Obama on Guns: A Comprehensive List

FACT: Barack Obama opposes four of the five Supreme Court justices who affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms. He voted against the confirmation of Alito and Roberts and he has stated he would not have appointed Thomas or Scalia. (United States Senate vote 245, September 29, 2005 and vote 2, January 31, 2006 and Saddleback Forum, August 16, 2008.) [This will be another litmus test for Obama's Supreme Court appointments in addition to a willingness to rewrite the Constitution to allow/require wealth redistribution. He'll also want them to rule the 2nd Amendment out of existence.]

FACT: Barack Obama voted for an Illinois State Senate bill to ban and confiscate “assault weapons,” but the bill was so poorly crafted, it would have also banned most semi-auto and single and double barrel shotguns commonly used by sportsmen. (Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee, March 13, 2003. To see the vote tally go to: www.nrapvf.org...) [Of course, so-called civilian "assault weapons" don't meet any military definition because they aren't fully automatic. The whole sickening myth of "assault weapons" turns intelligent brains to mush. The average American cannot own a fully automatic firearm without a special license, period. Remember Hitler's rule - tell a big enough lie long enough and people will start to believe it.]

FACT: Barack Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry. (United States Senate, S. 397, vote number 219, July 29, 2005. (U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote)) [A gutless, backdoor way to ban firearms and deprive Americans of their First Freedom. Imaging suing all auto manufacturers because some people drive drunk. Make sense? Neither does suing any manufacturer of a legal product because a very few misuse the product.] www.senate.gov...

FACT: Barack Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban. (Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes (Barack Obama on Gun Control and Illinois Senate Debate #3: Barack Obama vs. Alan Keyes) Oct 21, 2004.) [Although the Clinton Gun Ban made liberals happy, it utterly failed in its purported purpose of reducing crime. What did reduce crime was 38 stated passing "must issue" concealed carry laws which liberal oppose. These laws restored ordinary citizens' God-given right to self-defense.]
www.ontheissues.org...
www.ontheissues.org...

FACT: Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting. (United States Senate, S. 397, vote number 217, Kennedy amendment July 29, 2005. (U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote)) [The myth of magic, Teflon, and protective vest penetrating civilian ammo is another lie that turns the brain to mush. Any normal hunting rifle ammo will penetrate a vest designed to stop pistol ammo. That's just physics and there's no way around it short of extremely heavy and expensive military plates. This is just another backdoor to banning all firearms.]
www.senate.gov...

FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a 500% increase in the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition. (“Obama and Gun Control,” The Volokh Conspiracy, taken from the Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999. (The Volokh Conspiracy - Obama and Gun Control) [Another backdoor to take away our 2nd Amendment rights, especially from the poor.]
www.volokh.com...

FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership. (Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization general candidate questionnaire, Sept. 9, 1996. The responses on this survey were described in “Obama had greater role on liberal survey,” Politico, March 31, 2008. (Obama had greater role on liberal survey - Kenneth P. Vogel - Politico.com)) [Handguns, of course, are the #1 tool for home defense. They even the odds for women, small men, and the disabled against violent attackers. Take away handguns, you take away the common man's/woman's means to protect their families. Cities that ban or make handgun ownership difficult have the highest crime rates, especially robberies and home invasions, in the country. This has been the uniform experience around the world. It is also unconstitutional.]
www.politico.com...

FACT: Barack Obama supports local gun bans in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities. (David Wright, Ursula Fahy and Sunlen Miller, “Obama: ‘Common Sense Regulation’ On Gun Owners’ Rights,” ABC News’ “Political Radar” Blog, Political Punch, 2/15/08. (Political Radar: Obama: 'Common Sense Regulation' on Gun Owners' Rights)) [Besides being unconstitutional, this is the single best way to create safe work zones for murderers, rapists, robbers, home invaders, etc., at the expense of law-abiding citizens. Why is Obama on the side of criminals? The alternative to an armed citizenry that can defend itself is a nanny police state that tramples everyone's privacy and rights.]
blogs.abcnews.com...
blogs.abcnews.com...

FACT: Barack Obama voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people
who use firearms in self-defense. (Illinois Senate, SB 2165, March 25, 2004, vote 20 and May 25, 2004, vote 3.) [The right to self-defense is acknowledged by the Constitution and granted by God himself in the Bible. Again, this gives violent criminals free reign over law-abiding families. Just ask the British, Aussies, etc.]


