I’ve stated elsewhere in this blog that I’m a liberal, but I’ll take it up a notch and reveal that I am also an Obama supporter. Wait a minute. A proclaimed gun enthusiast who’s also an Obama supporter? Isn’t that a contradiction? Well, my answer is no, it’s not a contradiction. Obama acknowledges that we have an individual right to own guns, as the Supreme Court recently ruled (and those of you who think he’s going to “sign away our rights” are crazy; he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago, he knows and respects the Constitution more than you or I — and certainly Bush or McCain). He does support “sensible” gun control laws to decrease gun crimes, but guess what, so does McCain and the Supreme Court. So the difference comes down to what they think of as being “sensible”.
Obama’s views on what’s “sensible” probably is more restrictive than McCain’s views. But here’s the thing about us liberals: we’re open minded. We’re so open minded that we frequently change our minds about things when faced with convincing arguments backed by credible data. Some people call that “flip flopping”, but admitting that you’re wrong isn’t a bad thing. And when it comes to guns, we (gun owners) have the upper hand because most liberals don’t know jack about guns, and their positions are based largely on ignorance. I know this because most of my friends and coworkers are liberal, and it didn’t take much to convince them that having my guns taken away would be wrong (and nonsensical).
So, here’s a letter I’m sending in an attempt to convince Obama (and other liberals) that gun bans simply don’t make sense. Regardless of whether or not you support Obama, I’d encourage other gun bloggers to spread this around. Because if Obama is elected, you’d want him to have read this.
I’m a strong supporter of Senator Obama in his presidential candidacy, and have donated hundreds of dollars to his campaign. I support him because I believe he is a truly inspiring leader, and agree with him on many issues, except one. As a gun owner and a liberal, I find his position on gun control, specifically his support for banning certain types of firearms1 to be contrary to the liberal ideal.
Let me tell you a story about my friend Anne. Anne is another vocal supporter of Senator Obama. She has a degree in English from a prestigious university in Chicago, and works at a large internet company as a technical writer, while studying for her LSATs. A while back, she went to a local shooting range with some coworkers, and really enjoyed the experience. So I took her to the range recently, and after showing her how to safely operate a variety of rifles I own, I let her shoot them all. Her favorite gun? The AR-15, a civilian version of the M-16 rifle. It is a semi-automatic rifle, and looks like a military rifle to the untrained eye. She liked it so much, that she wants one of her own, except Senator Obama seems to think she shouldn’t be allowed to own one.
Why does Anne need a military-type semi-automatic rifle? Anne doesn’t need ice cream on her apple pie2. Anne doesn’t need an occasional glass of wine3. Anne could survive without knowing how to drive too4. We don’t need most things in life, but in this country, we are afforded a myriad of freedoms, because freedom is what makes us happy. Anne needs a military-type semi-automatic rifle because it makes her happy5, and because nobody has any rational reason to deny a responsible girl like Anne that happiness.
Gun violence is a problem in this country. However, gun bans aren’t the answer. No study to date has shown conclusively that gun bans are effective at all6. Yet, gun bans unfairly and irrationally punish law abiding and responsible citizens like myself and Anne. It is analogous to banning alcohol consumption because occasionally someone drives while drunk and kills people. The only reason liberals don’t propose alcohol bans yet support gun bans is because most liberals enjoy alcohol, while most of them never learn about firearms, their safe handling, and why some people enjoy owning and shooting them. However, ignorance is not a sufficient condition for legislation. I’m not attracted to men, but that doesn’t mean other men shouldn’t be. I don’t believe in god, but that doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t either. Liberalism is about inclusiveness and tolerance for views we may not agree with or understand, within reason. Yes, reason. Show me that I, and millions of other law abiding gun owners are a menace to society. Show me that denying us guns will stop criminals from committing crimes. Then I’ll agree to a gun ban. Until then, gun bans are irrational and wrong, and I urge Senator Obama to focus on approaches that more effectively curb gun violence without unnecessarily restricting our right to happiness.
- 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998, as cited on http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm
- Obesity kills over a 112,000 people every year, according to the CDC.
- In 2000, 85,000 people were killed by alcohol.
- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41,059 people were killed in automobile accidents in 2007.
- According to at least one study, gun owners are happier even when controlled for income and education.
- Gun Laws and Crime: A Complex Relationship on NYTimes.com
You see, the problem is that Obama has said a whole lot of things, but he has done even more. And in my humble opinion, actions speak so much louder than words.
