Obama Endorsed by Gun Group on Anniversary of V-Tech Killings

[Hazcat]

April 16, 2008 2:31 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller and David Wright Report: Timing is everything in politics and, for Barack Obama's campaign, today's endorsement by the American Hunters and Shooters Association showed both good and bad timing.

The good news, for Obama: the support of this gunowners' rights group may help him overcome the controversy over his suggestion that small voters "cling to guns and religion" because they're "bitter."

The bad news?  Today was the anniversary of the deadly Virginia Tech massacre.

“Sen. Obama will be a strong voice an unabashed voice for America's hunters and shooters and it is with great pleasure that we endorse his candidacy,” President of the Association Ray Schoenke said, citing Obama’s commitment to the traditions of gun ownership.

Schoenke said they had reached out to the Obama campaign several weeks ago to offer their support – but the announcement wasn’t made public until today.  Schoenke added that the timing amid the controversy was important.

“We believe recent attacks on Sen. Obama’s stand on the 2nd amendment and his commitment to the hunting and shooting heritages are unfair.”

He said Obama’s vote for the Vitter amendment proves that Obama is committed to the 2nd amendment. The Vitter amendment prohibits the confiscation of firearms during an emergency or major disaster.

“Imagine how the citizens felt during hurricane Katrina when government agents kicked in doors to confiscate law biding citizen’s guns at a time when they needed them the most. We know Senator Obama gets it.”

Schoenke said on the other hand that Senator Clinton has “failed to grasp the importance of this critical issue to hunters and shooters and voted against this amendment, turning her back on American gun owners.”

The Republicans dismissed Obama's endorsement, and suggested the American Hunters and Shooters Association is an ersatz version of the National Rifle Association with dubious credibility among gun enthusiasts.

“Should Barack Obama be the Democrats’ nominee, he will probably be the most anti-gun general election candidate in political history," said Republican National Committee Spokesman Danny Diaz.  "The AHSA’s endorsement of Obama will not provide him any credibility on the Second Amendment.”

During the Q and A, Schoenke was asked what Obama’s position was on banning hand guns generally – and referenced the DC gun ban case.

“I’m not sure I think in talking with the campaign that Senator Obama has not taken a position on the DC gun ban case,” but said that they were conformable enough with his position that he supports individual rights under the 2nd amendments to endorse him.

Today Senator Obama released a separate statement on the Virginia Tech anniversary.  “Clearly, our state and federal governments have to strengthen some laws and do a better job enforcing others. But we all have a responsibility to do what we can in our own lives and communities to end this kind of senseless violence,” he said

Like his speech in the immediate aftermath of the shootings last year, Obama's statement does not include the words “gun control.”

Link http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/obama-endorsed.html

[Hazcat]

AHSA is not (as WE all know) a pro gun group, but ABC is pushing this as if they were the same as the NRA!

[DDMac]

Can you find the candidate???





Mac.

[ericire12]

AHSA is not (as WE all know) a pro gun group, but ABC is pushing this as if they were the same as the NRA!

I think maybe the NRA needs to hold a press confrance and expose ASHA for who they are.



Wikipedia Info on ASHA:

Criticisms

In August 2005, the National Rifle Association said about the AHSA[18]:

    * "... they want to allow the FBI to keep records on law-abiding citizens who buy guns and put an end to gun shows as we know them. Not to mention the fact that they want to regulate .50 caliber rifles in the same way that machine guns are regulated."

    * "The most telling thing about AHSA is its leadership. Bob Ricker ... is a former NRA employee who switched sides and has actively worked for gun control groups for many years now. ... John Rosenthal ... is one of the founders of the Massachusetts based group Stop Handgun Violence, a group that has been a major force in passing some of the most Draconian state gun laws in the nation."

    * "With leadership like that, there is no doubt about the true goals of AHSA. They are trying to fool hunters and gun owners with a soft sell ... while working behind the scenes to end the sport that we all love."

    * President of AHSA, John E. Rosenthal, is one of the founders of the Massachusetts anti-gun group, Stop Handgun Violence, a group instrumental in having many anti-gun laws in Massachusetts passed.

    * ASHA officials have testified in favor of gun control legislation, such as Washington State bill SB-5197 which aims to restrict sales at gunshows.[19]

    * ASHA opposes the views of the BATFE and Fraternal Order of Police concerning the Tiarht Amendment. These law enforcement groups claim ASHA's perspective would jeopardize both lives and law enforcement operations.[20] [21]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hunters_and_Shooters_Association

This is ASHA's statement on their website as to why they back Obama:

AHSA Endorses Obama

Obama: He "gets it"

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.

. 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.

Ray Schoenke
Wednesday, April 16, 2008

http://www.huntersandshooters.com/index.php

Yeah, they are smoking some crack!

[Rastus]

I wonder where they get their money from....the DNC....George Soros?

[Sponsor]

[Ron J]

Besides being an empty suit without an original thought in his head, Bro' O does not want you to have guns. Before this is over, he will have every anti-gun organization humping his leg.  In regard to being anti-gun, he may even be a few clicks left of the large ankled lesbian he is running against. 

Look ... before anyone gets their man-panties in a knot, I have nothing against lesbians.  In theory, they make a lot of sense.  However in reality, it is very hard to find one that is not wearing a flannel shirt and lumberjack boots.  Hillary is no exception.