Ray,

I heard you on the Ed Schultz show yesterday. There was a caller from Iowa who was talking about the Assault Weapons Ban posting on Obama's website. You had agreed that such a law targeting semi-autos would be unconstitutional, and that Obama is talking about full autos.

I don't know if you have Obama's ear on this one, but you may want to consider an education on what the AWB did to Obama, as he may not know the mechanics of what he's supporting.

1) Every single gun configuration banned from further manufacture and sales to the American people via the Assault Weapons ban were SEMI-AUTOS. As you might know, Full Auto and other "class 3" has been heavily regulated since 1934, and some states flat out ban it entirely. In order to lawfully possess "Class 3" or "Title 2", you must go to the ATFE and go through about 3-6 months of background checking. Gang bangers in Chicago don't go through that, so their possession would never be legal in the first place.

2) Does Obama actually understand the mechanics of what he's supporting? If his support of the AWB has been a huge mistake of mechanics in believing that the AWB is a "full auto ban", then perhaps a clarification from the campaign is in order, admitting the mistakes and removing the statement about the AWB from the campaign website, I think more people would vote for him.

3) It would also behoove him to read the majority decision in Heller in it's entirety and understand that the [i]Heller[/i] decision isn't just about gun possession in the home, though Heller's prayer for relief only asked for that (He's a lawyer, he understands the difference). He doesn't support concealed weapons? Historically he would be correct, which is why there's licensure of concealed carry in 47 states. Illinois stands alone as the only state which bans both concealed carry AND open carry. Open carry at least serves notice to everyone else that their armed and there won't be any surprises. Wisconsin (the other state which bans concealed carry)actually honors the ability to carry in self defense, it just doesn't allowed such weapons to be carried concealed. There's plenty of case law supporting that idea, and as a lawyer Obama should have an understanding of this issue.

4) I think there's a thing to be addressed here: There are some people willing to lose their homes, end up homeless, have all of their jobs shipped overseas, if it means their guns are protected. Reacting with dismay and wondering "why they wouldn't do this" as so many of the left have done (which I am a progressive myself) is stupid. You can't prevent gun owners from voting their guns, so Obama needs to re-align himself (as he's done on a few other issues) and realize that this issue is politically toxic, and not get overconfident that he's going to be able to just walk into the White House because of the economy. Don't let a mechanical misunderstanding of the law result in the loss of Roe v. Wade, and the rest of our other bill of rights with the ultra-conservative court that we will get with McCain and Palin. Ray, if you have an ear with Senator Obama, I suggest that you and the Senator have a sit down talk with their campaign strategists.

5) He also needs to stand up to Mayor Daley (as the Iowa caller suggested) and tell him that he needs to repeal his handgun ban. He also needs to address the fact that in Illinois, the only civilians allowed to carry openly or concealed are Aldermen (city councilmen). Why is it that the Legislative body members in Illinois are able to carry but regular joes like you and me can't? Again, if the Illinois Legislature allowed some form of bearing arms (the historically preferred method is via open carry) for regular citizens, even if required to be openly, I'd have very little issue with Illinois. He's getting hammered on the issue because as State Senator he was pushing some forms of gun control. I realize that he's running for federal office and not state but he has the kind of pull to turn around Illinois on that subject. I just wish he did this right after Heller. He would have pulled significantly ahead of McCain.

I might be interested in joining your organization, and I realize you are new, but I don't feel that your web page gives enough information on your structure, or your tax status. How do I know you aren't just some guy trying to make a few buck off the internet? You don't even have a working email link. I agree with most of what you are saying on your site, although you obviously aren't non-partisan, or you wouldn't be endorsing one candidate by name, but I suppose I could over look that. Please provide me with more information.

I am a lifelong sportsman who has been looking for an organization like this for years. Despite many of my friends being NRA supporters, I have always declined to join their organization due to their heavy handed approach, lack of reason and support for policies that harm our society and land.

I am inclined to join AHSA but I am concerned about my struggle to learn more about the organization's structure and leadership. For example: your "contact us" page is hard to find and has no information. I cannot find a mailing address or information on your board of directors and staff. It appears that AHSA may be a one man show. If I am to join/contribute, I need to know where my money is going and who I can contact if I have questions, suggestions or concerns.

Thanks and I look forward to learning more about AHSA.
Dan

As a firearm enthusiast and owner, it's so refreshing to see fellow pro-2nd Amendment types who are not kool-aide drinking, NRA right-wing freaks. I have always talked about the need for an NRA-equivalent for sensible and intelligent mainstream Americans. I'm glad to see the AHSA fill that roll.

P.S. It was nice listening to you on the Ed Schultz show today.

I am a 50 year old non hunting female who passionately believes in the second amendment. I have been a member of the NRA even though I oppose much of what they stand for. I was a member because I thought they were the only show in town. Thanks to the Ed Schultz radio show, I know better.
McCain MUST BE DEFEATED!
Great Work Ray!
Thanks ED!!