FACT: Barack Obama supports gun owner licensing and gun registration. (“Fact Check: No News In Obama’s Consistent Record.” Obama ’08, December 11, 2007. (Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need)) [Historically, registration and licensing is always the first step in confiscation. Confiscation always precedes genocide. Check out the JPFO site for the historical record.]
www.barackobama.com...

FACT: Barack Obama refused to sign a friend-of-the-court Brief in support of individual Second Amendment rights in the Heller case. [Another concrete indication of Obama's contempt for citizens' right to protect themselves and their families from violent criminals.]


FACT: Barack Obama opposes Right to Carry laws. (“Candidates’ gun control positions may figure in Pa. vote,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Wednesday, April 2, 2008, and “Keyes, Obama Are Far Apart On Guns,” Chicago Tribune, 9/15/04. (Candidates' gun control positions may figure in Pa. vote - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)) [Right to Carry laws have resulted in dramatic drops in crime rates in 38 states. Again, they acknowledge our God-given right to defend ourselves and our families from violent criminals. Why does Obama think that we should be prey for violent predators? Even intelligent homosexuals realize their need for firearms for their defense.]
www.pittsburghlive.com...

FACT: Barack Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and “research.” (1998 Joyce Foundation Annual Report, p. 7.) [Speaks volumes about Obama's contempt for Americans' civil rights under the 2nd Amendment.]


FACT: Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within 5 miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America. (“Obama and Gun Control,” The Volokh Conspiracy, taken from the Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999. (The Volokh Conspiracy - Obama and Gun Control) [Yet another cowardly backdoor way to deprive American's of their 2nd Amendment civil rights.]
www.volokh.com...

FACT: Barack Obama voted not to notify gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them. (Illinois Senate, May 5, 2002, SB 1936 Con., vote 26.) [No socialist wants Americans to know when their privacy is invaded. Socialism depends on police state tactics to survive. This isn't Cuba or Communist China...yet.]

FACT: Barack Obama voted against a measure to lower the Firearms Owners Identification card age minimum from 21 to 18, a measure designed to assist young people in the military. (Illinois Senate, March 25, 2003, SB 2163, vote 18.) [So, young soldiers/sailors/Marines/airmen are mature enough to carry heavy, medium, and light machine guns and fully automatic infantry weapons in war, sometimes giving their lives in war, but not mature enough to own their own hunting or target rifles? Another example of Obama's contempt for the military and his young supporters.]

FACT: Barack Obama favors a ban on standard capacity magazines. (“Clinton, Edwards, Obama on gun control,” Radio Iowa, Sunday, April 22, 2007. (Radio Iowa: Clinton, Edwards, Obama on gun control)) [Yet another cowardly backdoor approach to denying 2nd Amendment civil rights. Magazine capacity has no relation to crime, but do affect a citizen's ability to defend their families against multiple violent attackers. Almost all home invasions fall into that category. If the Right to Carry were universal in the US, magazine capacity would cease to be an issue at all as every American would have the ability to stop an attack on the spot. It works in 38 free states.]
learfield.typepad.com...

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory micro-stamping. (Chicago Tribune blogs, “Barack Obama: NIU Shootings call for action,” February 15, 2008, (The Swamp: Barack Obama: NIU shootings call for action)) [Micro-stamping has never solved a single crime. All it takes is a simple metal file to defeat it. Every study done to date has said that the system is unworkable and prohibitively expensive. This is yet another backdoor way to deny American's their 2nd Amendment civil rights.]
learfield.typepad.com...

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory waiting periods. (Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization general candidate questionnaire, Sept. 9, 1996. The responses on this survey were described in “Obama had greater role on liberal survey,” Politico, March 31, 2008. (Obama had greater role on liberal survey - Kenneth P. Vogel - Politico.com)) [These waiting periods have never been shown to have any beneficial effect on crime. On the other hand, they make it impossible for victims of stalking or domestic violence to arm themselves for protection before they can be victimized. Whose side is Obama on?]
www.politico.com...

FACT: Barack Obama supports repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits information on gun traces collected by the BATFE from being used in reckless lawsuits against firearm dealers and manufacturers. (Barack Obama campaign website: “As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment . . .” (Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need | Urban Policy.)) [Another gutless, backdoor way to ban firearms and deprive Americans of their First Freedom. Imaging suing all auto manufacturers because some people drive drunk. Make sense? Neither does suing any manufacturer of a legal product because a very few misuse the product. Plus, this represents a gross violation of personal privacy. That's not a problem, though, for liberal like Obama's supporters who pulled government records in attempts to find embarrassing information on Joe the Plumber. Opposition is not tolerated.]
origin.barackobama.com...-and-law-enforcement

FACT: Barack Obama supports one-gun-a-month handgun purchase restrictions. (Illinois Senate, May 16, 2003, HB 2579, vote 34.) [There's no support in fact for these limits. They have no favorable effect on crime, but they do violate citizens' civil rights under the 2nd Amendment. Imagine such limits on any other legal product.]


FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on inexpensive handguns. (“Obama and Gun Control,” The Volokh Conspiracy, taken from the Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999. (The Volokh Conspiracy - Obama and Gun Control) [So, only the rich can own firearms? How does that square with his socialist policies that supposedly help the poor? I guess they shouldn't have the right to defend their families in Obama's nanny state.]
www.volokh.com...

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on the resale of police issued firearms, even if the money is going to police departments for replacement equipment. (“Obama and Gun Control,” The Volokh Conspiracy, taken from the Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999. (The Volokh Conspiracy - Obama and Gun Control) [These resales provide an important source of income for police departments, help lower local taxes, and also provide a good source of quality firearms for people with lower incomes. These resales do not increase crime whatsoever. Obama's ban makes no sense at all, other than to increase local taxes and deny the poor access to the means to defend their families.]
www.volokh.com...

S&F. Excellent post.

It's nice to see the facts presented so clearly.

This is a list mostly compiled another poster friend of mine on an entirely different board. It was done so well I thought I'd share it with ATS.

Feel free to add to it.

Realize, you are not going to sway people with this, if that was your intention. I have had many many conversations with a liberal minded friend on gun control and why allowing the citizens to have guns is a good idea. The only thing she can say is "More regulation leads to less and less crime vilence and accidents" There are people that are so brainwashed by the anti gun crowd that it is sickening.

Don't get me wrong, conservatives are no better with their brainwashing.

reply to post by Finn1916


I dont really expect to sway any opinions on the anti-gun side. I would like, however, for the imitation pro-gun people to stop beating the "Obama is pro 2nd" nonsense. You can only hear a lie so many times before it's just not funny anymore.

Oh darn! How dare he regulate the frightening weak gun laws of this nation... how dare he make it tougher for these youngens to go shootin in school...

Who the hell does he think he is? Everybody, including the depressive suicidal angry suburban kid down the road has the right to carry guns...

*cough*

reply to post by southern_Guardian

Oh darn! How dare he regulate the frightening weak gun laws of this nation... how dare he make it tougher for these youngens to go shootin in school...

Understand that the criminals will always have guns. Gun control means keeping the guns out of the law biders hands. If we all had a gun how quickly would a shooting spree by one of these "youngens" end?

I have lived in communities where almost everyone had a fire arm and I have lived in ones where almost no one did. I can tell you that the ones where the majority had a firearm resulted in far less crime.

Edit to add- What other articles of the bill of rights need additional regulation?


[edit on 1-11-2008 by harvib]

reply to post by southern_Guardian


If you want to harp on the myth that regulations and registrations would actually prevent shootings there are dozens and dozens of threads to do that in. All of which contain insurmountable evidence proving regulations, registrations and bans do nothing to prevent violence and are usually countered with "I believe" and "I think" statements not grounded in any sort of reality. They're fun to read.

This thread it to stop the pretenders from lying through their teeth about Obamas allegedly pro-2nd outlook.

I need to add, thanks for admitting Obama is anti-gun.

[edit on 1-11-2008 by thisguyrighthere]

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
I dont really expect to sway any opinions on the anti-gun side. I would like, however, for the imitation pro-gun people to stop beating the "Obama is pro 2nd" nonsense. You can only hear a lie so many times before it's just not funny anymore.

Not many people believe it anyway, apparently. Rasmussen polled the 2nd amendment issue this week. 63% believe that Obama is likely to restrict gun rights, compared to just 16% for McCain. The most interesting thing is that 64% of independents believe it.

Link

And yes, they have the results transposed in the box in the upper right.

reply to post by southern_Guardian


Those suicidal, depressed kids can't legally purchase a gun even under current laws. Neither can school kids in general. Those laws aren't stopping kids from obtaining weapons illegally, however, and they won't stop it if you pass more.

[edit on 1-11-2008 by vor78]

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
You can only hear a lie so many times before it's just not funny anymore.

The irony of this sentence is beyond merely astounding...



You are right, however... Obama's position on private ownership of firearms leaves somewhat to be desired.

However, it is in my opinion a non-issue.

Obama cannot himself 'ban' any firearm ownership. That must be done via Congress. And I do not believe Congress will do it. If they try it, it will have several forseeable consequences:

1) Instant "criminalization" of several million otherwise law-abiding Americans who will flatly refuse to turn in their firearms.

