Obama and Guns: Two Different Views (John R. Lott, Jr.)

foxnews.com ^ | April 07, 2008 | John R. Lott, Jr.

[neverdem]

Something happens to Democrats on the gun issue when they run for president. For John Kerry during 2004, it was awkwardly posing in brand new hunting gear at a seemingly endless series of hunting photo-ops.

But in what will probably be the most improbable change, the Politico reported on Saturday that Barack Obama was making a big play for gun votes in Pennsylvania. It is not particularly surprising that this change is occurring with the crucial Pennsylvania primary soon approaching.

With about one million of the country’s 12.5 million hunters, Pennsylvania is number one in the nation in the amount of time its citizens spend hunting. With about 600,000 people with permits to carry concealed handguns, Pennsylvania also has more permit holders than any other state.

Others, such as Jim Kessler, vice president for policy with Third Way, a progressive think tank, view Obama as starting to position himself for the general election.

Yet, it should be a hard sell.

Obama has consistently supported gun control legislation that came up while he was in the Illinois state legislature and the U.S. Senate.

For example, when Obama ran for the Illinois state senate the political group, Independent Voters of Illinois (IVI), asked him if he supported a “ban [on] the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns” and he responded “yes.”

Realizing how damaging this could prove in the general election, his presidential campaign “flatly denied” Obama ever held...

--snip--

In fact, I knew Obama during the mid-1990s, and his answers to IVI’s question on guns fit well with the Obama that I knew. Indeed, the first time I introduced myself to him he said “Oh, you are the gun guy.”

I responded “Yes, I guess so.” He simply responded that “I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns.”

[neverdem]

Unless the search function isn't working, this wasn't posted yet.

[FlyVet]

We’ve done such a great job of keeping drugs and illegals out of this country, it’s obvious to me a gun ban will work just as well.

[proudtobeanamerican1]

He was on the board of the Joyce Foundation. Come on!

[Inyo-Mono]

In fact, I knew Obama during the mid-1990s, and his answers to IVI’s question on guns fit well with the Obama that I knew. Indeed, the first time I introduced myself to him he said “Oh, you are the gun guy.”

I responded “Yes, I guess so.” He simply responded that “I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns.”

The NRA has got to use this in their ads, pronto!

[ExSoldier]

With about 600,000 people with permits to carry concealed handguns, Pennsylvania also has more permit holders than any other state.

Hold on thar. Pennsylvania has more holders of ccw permits than both Texas AND Florida? Not buying this one.

[finnsheep]

We live in Pike County - - extreme Northeast of PA. We are being bombarded with ads showing an alleged NRA member saying he is for Obama and that Obama won’t take away our guns. The ads are playing on CNBC and USA and several other networks running on Blue Ridge Cable TV (affiliated with Penteledata). I have written to the NRA about this.

[Beckwith]

Obama's "General Candidate Questionnaire" (.pdf), dated September 10, 1996, and completed during his first run for the Illinois State Senate makes for some interesting reading.

Among his responses are the following:

Do you support state legislation to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns? Yes.

Do you support state legislation to ban assault weapons? Yes.

Do you support state legislation to mandatory waiting periods and background checks?  Yes.

Questionnaire Extract

[Shooter 2.5]

But you aren’t a member since I don’t see the initials in your tagline.

If you aren’t a member, why do you expect the NRA to do what you want?

[Shooter 2.5]

Did you send in a membership application when you wrote to them?

[CholeraJoe]

Just because I don’t say it in my tagline doesn’t mean I’m not one.

CholeraJoe - NRA Life Member since 1978.

(I own shotguns older than you, boy);-)

[Inyo-Mono]

I am a member, just took it out of my tag line some time ago.

[facedown]

We are being bombarded with ads showing an alleged NRA member saying he is for Obama and that Obama won’t take away our guns.

Are you sure the guy claims to be an NRA member? I think it might be Ray Schoenke of the American Hunters and Shooters Association. They are a front for the Brady Bunch.

[ctdonath2]

Exact content may be new, but the core information has been known & widely reported for a long time: BHO wants a ban, said he wants a ban, and of late has played word games to pretend he holds the “reasonable restrictions” view - which in his code words IS a ban, just with delayed rollout in some jurisdictions.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Hold on thar. Pennsylvania has more holders of ccw permits than both Texas AND Florida? Not buying this one."

Oh, believe it!! The only thing you have to do to get a CCW permit is to have 3 people vouch for your character on the form and $25 paid to process the form and get the license and wallah, you are a concealed carry permit holder. They make it easy for you to get a permit here. We also are first or second in NRA membership.

I'm a member of the Marine Corps League and Pennsylvania is the only state (that I'm aware of) where the Marine Corps League holds a yearly pistol and rifle competition. It's at Indiantown Gap and a lot of fun. There are teams from all over the country that come and compete.

[Osage Orange]

In fact, I knew Obama during the mid-1990s, and his answers to IVI’s question on guns fit well with the Obama that I knew. Indeed, the first time I introduced myself to him he said “Oh, you are the gun guy.”

I responded “Yes, I guess so. He simply responded that “I don’t believe that people should be able to own guns.”

[Osage Orange]

(I own shotguns older than you, boy);-)

Ha!!

[downwdims]

The only place I found a historical take on Obama and guns/handguns was when he was a “law professor” at Harvard.

You have to ff to the last 15 min of the show to get that perspective

http://wgnradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44075&Itemid=467

[CholeraJoe]

Shucks, I own shotguns older than ME.

[downwdims]

my post backs you up. Obama has no record! It’s truly disturbing

[Osage Orange]

I have a few long guns older than me.....also.

: )