'Hunters & Shooters' endorse Obama, group says he supports gun rights

[Adrienne]

'Hunters & Shooters' endorse Obama, group says he supports gun rights

Nick Juliano
Published: Wednesday April 16, 2008



 Less than a week after coming under fire for saying small-town Pennsylvanians "cling to" gun rights, Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of a pro-gun association that has backed Democratic candidates in the past.

The American Hunters & Shooters Association said Obama's views of the 2nd Amendment have been unfairly criticized and its endorsement comes as Obama's opponents are characterizing him as an "elitist" and condescending towards gun-owners.

The group sets itself apart from the "more extreme" elements of the pro-gun lobby like the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America. Unlike them, AHSA favors some gun-control measures like background checks and required safety courses for concealed weapons permits. (The NRA has accused the group of being a front for the anti-gun lobby.)

Ray Schoenke, the hunters association's president, cited Obama's support of an amendment to a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would prevent the government from confiscating citizens' guns during an emergency. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Obama's opponent in the Democratic primary, and 16 other senators voted against the amendment.

"She turned her back on America's gun owners," Schoenke said during a conference call organized by the Obama campaign Wednesday.

Schoenke said the group reached out to the Obama campaign several weeks ago, before the recent controversy surrounding his comments about small-town voters. In announcing their support in the midst of the controversy, though, the group hoped to "set the record straight," about Obama's support of an individual's right to gun ownership, he said.

"We understand that the gun issue is going to be very important in this election," said Bob Ricker, the group's executive director, citing an ongoing Supreme Court case regarding a handgun ban in Washington, DC. "Up until this time, the candidates haven't really been willing to talk about guns."

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Hunters_group_endorses_Obama_says_he_0416.html

[Volitzer]

http://knowbeforeyouvote.com

I don't think so.   

[Jordan Fass]

Sure they do, if you read the article, this sticks out for you:

Ray Schoenke, the hunters association's president, cited Obama's support of an amendment to a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would prevent the government from confiscating citizens' guns during an emergency. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Obama's opponent in the Democratic primary, and 16 other senators voted against the amendment.

Meaning that, in a time of emergencey, Obama would not go around collecting your guns while Hillary would.  Makes perfect sense to me.

[Volitzer]

If Obama would talk more about the Constitution and and renounce the CFR I'd look into his candidacy but his voting record speaks for itself. 

http://knowbeforeyouvote.com

[Volitzer]

100% Right to Keep and Bear Arms [ GUIDE ]
   

YES -Huckabee

NO - MCain

YES -  Paul   

NO - Hillary

NO - Obama

...and since Huckabee's out.   

[Justin Garrow]

I think he is a Constitional Scholar and did major in political science in college.  In fact, he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. You can't ask for much more than that.

I agree with the article, he wouldn't have gotten the endorsement of a gun rights group if he was anti-guns.  Hillary and McCain are the ones that want to grab your guns if there's a national emergency, Volitzer & NRA members.

[Volitzer]

The NRA leaders are paid government informants whom are paid to compromise in gun legislation meetings.

The GOA is the real Gun Rights group.  www.goa.com  Gun Owners of America.

Ron Paul has never compromised when it comes to 2nd Amendment rights.

[Monique Faulkner]

American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) Endorse Obama for President

 
WASHINGTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) announced the endorsement of Senator Barack Obama on a national conference call this morning organized by the Obama for President campaign. AHSA President Ray Schoenke made the following statement in his endorsement of Senator Obama:

My name is Ray Schoenke, President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association and we are today announcing our endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President ofthe United States.

As a gun rights organization we have not come to this decision lightly. We were formed two years ago because our research shows that millions of gun owners wanted a change. They not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection of their communities as well as the protection of our lands.

We reached out to the Obama campaign several weeks ago to offer our support and approval as was reported by Paul Bedard of US News and World Report.

We believe recent attacks on Senator Obama's stand on the 2nd Amendment and his commitment to our hunting and shooting heritage are unfair and American Hunters and Shooters Association is stepping up to set the record straight.

Senator Obama has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the 2nd Amendment by his vote in support of the Vitter amendment to HR 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill of 2007. This amendment prevents the Government from confiscating guns in a time of crisis or emergency.

Imagine how the citizens felt during Hurricane Katrina when government agents kicked in doors to confiscate law abiding citizens' guns at a time when they needed them the most. We know Senator Obama "gets it." To say that he is an elitist is patently ridiculous.

To hunters and shooters everywhere, Senator Obama's vote demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the meaning of the 2nd Amendment which means he recognizes the individual right of all citizens to keep and bear arms. Senator Clinton, on the hand, failed to grasp the importance of this critical issue to hunters and shooters and voted against this Amendment. She turned her back on America's gun owners.

In addition, Senator Obama's commitment to conservation and protection of our natural resources and access to public lands demonstrates to us his commitment to America's hunting and shooting heritage.

Senator Obama will be a strong and authentic voice for America's hunters and shooters and it is with great pleasure that we endorse his candidacy.

    Alan M. Madison
    Madison & Company LLC
    202-223-7031 direct
    202-841-3341 cell

SOURCE American Hunters and Shooters Association

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