2) Violent and fatal to both sides resistance to any attempts to forcibly confiscate said firearms.

3) Resistance by the police and/or military tasked with the job of confiscation.

4) Any member of Congress who supported such a move would be guaranteed of losing their next election.

And I'm sure there would be many other un-foreseen consequences.

Additionally, there are, or will be in the next Congress, plenty of members who agree with Obama's position on the economy, foreign policy, etc, and who will strongly disagree on the firearm issue. Jim Webb just for one example.

So I strongly doubt this will be an issue that will go anywhere. It is the Democratic equivalent of the Republican attempts to ban gay marriage via Constitutional Amendment. It just aint gonna happen.


[edit on 1-11-2008 by Open_Minded Skeptic]

The availability of firearms is not the problem in our country, it's the availability of free or very low cost firearms training that is the problem. Teaching our youth about the importance of safety, respect and the historical importance of our right to self defense and defense of our country.
So many people find it easy to try to fix problems with easy solutions and this is a prime example. Got an ill, take a pill, but don't teach prevention to begin with.
Obama isn't anything but an example of misguided logic. He wills himself to ignore the statistical evidence and believes that if we want failed policy to work, we need to believe harder and want it more than those that tried and failed before him.
The great thing about Hitler and Stalin are that they are prime examples of failure. But maybe they just didn't want it bad enough.

reply to post by Open_Minded Skeptic


It happened once before and despite statistics proving the ban did nothing except cost a bunch of people their jobs and make millions more people criminals overnight those who pushed so hard for Clintons ban to this day regard it as a resounding success. I cant sleep comfortably knowing such insanity is out there still working as hard as ever to repeat the madness.

There are also plenty of 'young' voters right now who grew up under Clintons ban and take it for granted that his ban was some product of holy righteousness as as such blam its expiration for virtually any and all homicides and frown upon the heavily demonized Bush administration for letting it expire. The expiration of the AWB to them will be forever tied to the Bush administration and the hostility they have toward it.

There is plenty of support out there (as ignorant as it is) to get another, even more ludicrous and oppressive, ban passed.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
FACT: Barack Obama opposes four of the five Supreme Court justices who affirmed an individual right to keep and bear arms. He voted against the confirmation of Alito and Roberts and he has stated he would not have appointed Thomas or Scalia.

I'm not inclined to read further and here's why. In your first argument, you have set up a logical fallacy in that:

Barack Obama opposes 4 Supreme Court Justices.
Those 4 Supreme Court Justices support the Second Amendment.
Therefore, Obama opposes the Second Amendment.

He could oppose them for any number of reasons.

Why Obama Opposes Roberts and Alito (Hint: It's not about guns)

In both speeches, the Illinois Democrat chastised the nominees not for their positions on specific constitutional issues or matters of law but for what he perceived as too often siding with the strong instead of the weak. He charged Roberts, for example, with being dismissive of claims of racial and gender discrimination and criticized Alito for making a habit out of siding with government and corporations against plaintiffs and workers.

[This will be another litmus test for Obama's Supreme Court appointments in addition to a willingness to rewrite the Constitution to allow/require wealth redistribution. He'll also want them to rule the 2nd Amendment out of existence.]

This is TOTALLY biased and inaccurate speculation.

The NRA has spent MILLIONS to discredit Obama this election season. As a FIRM supporter of the Second Amendment, and an INFORMED voter, I can say they wasted their money.

NRA Misrepresents and Distorts Obama's Record on Guns

Interestingly, both the NRA and Sen. Obama support action in inner cities that cracks down on criminals and gun crime. The NRA has lent very vocal support to Project Exile in Richmond, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
...
Further evidence of Sen. Obama's commitment to the Second Amendment is found in his comments following the Supreme Court decision in "D.C. v Heller." In this case, the Court held that the Constitution confers an individual's right to bear arms and that right is intimately tied to the natural right of self- defense.

It also acknowledged this right is subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe. In response to Justice Scalia's majority opinion, Sen. Obama said, "Today's decision reinforces the fact that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe."

Obama is not going to take away your guns any more than McCain is. Your post is anti-Obama propaganda. I'm just glad people can see through it.

Originally posted by southern_Guardian
Oh darn! How dare he regulate the frightening weak gun laws of this nation... how dare he make it tougher for these youngens to go shootin in school...

Who the hell does he think he is? Everybody, including the depressive suicidal angry suburban kid down the road has the right to carry guns...

*cough*

you're exactly right, everyone does have the right to have guns