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Obama on guns

From an email, a letter received from Obama when asked why he didn’t sign the congressional brief on Heller:

Dear *.:

Thank you for contacting me regarding gun policy. I appreciate hearing your perspective on this important issue.

I respect the Second Amendment and responsible gun ownership. But I am also concerned about the human consequences of guns falling into the wrong hands and being misused. I do not find objectionable the goal of keeping firearms out of the hands of children, terrorists, gang members and criminals in general. The question for me is how to best accomplish that goal without abridging the rights of hunters, sportsmen, and other legitimate gun owners. As I consider gun legislation, I will work to find the appropriate balance between these two objectives.

For example, Senator David Vitter (R-LA), in response to complaints about the confiscation of firearms during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina, offered an amendment that would prohibit such confiscations in areas hit by natural disaster. I voted with Senator Vitter on this amendment. On the other hand, I support the re-imposition of the ban on the sale of assault weapons that expired in September 2004 because I believe these guns are used primarily for criminal rather than sporting intent. I also support requiring gun manufacturers to install child safety locks on all of their products.

Again, I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures. I do not believe that these two principles the individual right and the rights of a community to maintain public safety are contradictory.

On June 26, 2008, the Supreme Court endorsed that same view. Although it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe.

Anyone who lives in a large urban center like Chicago is aware of the terrible toll gun violence is taking on American society. As a statewide elected official who has traveled our state extensively, I appreciate how strongly sportsmen, hunters and collectors feel about their rights to own firearms. But I am convinced we can more aggressively attack the problem of gun violence without interfering with the rights of responsible gun owners.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to keeping in touch.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

23 Responses to “Obama on guns”

  1. Robb Allen Says:

    Remember, all he needs are the votes in Congress.

  2. LibertyNews Says:

    What an idiot. “used primarily for criminal rather than sporting intent.” He obviously hasn’t looked at the numbers because those guns that were banned are practically never used in crimes.

    And that paragon of anti-gun laws, Chicago, is a great example isn’t it? Since it had more deaths than our soldiers in Iraq last month.

  3. Jim W Says:

    Every time he talks about the 2nd amendment, I have the urge to say things that would get me arrested by the secret service. Speaking of which, wtf happened to freedom of speech in this country?

  4. Jim W Says:

    A corrupt government and rising levels of violence? It’s long past time for the US to withdraw… from Chicago.

    It pisses me off that we nation build in sandy third world shitholes when half as many bombs spent decapitating the Daley regime would have done 10x more good for American interests. Shock and awesome, indeed.

  5. BobG Says:

    Who wrote that for him, Paul Helmke?

  6. Adam Lawson Says:

    Wow.

    I honestly didn’t think this would be an issue in this election. At least, not a major one. I knew all the Democrats (especially Biden) were GFWs but I didn’t think they’d own up to it too much. But with Obama taking this stance, and having that cretin Biden as his VP…

    … and McCain picking Sarah Palin as his…

    It looks like the Republicans can make this into an issue. And I hope they do; I don’t want that idiot or his cretin anywhere near my rights. Maybe it’ll turn into another 1994, where Democrats are reminded that we like our guns. A lot. For example, we like them more than we hate the goobtastic big government Republicans running that party.

  7. Xrlq Says:

    As a statewide elected official who has traveled our state extensively, I appreciate how strongly sportsmen, hunters and collectors feel about their rights to own firearms.

    Note the conspicuous absence of appreciation for those who own guns for self-defense.

  8. illinois voter Says:

    Yup That’s my senator, My voice in Washington. The guy that swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States in his oath of office…… 🙁

  9. Weer'd Beard Says:

    “I also support requiring gun manufacturers to install child safety locks on all of their products.”

    At the shop the other day I found that Smith and Wesson did a small run of 642s without that horrible internal lock.

    I’ve never bought a brand new gun in my life. This was my first.

    I’m sure Barry would care just as much about the reported issues with Smith internal locks, as he is with actual crime statistics.

  10. _Jon Says:

    “for the children”

  11. RAH Says:

    The right to bear arms implies we accept the risk of arms getting into the hands of people who use arms for criminal purposes. Idiot Obama does not understand, the restricting the ability of criminals to get guns, restricts the rigts of law abiding.

  12. RAH Says:

    All they need to do with criminals is catche them and presecute and jial them. Really simple. The gun is irrevelant , it is the crime that is the problem. Deal with crime and stop focusing on guns.

  13. RAH Says:

    Sorry about the typos, I was angry at his stupidity

  14. Robert Says:

    Obama sucks.

  15. Raskolnikov Says:

    RAH, are you kidding. Obama would never do that. After all, if the government locked up all the thieves, rapists, murderers, drug pushers, illegal aliens, and the other miscreants who commit massive amounts of crime there would be no one left to vote Democrat.

  16. Oldsmoblogger Says:

    Well, of course an erstwhile tyrant would consider anyone who intended resistance a criminal. Anyone who intends effective resistance is a really dangerous criminal.

    III

  17. Huck Says:

    “What an idiot. used primarily for criminal rather than sporting intent. He obviously hasnt looked at the numbers because those guns that were banned are practically never used in crimes.”

    Of course he didnt look anything up. Not even the fact that Chicago’s gun laws did nothing to decrease crime and in fact crime went UP.

    But he cant let those annoying FACTS interfere with his goal to impose his will on the masses, like any wannabe dictator.

  18. illinois voter Says:

    Chicago

    Where the criminals , have more rights than the victims.

  19. Dan Says:

    Note that there is no defense, liberal or otherwise, of Obama’s heinous disregard for the 2nd amendment other than some weak ‘do not worry, he is not going to take your guns, sportsmen” line. There is no doubt that if you like your 2nd amendment, you have to vote against this bum.

  20. Speakertweaker Says:

    “I support the re-imposition of the ban on the sale of assault weapons that expired in September 2004 because I believe these guns are used primarily for criminal rather than sporting intent.”

    I don’t give a damn what Obama or any politician believes. I’m not interested in his opinion, or what he thinks folks are doing with guns. Look at the facts, or take a flying fuck at a rolling donut.

    Laws ain’t about opinions. Like Miss Tam says, Ignorance Is No Excuse For A Law.

    tweaker

  21. Chas Says:

    I worry about keeping guns out of the hands of Obama.

  22. Brad Says:

    Sounds like a form letter since the actual question was completely avoided. Or Obama is a total weasel. Or more likely both!

    There is no question that the gun issue is biting Obama in the ass, especially with ‘Reagan democrats’. The good guys need to turn up the heat on this issue.

  23. Unix-Jedi Says:

    Hey, Unc! you got Undergrounded!

    http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118×185004

Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.

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