How anti-gun is Barack Obama? Will the media tell us? Cam Edwards at NRANews.com was alarmed by a recent blog post by David Bernstein at The Volokh Conspiracy. A December 13, 1999 article in the black newspaper the Chicago Defender reported on Obama's proposals at that time, as he ran and lost a primary against Congressman Bobby Rush the next year:
Obama is proposing to make it a felony for a gun owner whose firearm was stolen from his residence which causes harm to another person if that weapon was not securely stored in that home. [!!!]
Obviously, this is in the post-Columbine frenzy, but what sort of bizarre proposal is that? If I stole Obama's car and killed someone with it, would it be fair to make Obama a felon for it? Gun owners (at risk of being involuntary criminals) quickly ask what is the meaning of "securely stored"? But there's more from the Defender:
He's proposing restricting gun purchases to one weapon a month and banning the sale of firearms at gun shows except for "antique" weapons. Obama is also proposing increasing the licensing fee to obtain a federal firearms license.
He's also seeking a ban on police agencies from reselling their used weapons even if those funds are used to buy more state-of-the-art weapons for their agencies. Obama wants only those over 21 who've passed a basic course to be able to buy or own a firearm.
He's proposing that all federally licensed gun dealers sell firearms in a storefront and not from their homes while banning their business from being within five miles of a school or a park. He's also banning the sale of 'junk" handguns like the popular Saturday Night Specials.
Obama is requiring that all people working at a gun dealer undergo a criminal background check. He's also asking that gun manufacturers be required to develop safety measures that permit only the original owner of the firearm to operate the weapon purchased.
Additionally, he wants an increase of the funds for schools to teach anger management skills for youth between the ages of 5-13. Obama is also seeking to increase the federal taxes by 500 percent on the sale of firearm, ammunition [sic] -- weapons he says are most commonly used in firearm deaths.
For liberals in the media, they can also see that Talk Left also recently found the Defender article in its roundup of Obama's record. They found other beauties like this:
Voted 'No' on making gang members eligible for the death penalty if they kill someone to help their gang. (HB1812, 2001)
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
















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Predictability
February 23, 2008 - 08:54 ET by 10ksnookerLiberals, raise taxes, fund socialism and gun control. Some things never change -- Just like reruns of Ground Hog Day, over and over and over again.
Predictable (predictably biased) = Liberal
February 23, 2008 - 13:28 ET by jrichI won't engage in fantasy to the point of actually imaging that the MSM would publish and write about Obama's uber-liberal voting record in any sort of objective manner.
Heck, I would just settle for the MSM being factually honest with the public, and pointing out that the shootings of innocent people that have recently occurred, occurred in so-called "gun free zones" (aka "defenseless victim zones").
The MSM conveniently refuses to do this because this one simple fact invalidates all the hysterical cries from the gun-grabbers and panty-wetters for more so called "gun control" laws.
Why does it invalidate?
Because it has been amply demonstrated in the 45 mass shootings since 1996 that occurred in "gun free zones" that approximately 20,000 US guns laws coupled with a total ban on guns in a specific location will NOT prevent criminals and wackos from obtaining, bringing, and using guns to execute, for pleasure and fame, innocent and defenseless people.
Also, amply demonstrated is that police CANNOT arrive in time to prevent such carnage. Also, amply demonstrated is the fact that a single law-abiding citizen, ARMED, can and has stopped such attacks by shooting the pervert, dead. Conservatives call this "negotiating" with a terrorist.
In other words, "defenseless victim zones" (aka "gun free zones") are another mindless governmental, and often university, intrusion into freedom and safety, by liberals, and the only thing these zones accomplish is getting innocent people killed.
If you want America to follow the downward spiral of the UK into defenseless-victimhood, where self-defense is virtually illegal, just vote for Obama, or Hillary, or practically any Democrat.
This Is What I Don't Understand
February 23, 2008 - 09:15 ET by dwillmoreWhy do Democrats/Liberals only see the failures of supply and service in one government beurocracy, the military. I have heard complaints about:
These are the same people that want the government to raise our children, control our medical care and basically run our lives. Don't they see the conflict of what they say and what they want??
dwillmore
February 23, 2008 - 09:32 ET by well99No and they wont ever.They lack common sense.
Great Point
February 23, 2008 - 10:59 ET by allanfThats a good point. Obama slammed the military in the most recent debate with Clinton, with some silly story about a captain (who will not go on the record) who claimed his men did not have ammunition or equipment.
But for everything else, goverment is the solution to all ills.
To be fair, that story did
February 23, 2008 - 14:35 ET by motherbeltTo be fair, that story did turn out to be true and the Captain spoke to Jake Tapper, but asked him not to reveal his name.
But the equipment and personnel shortage incident was back in 2004, and he did make it seem as if the same problems were still occurring now, which is by no means certain.
What and flaming idiot!
