Posted on 04/18/2008 11:49:29 AM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON — Some Illinois gun control advocates recall Senator Obama as a "friend" who represented a "solid vote" in favor of increased restrictions on firearm sales, but they said he was never forced to vote on an all-out ban on handguns as a member of the state Senate.
Mr. Obama's position on guns is drawing renewed scrutiny following Wednesday night's Democratic debate, when the Illinois senator said he never favored a handgun ban, even though a 1996 questionnaire in his name indicated he did.
The candidate questionnaire was filed with a nonprofit group, Independent Voters of Illinois–Independent Precinct Organization, during Mr. Obama's first run for the state Senate. It asked candidates if they "support state legislation to … ban the manufacture, sale, and possession of handguns." Mr. Obama's typed response was "Yes." His campaign later said a staffer filled out the form and unintentionally misrepresented Mr. Obama's position.
"I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns," Mr. Obama said when confronted with the questionnaire at the debate. He also denied that his handwriting was on the document, even though a copy of the form posted by Politico.com suggests otherwise.
Mr. Obama has sought to emphasize his support for the rights of gun owners in recent days, following the uproar over his comments at a San Francisco fundraiser that small-town Americans "cling" to guns and religion because they are "bitter" about economic woes. He announced the endorsement this week of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, a moderate gun rights organization, and at the debate he highlighted the "tradition of gun ownership that's passed on from generation to generation."
The Clinton campaign pressed the issue during a conference call yesterday, suggesting Mr. Obama's claims about the questionnaire demanded further explanation. Aides to Mrs. Clinton have in the past used his...
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.nysun.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Obama lies just like a Klintoon.
You mean he’s trying to “spin” his past positions so as to try to appear more “gun friendly”?
I’m shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!!!
No but Obama did say that he thinks states should be allowed to use gun control laws..... Funny huh since he doesn’t believe that states should put any such limits or controls on abortions less we punish these young girls with children....
And this idiot is glorified as a Constitutional law scholar... somebody better check his grades think he may have failed Constitution 101.
Obama: “As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state and local government can’t constrain the exercise of that right.”
"Just because you have a right does not mean that the government can't curtail it."
In my estimation, this not only makes him unfit for President of The United States, it makes him unfit to be a Cub Scout Pack Leader.
Send this ass packing please.
IVI-IPO 2004 US SENATE QUESTIONNAIRE
35. Do you support legislation to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of
a. handguns?
While a complete ban on handguns is not politically practicable , I believe reasonable restrictions on the sale and possession of handguns are necessary to protect the public safety. In the Illinois Senate last year, I supported a package of bills to limit individual Illinoisans to purchasing one handgun a month; require all promoters and sellers at firearms shows to carry a state license; allow civil liability for death or injuries caused by handguns ; and require FOID applicants to apply in person. I would support similar efforts at the federal level , including retaining the Brady Law.
b. a ssault weapons?
Yes.
c. ammunition for handguns and assault weapons?
I would support banning the sale of ammunition for assault weapons and limiting the sale of ammunition for handguns .
It pisses me off everytime a campaign uses a “staffer” excuse to try to spin a canidate’s position 180 degrees for political expediency. Ron Paul did it, now Obama did it. Who are these canidates that they have no control over anything they’re quoted as saying? Of course they assume we’re too stupid to figure out the truth that they’re lying and don’t want to admit what they really stand for. That may be a safe assumption when it comes the democrat base, but we can only hope he can’t sell this lie to the general electorate. To Obama, if this was a staffer’s mistake, why didn’t you correct it until now? I think we all know the real answer to that one.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Just to reiterate, from 1996 to 2003 I can find no information indicating that Obama corrected his position on gun control. And even in the 2003 survey he desired to ban all handguns, he just didn’t think it was politically possible.
Obama you are lying.
An old schoolyard chant “Liar,Liar pants are on fire”, Obama lies, but then he is both a liberal/marxist, and Chicago democrat
Obama is a product of Chicago machine.
They have never seen a gun control law did not disarm law abiding citizens.
Gun owners should run fast and far from this dufus.
So does B. Hussein opine on whether these constraints on the exercising of our rights apply to the FIRST amendment? Or the 4th? How about the 5th? etc. etc.
NO, it’s JUST the 2nd.
This guy is NOT a Constitutional scholar.
Obama is just using the Alinsky Method of hiding his true intent and actively trying to appear moderate.
Note post 8, that's from the 2004 questionaire. Essentially the same position.
He really should try harder, or not. LOL
He is a babe in the woods, going against the Clintoons.
I am no fan of the Toons
Sorry, 1996 to 2004 then. And yes, I agree, the only change in his “position” was that he didn’t think he could accomplish a complete ban, not that he didn’t support it.
The NRA has long ago pegged the AHSA as a gun grabbing Trojan Horse organization and urged its members to have nothing to do with the AHSA. By bragging about its support, Obama's sending out a code that he's a full scale, virulent gun grabber.
Seven Steps Progressives Must Take To Close The Gun Gap [Barf Alert]
Third Way (formerly Americans For Gun Safety) ^ | 2006 | Jim Kessler, Vice President for Policy
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