The American Hunters and Shooters Association Supports Obama: He "Gets It"

[Ian David]

Today, as president of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), I announced our endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States. Because the gun issue has recently become a factor in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, I want to share the remarks I made today:

As a gun rights organization we have not come to this decision lightly. We were formed two years ago because our research shows that millions of gun owners wanted a change. They not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection of their communities as well as the protection of our lands.

<snip>

We believe recent attacks on Senator Obama's stand on the 2nd Amendment and his commitment to our hunting and shooting heritage are unfair and American Hunters and Shooters Association is stepping up to set the record straight.

Senator Obama has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the 2nd Amendment by his vote in support of the Vitter amendment to HR 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill of 2007. This amendment prevents the Government from confiscating guns in a time of crisis or emergency.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ray-schoenke/hunters-and-shooters-supp_b_97028.html



Montana Sportsmen for Obama
By Christopher Hass - Apr 23rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm EDT

HELENA, MT – The Obama campaign announced today the formation of the Montana Sportsmen for Obama Committee on a press conference call with reporters. Members of the committee cited Senator Obama’s commitment to supporting the rights and tradition of sportsmen, and the need to address the conservation challenge in Montana and across America.

“Hunting and angling are important traditions in Montana, passed from generation to generation,” said Steve Doherty, former Montana Senate Minority Leader and Chair of the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission. “Sen. Obama understands the challenges Montana’s hunters and anglers face from dwindling wildlife and climate change, and he is committed to preserving our lands and protecting natural habitats.”

“Senator Obama believes in protecting gun rights and respects the Second Amendment and the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms,” said Rep. Kendall Van Dyk (D-Billings), House Democratic Chair of the Montana Legislative Sportsman Caucus.

“Obama gets the connection between global warming and wildlife and habitat. He supports common sense solutions, endorsed by dozens of America’s premier hunting and angling organizations including our very own Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation here in Montana, that will reduce the effects of climate change on wildlife.” said Land Tawney, an avid sportsman and leader in the conservation community. “Access here a big issue for sportsmen in Montana and as a US Senator he supported Open Fields Incentive legislation which provides federal money for public access to private land programs.”

More:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGCVmb


PRESS CONFERENCE CALL THIS AFTERNOON
Montana Conservationists Defend Obama on Hunting, Gun Issues
By Bill Schneider, 4-18-08

Stung by recent accusations that he doesn’t support the best interests of hunters, anglers and gun owners, presidential candidate Barack Obama had his campaign office hold a press conference call today to refute those claims and show “Senator Obama’s commitment to the rights and traditions of Montana’s sportsmen.”

An impressive line up spoke on Obama’s behalf, starting with Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission chairman and former state senator Steve Doherty, who pointed out that roughly half of the people in Montana’s hunt or fish and that he believed Obama would more strongly represent hunters, anglers and gun owners than Hillary Clinton.

<snip>

Kendall Van Dyk, a member of the Montana House of Representatives and chair of the Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus, gave examples of where Obama had voted for gun rights and Hillary had not. “He (Obama) understands the importance of the Second Amendment,” Van Dyk emphasized.

Capping off the discussion was Land Tawney, active in many conservation groups such as the Hellgate Hunters and Anglers, National Wildlife Federation and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

More:
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/motnana_conservationists_defend_obama_on_hunting_gun_issues/C41/L41



See also:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3312768#3312847

[jody]

1. AHSA is a gun-control group masquerading as pro-gun. it's endorsement could hurt BO among the 80

million gun owners.

Now if the Scary Brady Bunch endorses BO it will mean more votes lost to BO as he attempts to distance himself from his past association with those who would ban handguns and semiautomatic firearms.

[SiNNiK]

2. Thanks jody...

I knew something smelled funny about anyone "pro-gun" endorsing ......... that guy.

[iverglas]

6. soooooo

It's Clinton for you then?

Looks like it won't be Clinton though. Holding your nose and voting, will you be?

[spoony]

14. Yoda now are you?

:P

[beevul]

3. Hopefully...

Hopefully, heller will end the whole "ban guns" movement, and insulate Obama from the issue.

Whether he believes in the second or not, if the second is affirmed in heller and found to be the shackle on governmental power it was intended to be, it will no longer be much of an issue...IMHO, of course.

[gorfle]

8. That is my hope as well. n/t

.

[TPaine7]

4. Hunting, especially sport hunting

is covered by the Second Amendment, but is a relatively minor issue. Baby talk is covered by the First Amendment, too.

Self-defense and defense of family and country are the core of the right to arms in the same way that political communication is the core of the right to free speech.

Obama's vote on the Vitter amendment did impress me--enough to separate him from Clinton on this issue. But it certainly does not make him a champion of the right to keep and bear arms. I can see the code words: "commitment to our hunting and shooting heritage", "the best interests of hunters, anglers and gun owners" (notice the order), "rights and traditions of . . . sportsmen." There is nothing sporting about protecting yourself or your family or fighting for your country. There is nothing sporting about the core right to arms.

[SiNNiK]

5. Truth.

I read that too, kinda scary. I know he's not gonna like mine, even though it's not an autoloader. I wonder how long it'd take him to go after barrels shorter than 26"?

If something, or someone threatens my family, this is Plan A, B, and C. I bought this about 2 months ago and I've got 150 rounds through it so far. Smooth as butter, and stocked with 7 rds of Hornady TAP 00 buckshot (8 pellet). There is nothing sporting about this, at all.

[jmg257]

7. AHSA sounds like a few Fuds, with some conspicuous anti-gunners mixed in. I will pass for now. nt

[old mark]

9. very interesting

The right wing gun sites really hate this organization, for the same reasons I see Democrats not trusting it here-smells like an anti-gun hoax.

It is just great to find pro-gun Democrats.

mark

[HK91-762mm]

10. ASHA

AHSA -Is a front for antigun Brady and VPC !
There purpose is to Split gun owners. Fortunately they are well known around gun owners and gun rights voters-
Common anyone who supports a dem --Likes GUN CONTROL and GUN BANS-remember Billy boy and the 94 gun ban -Thats when I joined the NRA as a Life member !

[tucsonlib]

13. Join the Party!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=172118&mesg_id=172118

[solinvictus]

11. Wow...

...but what about our rights to keep guns for effective self-defense? Hmmmm??

[old mark]

15. I bet they don't want me to have my FAL

or my Norinco SKS's. Can't hunt with them in Pennsylvania anyway.

The more I find out about this organization, the less I like it.

mark

[michreject]

12. Gun grabbers

in disguise.

[slackmaster]

16. Their endorsement means nothing to me

As has already been pointed out repeeatedly, AHSA is a thinly-disguised front for gun control organizations. I have supported Obama since Bill Richardson dropped out of the race.

Obama's positions on guns reflect the interests of his constituency as a state lawmaker. As President he will be accountable to all of the people. I believe he has the capacity to accommodate a wider range of interests on guns and a lot of other subjects. He is reachable.

If I am wrong, he will be a one-term President.