February 23, 2008 - 09:51 ET by Seabeach4348<< while banning their business [selling fireams] from being within five miles of a school or a park>>
Right on'bro. And the loser with evil intent with the weapon will read the sign "Gun Free Zone", put his gun away, and go to the nearest Starbucks for a latte and enroll in a government-sponsored anger management course! Profound!
And speaking of his other brilliant idea, teaching anger management to kids 5-13, this course used to be taught at home; it was called "parenting". Oh, I forgot. Two parents are not enough; it takes a village.
Many of these anti-gun
February 23, 2008 - 10:13 ET by ArmedDadMany of these anti-gun proposals are quite popular in gun-control circles.Several are routinely floated by Democrat mayors, governors and legislatures.President Obama will get much suppport from his party on these proposals.The Democrat governor of my state can't wait to turn gun owners into felons with the swipe of his pen.
What a flaming idiot!
February 23, 2008 - 11:06 ET by mikeinmdI think Coulter said it best:
"How'd that gun get in this gun-free zone?"
Paraphrasing,but isn't it the truth.
If I have my liberal gunspeak right on this,it means:
1) Gun owner who gets gun stolen - criminal
2) Gun dealer who sold the gun - merchant of death (& a criminal)
3) LawChallenged (criminal to us) - needs anger management class
4) Victim of #3 - Useful in gun control issue, but what was their name? I forget....
5) Wash,DC murder rates in gun-free zone - CRICKETS
Lefties cause the problem
February 23, 2008 - 19:50 ET by GrannyGrump42It's the Leftie insistence on "self esteem" and making sure nobody ever feels "left out" that lowers frustration tolerance. This makes kids a lot more likely to go ballistic in the face of frustration.
Roy F. Baumeister, in "Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty", noted that it's not "low self esteem" that contributes to violent outbursts. It's irrationally high self esteem. The person is so dependent on other people propping up his sense of self that as soon as somebody says or does something that bursts his bubble, he snaps.
Yeah, we're all ultimately responsible for our behavior, but from a sociological standpoint the "self esteem" movement is responsible for a lot of damage.
Obama
February 23, 2008 - 10:57 ET by iveseenitallObama is the icon of the culture warriors from the left. He is the personification of all conservatives know is wrong with America. Gun contol?--you ain't seen nothin' yet from this commmie. It's more than Big Govenment; it's an anti-American attempt to take over your lives because the "liberals" know better than you do . Beware!
BTW, B.O.'s voice is really starting to grate on me. And listening to his crap, his lies, just ads to my disgust with this phony and his America-hating Affirmative Action wife.
Change?-- Hitler changed Germany, Castro changed Cuba, Mussolini changed Italy, Mao changed China,, Saddam changed Iraq, "Big Daddy", Idi Amin, changed Uganda, Stalin changed Russia,Chavez wants to change Venezuela, the commies changed Vietnam, the "liberal" wings of churches want to change religions, the "liberals" changed our schools, the "liberals" changed abortion laws, the "liberals" changed the morals of our society. Be careful what you ask for, America. Change is not always a good thing. But can we fight destructive change and stop it?--YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Whew!!
February 23, 2008 - 10:29 ET by sarcasmoGood thing the Republicans are giving us such a "pro" Second Amendment "choice," eh?? Otherwise, I'd truly be concerned for my country's future...
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
McCain
February 23, 2008 - 11:06 ET by iveseenitallAnyone who thinks a McCain presidency will be worse than an Obama presidency,as the essay states, is wrong, completely wrong. McCain is , by far, the least of three evils. And, besides, we are stuck with him as the Republican candidate.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Didn't you see his reasoning?
February 23, 2008 - 11:09 ET by sarcasmoI think Chuck's right. An "R" after any statist's name removes all Republican politicians' backbones. We've seen it before, why would you expect anything-different this time?
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
I see his reasoning.I fear
February 23, 2008 - 11:32 ET by ArmedDadI see his reasoning.I fear that on many issues,not just guns.The difference lies in what can be done as a remedy.With much pressure and effort,can Dick Cheney,John Ashcroft or Condi Rice type 2nd amendment views be brought into a McCain administration?
The problem is...
February 23, 2008 - 11:51 ET by sarcasmoThe last time I saw real Second Amendment pressure and effort was the Clinton Administration. And the three you mentioned, while not offensive on their views, are more "NRA" than I like these days. I'm discouraged, but I think an Obama Presidency would restore the vertibrate (read: GOA/JPFO) faction of our community, which is obviously quite a bit more-diverse than antigun bigots in the news media will admit.
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
It's easy to get gun owners
February 23, 2008 - 14:03 ET by ArmedDadIt's easy to get gun owners to fight against our sworn political enemies.When times seem favorable,gun owners go back to sleep.I want pro-gun people to fight for gains when times are good,not just battle to tread water under hostile circumstances.Obama's gun policies are draconian,but every day in America,these ideas are bandied about in political sessions across this country.We need to be always up for a fight,instead of just when the big gun-control bogeyman is looming.
Yep
February 23, 2008 - 11:14 ET by mikeinmdMcCain is , by far, the least of three evils.
And that's our choice, the lesser of 3.
