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May 2008
Clinton's biggest "gun gaffe" was her vote for confiscation
Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Hillary Clinton had dropped an anti-Obama mail piece asking "Where does Obama really stand on guns?"
Those reports were true, but the mailing backfired. At the Politico, Ben Smith reported on Clinton's "gun gaffe" last night:
To make matters worse, a prominent gun dealer said, it's an expensive German gun with customized features that make it clearly European.
"The gun in the photo does not exist," said Val Forgett III, president of Navy Arms in Martinsburg, W.Va. Forgett's company was Mauser's agent in the United States when the gun was released, and it sold Mauser guns here again in the 1990s. "The bolt is facing to the left side of the receiver, making it a left-handed bolt action rifle, indicating whoever constructed and approved the mailer did not recognize the image has been reversed."
Forgett said the error would be obvious to sportsmen.
"I find it laughable on its face," he said. "It's like a picture of Babe Ruth hitting right-handed."
Forgett is right. The mistake is obvious to real sportsmen. And, while it's laughable, it is not surprising. The real question gun owners need to ask is "Why is Clinton trying to hide her voting record on guns?"
Clinton's true feelings about our 2nd amendment rights became clear to all Americans on July 13, 2006. That's when the Senate took a vote on an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations offered by Senator David Vitter, which reads: "To prohibit the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law."
Look at the roll call: 84 Senators, including Barack Obama, defended gun owners. 16 Senators, including Hillary Clinton, voted against us. That vote says all anyone needs to know about where the candidates really stand on guns.
The contrasting votes of Senator Obama and Senator Clinton on the confiscation issue are definitive for most gun owners like me. That's one reason I endorsed Obama on behalf of the American Hunters and Shooters Assocation (AHSA).
So, the Clinton campaign's "gun gaffe" mailing shouldn't come as a surprise. Hillary Clinton really doesn't know much about guns nor does she care about gun rights. Her record proves that.
Gun owners recognized the mistake in Clinton's mailing. They'll also recognize the glaring mistake in her voting record.
Vote for gun confiscation divides Obama and Clinton.
A couple weeks ago, on behalf of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), I endorsed Barack Obama for President. I explained in that endorsement that on the issue of firearms, Obama "gets it." As the primary battles ensue in Indiana and North Carolina, I wanted to explain just what that means: Obama understands the individual right to own firearms. That is a fundamental starting point for any serious discussion about firearms policy.
Absent that understanding, there is really no room for a dialogue with hunters and shooters.
While campaigning in Iowa last December, Obama explained his position on the Second Amendment. The conservative Weekly Standard picked it up:
Obama’s thoughtful view is shared by most gun owners I know. Public opinion research confirms that view is widely held among hunters. We fundamentally believe that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to keep and bear arms. But, that right also brings responsibility and a concern for our communities.
Now, the NRA types, led by Wayne LaPierre and Grover Norquist, will undoubtedly challenge Obama – and never give him the credit he deserves. But, he had the chance to put his money where his mouth is on July 13, 2006 in the United States Senate. That is the day the Senators really had to put their true policy positions on the second amendment to the test.
Senators had the opportunity to vote on an amendment offered by Senator David Vitter "To prohibit the confiscation of a firearm during an emergency or major disaster if the possession of such firearm is not prohibited under Federal or State law."
As far as I know, there has never been a vote on the issue of government confiscation of firearms. That word, confiscation, strikes fear into the hearts and minds of gun owners.
84 Senators, including Barack Obama, defended gun owners. 16 Senators, including Hillary Clinton, voted against us.
For those non-gun owners reading this post, I want to make it clear that there is no clearer distinction from a gun owners perspective that between those who would allow confiscation and those who would oppose it.
We can argue about background checks and other measures to keep our community safe, many of which I support.
But confiscation, without lawful justification, is the clear dividing line.
That’s why AHSA believes it is important to highlight the record of Senator Obama and Senator Clinton on the confiscation vote -- now. This hasn’t been an issue in the primaries til recently, but come the fall, I can assure you, the confiscation vote will matter.
Despite her recent talk about guns, when it mattered, Hillary Clinton went over the line. Believe me, that vote gives the NRA all the fodder it needs to oppose a Clinton candidacy. On the other hand, Obama’s vote opens up the lines of communication with most gun owners for a dialogue about these and other issues, like climate change, road-less rules and public access. Hillary Clinton can’t have that same dialogue. Every single gun owner will know she voted for confiscation exactly when law-abiding decent citizens may need their guns for self-protection the most -– when the police aren’t even capable of responding to an emergency.
We want gun owners to know now that on this critical issue of government confiscation over individual rights and freedom, Obama was right. Clinton was wrong.