In the past, Obama has spoken and voted against civilian concealed carry, abridging my natural right to self-defense and partially abridging my Constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms. Obama has expressly stated (on his very own Presidential campaign webpage) that he would be working towards a permanent “assault weapon” ban once he reaches the Oval Office, and has repeated called for the reinstatement of such a ban for quite some time now. Obama voted against a bill (that passed by a wide margin and eventually became law) protecting firearms manufacturers from being sued for the misuse of their products by others (which would make about as much sense as suing Captain Morgan and Ford for drunk drivers). Obama may have “acknowledged” that we have a right to own firearms, but before that decision was passed down, he saw no problems with supporting DC’s handgun ban, and has already jumped on the “what works in town X may not work in town Y” bandwagon, indicating possibilities of repeats in the future.
I know you mean well by the letter, but I honestly doubt that Obama cares in the slightest bit. He has his agenda (just like every politician), and he is going to execute it, come hell or high water. Unfortunately, his being a Constitutional law teacher has only given him more familiarity with what he perceives to be loopholes and work-arounds in the document, whether they exist or not. Of course, if he achieves the Presidency, it will not really matter either way.
Thanks for your comment.
In my opinion, I don’t think it’s realistic to use his past record as a Senator to predict what laws will be passed if he’s President. As I’m sure you’re aware, we have a system of government where even if the President wants Bill X, he doesn’t get it unless Congress votes and passes X. As President, Obama and his cabinet and staff will certainly have an influence over the legislative process, and very well may propose certain bills, but it still falls on Congress to pass it, and for the Supreme Court to judge it as being Constitutional.
IMHO, about the worst that could happen is another AWB (hence my letter), but anything more broad than the last AWB we had seems unlikely. Yes, not impossible, but unlikely, and I’m weighing that against my bet that Obama/Biden will make a better Prez/VP pair than McCain/Palin given the other challenges our country faces today.
Unfortunately, all we have to gauge Obama’s future actions are his past ones. No, there is no guarantee that anything he wants would become law – you and I both know that. But there is also no guarantee that anything you or I or ay other pro-firearm-rights individual might want would become law either. National concealed carry license reciprocity? Fat chance of that. Concealed carry in national parks? I can hear the scratch of the “veto” pen already.
Unfortunately from both directions, Obama will be sitting at the head of a government predominantly controlled by the Democratic Party, and while self-defense and firearm rights should not fall along party lines, we both also know that, generally, it tends to. The pro-firearm-rights folks certainly do not have enough numbers to overcome a veto, and it is simply a question of whether or not the anti-rights hoplophobes have enough votes to get the ball rolling on the things they want (with fence sitters possibly coming to their side, since they would know the President would sign whatever was passed). Add to that the problem of the Supreme Court requiring either a test-case gerbil or someone with the time, funds, and expertise to bring the case all the way up to their attention, and, should Obama achieve the Presidency, I can very easily see a dark time for firearm-rights advocates in the future. Throw in the current attempts by the Obama campaign to squelch any dissent or disagreement with what he wants publicized, and anyone enjoying their freedom of speech could be facing a similarly dim future.
Ryochiji,
You sound like you have common sense and a decent upbringing. I dont get upset about who you vote for as long as you are exercizing your God given and constitutional rights.
I wish you and everyone else luck with your thoughts, cares, concerns and wishes for the future. We’re all going to need it.
Just remember, if a politician’s lips are moving when they speak, then they are probably lying. We are all doomed to repeat our mistakes in the future if we don’t look to the past (history) to see how things have been done correctly in the past.
Gun bans and restrictive legislation doesn’t stop the criminal. Taxes hurt everyone! I’ll donate money and time when I have it. Taxation only angers law abiding, taxpaying voters, when it’s taken away for purposes of doling it back out to others who have not earned it.
This will be my last coment on this forever…if you beleive in something and want a change…then there are two civil ways for the average US citizen to accomplish that. One: call, write or email your local, State and Federal elected officlas and tell them. Tell a freind or family member to do the same if they ever complain about what’s happening. Your voice can’t be heard if you don’t speak up. Two; if you really want change…never re-elect an incumbent.
I don’t beleive for a minute that any of the elected politicians care about you, me or anyone else. It’s all about them, their power, ego and money.
God Bless America!