My hope is a Rep congress. Just to restrain any of this gov't legislation. We get that, we can pull it towards the middle, maybe.....
Remember the truism...
February 23, 2008 - 11:27 ET by c5thenChoosing the least of the "evil" choices means you are still choosing "evil".
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
A huge difference
February 23, 2008 - 19:56 ET by GrannyGrump42One point on the parallel: The NRA is actually proCHOICE on gun ownership.
They don't want to force you to buy somebody else's gun with tax money if you're opposed to the ownership of firearms.
The NRA isn't trying to force all retailers to sell guns and ammo, the way the abortion lobby is trying to force all medical practitioners to participate in abortion.
And the Constitution actually spells out that owning a gun is a right -- unlike the bogus "right" of abortion that supposedly is so fundamental that you're not just entitled to do it, you're entitled to have somebody else perform it and pay for it against their will and against their conscience!
I don't think he goes far enough
February 23, 2008 - 11:10 ET by FastEdWhy not include the manufacturer? And the munitions folks, dealers, transporters, landloards, cities and states? How about the feds themselves?? I propose that whoever took Barry's brain be prosecuted for theft of toxic material.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
It's a simple plan
February 23, 2008 - 11:25 ET by c5thenStage 1: pass laws to register guns - government knows where they all are.
Stage 2: Make gun owners lockup their guns so that they cannot possibly be used in self-defense situations.
Stage 3: Since it's impossible to use guns for self defense (see stage 2 above), might as well outlaw them - except for government agents.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Better question: Will media
February 23, 2008 - 12:11 ET by RickTaLifeBetter question: Will media focus on ANY of Obama's MANY far-left failure-policies?
Answer: No.
Hopefully, McCain will focus on these things. There's plenty to bring to the surface. Unfortunately, I don't know how you can highlight a candidates weaknesses, no matter how shocking, when no one wants to hear them. :-(
Didn't work for Judge Dredd.
February 23, 2008 - 12:17 ET by Hunter12"He's also asking that gun manufacturers be required to develop safety measures that permit only the original owner of the firearm to operate the weapon purchased."
Armand Assante was able to use Sly's Lawgiver, because they were clones. The firearm would have to be modified so my evil identical twin brother couldn't borrow my pistol, shoot someone, and then lay the blame on my doorstep.
Man, what a dumba$$. Disarming the law-aiding citizen, step 1 in establishing the caste system where the upper crust will tell us what to do for our own good.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Same old same old
February 23, 2008 - 12:35 ET by jay_1975The left talking about gun control is the same as the right talking about abortion and gay marriage. Just pandering for votes. Niether party tries all that hard to follow up once elcted, but will bring out the same old arguments at the next election cycle.
They do plenty about abortion
February 23, 2008 - 20:07 ET by GrannyGrump42Once they're elected Leftie politicians might not do much about gay marriage or gun ownership but they go about promoting abortion with a religious fervor.
Look at what the governor of Kansas is doing for George Tiller -- he's clearly and openly performing illegal third trimester abortions, but since all the people he supported politically are in the position to enforce the law, he gets away with it. He let one of his quacks, Leroy Carhart, do a botch job and kill a 19-year-old mentally retarded rape victim who was well into the third trimester, and the medical board (appointed by the governor) found no fault with him.
Electing a "prochoice" politician is like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse when it comes to abortion. The abortionists will be protected, not only at the cost of unborn lives but at the cost of the well-being of the very women that supposedly the "prochoice" are so concerned about. Where were they when Christin Gilbert had a choice made for her to -- for supposed "health" reasons -- spend three days in a motel room going unconscious from sepsis while Tiller's staff killed her baby at somebody else's request?
http://justiceforchr...
The bottom line is this:
February 23, 2008 - 13:31 ET by ConservativeRexThe bottom line is this: they can fight all they want, propose any frickin' law they feel they have to, but they will not, will never, get my guns while I am alive. They want to make me a criminal because I want to own weapons? Fine, I can live with that, I'll know that I am not, and their labels mean nothing to me.
These Stalinist throw up these trial balloons every election cycle and see how the wind is blowing. The SCOTUS says the 2nd Amend. is valid just how it reads, I believe them. And I'll follow it.
“A fear of weapons is a
February 23, 2008 - 14:55 ET by rbosque“A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and
emotional maturity” ---Sigmund Freud
Funny.
As an AVID gun owner...
February 23, 2008 - 16:29 ET by Wilbur747and have just about all NRA books written, I can go on forever. Alas...and for NBer's sanity, I won't.
Here's a link to the candidates' feelings and gun values.
Gun-free zones are simply a way for gun-grabbers to limit the carrying/possesion of guns by lawfull citizens. If they can't outlaw guns, they will severely limt them everywhere.
Think about it it...the 5-mile limit Osama...I mean Obama proposes...how many parks, schools and ANYTHING that can be lawfully described as a school...traffic, anger management, Bible, etc., fall within the 5-mile range? Thus guns will be illegal just about everywhere.
Since drunk drivers cause more deaths than guns, let's ban cars!!
http://gunowners.org...