2007 you know...

Not fair to compare Hillary's positions from the 90s with Barack Obama's election season positions. Compare their 90s positions and I think Obama will be cast in a much less favorable light.

[spin]

14. Good point...help us out with a link...

The link I posted compared fairly current views of the candidates.

I would be interested in Obama's views in the 90s. Perhaps you can help.

Of course, politicians are notorious for changing their views to better attract voters. A politician in a liberal area of the country will realize that many voters demand strict gun control and in order to win a local or national election will back draconian gun laws.

The problem with this approach is that to run for the office of President their earlier views come back to haunt them. The policies that worked well in Chicago or New York may hurt their chances in the national race.

Perhaps that's why we see Presidential candidates pander to the NRA and gun owners by donning designer hunter clothes and venturing into the field to prove their prowess at hunting pheasants, ducks or geese. Of course, these attempts fail to really impress voters and cause real hunters a considerable amount of laughter.

But most gun owners realize that the right to own firearms is important to a larger group than hunters, target shooters and collectors. Firearms are widely used by many people for self defense. Some of these gun owners obtain concealed carry permits and "pack heat" in public. Currently 48 states allow some form of concealed carry and, so far, no state that has allowed concealed carry has revoked the law. It seems that people with a concealed weapons permit are far more responsible with their weapons then criminals or even the average gun owner. No real surprise there.

It's my understanding that Obama once opposed concealed carry. As I said above, that position works well in places like Chicago.

But the President is not a king. Other elected officials and the court system form equal parts of our representative democracy. So even if a candidate for President is a advocate of extreme gun control his views can be overridden or nullified.

I personally believe that the Democratic Party has an EXCELLENT chance of wining he Presidency and control of both house of Congress in the upcoming national election. After the fiasco of the Bush administration this could only be an improvement for our country.

I hope that this country also elects people who value the Second Amendment and the rights of all gun owners. I hope these elected officials propose legislation that helps to reduce the underlying causes of violence in our society.

[TPaine7]

12. Your analysis is pretty good. . .

On the whole, I agree with it. Hence, I will probably end up voting for Obama.

However, with me the decision is closer. The Second Amendment debate goes to Obama's integrity, his fidelity to the Constitution when it's not in his (perceived) political best interest.

That's important.

[jody]

15. I'll vote for the Dem candidate but 80 million gun owners are more likely to vote with me if BO & HC

will simply say "I will veto every bill that comes to me as president that infringes upon the natural, inherent, inalienable right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms for self-defense."

[facepalm]

20. exactly, this isn't about us and who we will vote for

This is about the millions of gun owners who aren't party faithful.

[DemOkie]

17. I agree, but for slightly different reasons

I too am in favor of Sen. Obama. While I suffer the curse of all Democratic gun owners, in that our candidates are often pretty soft on RKBA issues, I find Sen. Obama's approach to governance refreshing. Call me naive, but I really believe he will practice politics of inclusion. I hope that this will mean he will listen to many of the "pro-gun" Democratic folks. I look forward to voting for him next tuesday.