You fail to mention a few things in this article. You fail to mention Obama's support of Illinois handgun legislation and the DC handgun ban. Both are clear enemies of the 2nd amendment. Obama thinks it's alright to take handguns away from law abiding citizens because they live in a certain area and yet you think McCain is the enemy? I'm not sure how you drew that conclusion. Obama's official stance is that guns can be used for hunting and target shooting. The 2nd Amendment wasn't made for hunting and target shooting, it was made for defense!!! He doesn't support us and never will. Period.

two matters you over look are O's stated desire to revoke all CCWs, allowing ONLY retired LE and military AND strong desire to ban 'semi-automatic' firearms. That plus permanent extension of the AWB--- violent crime did not spike when it was sunsetted and so it should remain.

I write a column for the Bisbee Observer in Bisbee, AZ. I didn't know that you folks existed until today when you were mentioned in a NYT editorial. Anyway, a recent column of mine might be interesting to your members. Read it below.

NRA BALLISTIC OVER OBAMA
by Jim Dwyer

To hear the National Rifle Association (NRA) tell it, if Senator Barack Obama becomes President, gun owners would have police officers knocking on their doors demanding that they turn over their firearms. But you can still keep your knives, your baseball bats and your tire irons in case someone attacks you or you get pissed off at a relative, friend or neighbor.
In the latest edition of the official journal of the NRA, the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine, is a pullout that lists “Barack Obama's Ten Point Plan to 'Change' The Second Amendment, everything from banning firearms for home defense to appointing judges to the U.S. Supreme Court who share his views on the Second Amendment.
And while none of these horrors for gun owners is likely to come to pass no matter who is President, the NRA is piling this stuff higher and higher the closer Obama gets to the White House. But we must remember that the NRA is an arm, and perhaps a leg, of the Republican Party that would bash Obama even if he came out for shotguns to be issued to each household.
However, I am not discounting the NRA's basic concern for the right to own a gun. If it weren't for Revolutionary Americans owning guns, we might still be sending our tax money to Great Britain and our judges would be wearing funny wigs.
And, as World War II historians have learned, our West Coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles to San Diego might have been invaded by the Japanese Empire shortly after their attack on Pearl Harbor. The reason the Japanese didn't invade was that they were convinced that most Americans owned guns, even children were pictured on magazine covers with gun and dog. And then there were the gangster movies of the 1930s with Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart and Bonnie and Clyde blasting their way through life with Thompson Submachine guns. The sons of the Sun didn't want any of that and choose to prosecute the war at sea.
With the fear-mongering Bush White House promising terrorist shock and awe for the last 8 years, it's a wonder that the former Republican Congress didn't pass a law mandating firearms in every home, hoping that such would keep the Al Queda at bay if they thought that grandma was packing heat.
What about women and guns? When most people who don't own guns hear NRA they think of a bunch of guys dressed in hunting gear slugging down cold ones as they try to hit the flock overhead. Actually the number of women owning guns increases every year and got a big boost just before the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Second Amendment, many fearing that the court would rule the other way and gun rights would vanish.
What would happen to rape statistics if potential rapists thought that their potential victims were armed? And for women who thought that gun-owning was just a man thing and that guns are so big and heavy that they couldn't carry them, visit our local Second Amendment Family Gun Shop in the San Jose Plaza, where they will familiarize you with the latest in light weight firearms that still pack a punch. I was sold on the idea of women bearing arms while I was dating a Deputy Warden (female) from the Douglas Prison. She always carried a .38 snub nose revolver and I was always very nice to her.
One of the nuttiest ideas for controlling guns came recently from a local Washington, DC, anti-gun legislator who was steamed over the Supreme Court ruling. He suggested that guns in the home should be legal, but only if they were unloaded and dismantled. Which makes as much sense as driving home, then dismantling your vehicle, a deadly weapon, and emptying the gas tank. The next morning you get up and reassemble your vehicle and reload the gas tank hoping that your job is still waiting for you.
And if you think that our Senators and Representatives in Congress are going to ban guns for Barack, think again. Every Congressional campaign has TV ads showing these folks out huntin' somethin'. They want that gun owner vote and will shoot to get it.
Meanwhile, support our local Family Gun Shop so we won't have to drive all the way to Sierra Vista to get ammo for our AK-47s.

It is nice to see a self-defense, liberty and heritage loving organization like this take root. Oddly enough I heard of you via a last sentence mention in an AP article proclaiming McCain's NRA victory.

All my life I've been a shooter and a hunter (as is the case with my young son) but the NRA has never appealed to me because of their corporate/partisan perspective. I know many who are members simply because their father or grandfather was, it has become a tradition, but I have seen them waffle too many times to send them any of my money. The endorsment of McCain is just another example of how petty that organization has become.

I look forward to keeping up with AHSA and although I would never vote for B. Obama I hope to see a more comprehensive 2nd Amnd. comparison of the two retail politicians who are running for "president".

Keep sipping that Kool-Aid, lefty.

I'm trying to reach someone at AHSA to let them know that access to their web site seems to have been blocked. One has to work pretty hard to find a way to get to it.

The usual screen that pops up says only: "IT WORKS!"

I hope you can get this unblocked, and it might be interesting to let the media know it was blocked.

Wishing you well,

Joe