PRESS CONFERENCE CALL THIS AFTERNOON
Montana Conservationists Defend Obama on Hunting, Gun Issues
By Bill Schneider, 4-18-08
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| Obama in Missoula, Mont. Photo by Emily Haas. | |
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Stung by recent accusations that he doesn’t support the best interests of hunters, anglers and gun owners, presidential candidate Barack Obama had his campaign office hold a press conference call today to refute those claims and show “Senator Obama’s commitment to the rights and traditions of Montana’s sportsmen.”
An impressive line up spoke on Obama’s behalf, starting with Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission chairman and former state senator Steve Doherty, who pointed out that roughly half of the people in Montana’s hunt or fish and that he believed Obama would more strongly represent hunters, anglers and gun owners than Hillary Clinton.
Doherty also said Obama supports the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, the backbone of wildlife management in United States, because it proclaims that wildlife is in the public trust, not owned by private landowners.
Kendall Van Dyk, a member of the Montana House of Representatives and chair of the Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus, gave examples of where Obama had voted for gun rights and Hillary had not. “He (Obama) understands the importance of the Second Amendment,” Van Dyk emphasized.
Capping off the discussion was Land Tawney, active in many conservation groups such as the Hellgate Hunters and Anglers, National Wildlife Federation and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
Tawney pointed to Obama’s strong support for wildlife habitat protection, hunter access and more funding for wildlife, such as the conservation measures in the disputed Farm Bill now before Congress.
Asked by NewWest.Net if Senator Obama would vote for the S. 2483, a massive Interior Department funding bill currently bogged down in Congress, with its controversial amendment to loosen restrictions for taking guns into national parks, nobody in the call knew the Senator’s position but campaign workers promised to find out and report back to me. I’ll let you know when they do.
Immediately after the call, Obama’s press crew sent out a list called “Montana Sportsman for Obama.” Here it is.
Tim Border, Former President, Gallatin Wildlife Association
Shane Colton, Commissioner, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Steve Doherty, Chairman Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks/ Former Senate Minority Leader
Brian and Jenny Grossenbacher, Fly Fishing Outfitters
Sen. Larry Jent , Bow Hunting Instructor
Jim Posewit, Helena Hunters and Anglers Association/ Retired biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Greg Smith, Former Backcountry Ranger, Glacier National Park
Land Tawney
Ed Tinsley, County Commissioner, Lewis and Clark County/ Avid Hunter and Angler
Rep. Kendall Van Dyk, House Democratic Chair Montana Legislative Sportsman Caucus
Dan Vermillion, Commissioner, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Gary Wicks, Former Director, Montana Department of Natural Resources, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Water
Barb Bailey
Bill Boland
Gina Colton
Dick Corbin
Tim Crawford
Kyle Cutting
Paul Dumond
Hannah Eaton
Alan C. Epps
Rick Hunter
Anthony Jackson
Bill Johnson
April Johnston
Scott Lawson
Brian May
Nancy McCampbell
Chris Miller
Kari Oelkers
Charlie Pinkava
Dave Rockafellow
Bob Roughton
Pat Smith
Geoff Stephens
John Talbott
Footnote> S. 2483 just passed the Senate this week. Senator Tom Coburn (R-KS) decided to remove his Guns in National Parks amendment from the bill, so there was no vote on that issue.
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Comments
Obama got an "F" from the NRA, and he has said he supports "thoughtful" gun control (whatever that is). Also, as ABC reported yesterday, when he filled out a questionnaire in 1996, he was asked: "Do you support state legislation to: ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns?"
In his own handwriting he answered: "Yes."
I'm not sure why the above hunters would support a candidate who had taken such a stand. Someone from the press should ask them.
Sure, he might let you keep your one shotgun and your one single shot rifle, but that is about it.
Seems as if he would ban all semi-auto shotguns, rifles, and pistols; opposes concealed carry except for retired police officers; he supports local gun bans; and is OK with lawsuits against firearm manufacutures.
Putting party politics aside, he is NO friend to responsible firearms manufacturers, Montana retailers, Montana gun owners or Montana field sportsman. I find it hard to believe that Bill's list of Obama supporters are doing anything more than toeing the party line.
You can bet that a fairly young, inexperienced Obama would be prey to suggestions that he stack the agencies political revolving door with environmental group staff. You know, like the "experienced" Jamie Rappaport Clark back into USFWS from her gig at Defenders of Wildlife.
Methinks also that Steve Doherty had a sort of left/green voting record in the Legislature.
Obama may look great in that cowboy hat....but he's not the West's friend.
True dat.
All mountain biking bannned under Obama as well.
The enviro left hates mountain bikes as much as snowmobiles.
I guess you are implying that people who support gun rights want to take away "women's rights," presumably abortion rights. Can you cite anything in the NRA's resolutions or bylaws to document that? As for myself, I wouldn't be brokenhearted if Obama and yourself somehow repealed the Second Amendment as I own no guns. I just find the issue interesting from a political perspective.
I probably fit your definition of a hypocrite, as well. I do believe in a literal interpretation of some rights. For example, I'm a very strong believer in the 1st amendment, especially its guarantee of free speech. On the other hand, I believe in choice for women, which is a biased interpretation of the Constitution, as there is nothing in it that guarantees a right to abortion, or even a right to privacy. Many constitutional scholars, including many on the left, think Roe versus Wade, was wrongly decided. But we'll take it because we like the result.
Anyway, if that makes us hypocrites, so be it.
I'm glad you, unlike myself, are not a hypocrite, and have different opinions on those issues.
Guns are kept in a private home or office. Or carried on a private citizen.
So the two are in no way the same and anyone who uses the comparison is proving themselves as un-insightful and not understanding the Constitution and our rights as Americans.
The present Administration would love to limit the First Amendment. Think how easy it would be once the second is brought down!!
Imagine lefties, having to register before protesting. Imagine having to submit to a background check before being allowed to write for a newspaper or a blog!! You may think such an idea is absurd, but Bush, Rove and others may think such restrictions are fine.
If the problem with guns is based in gun crime, then let us focus on criminal law and prosecution. Become tough on crime. We need to revitalize our prisons and prosecutions. Reinstate chain gangs and hard labor as a sentence for violent offenders. Make prison so hateful no one would want to go back!!
And work on education. Both in public life and in prisons. Just outlawing guns will not stop gun crime. Look at D.C., they have an all out ban on handguns. And in the time since the ban's passage gun and violent crime has increased astronomically!!
Bans don't work. Just take the drug war as an example. I bet all you lefty hippies know where to find your weed! That ban and outlawing sure hasn't reduced the use or supply, has it??
The right of the PEOPLE to possess and bear arms SHALL NOT be in fringed. >>>(the core of the second amendment, know it, understand it. It is the basis of a free society. The government should fear its people, it should know that we can rise up against a repressive government if need be. The 2nd amendment is not about hunting. It is about being able to defend ourselves, both against individual criminals and a tyrannous government. If guns are registered, all an upcoming tyrant has to do is use the list to take the guns, then we have a suppressed populace. You may think it could never happen, but look at history, it has happened in the past numerous time and continues to happen today.)
Please think about reality and consider history before calling out for more laws, bans, registrations or restrictions. They just won't work the way you think they will.
Wasn't it McCain who sponsored S. 890 in 2001 to close the "gun show loop hole"?
I am a lifelong hunter and gun owner and taking my guns away would be the equivalent of removing an old fly rod from my home. Admittedly, Barack's recent "bitter" comments were a hard pill to swallow but I see politics for what it is, an attempt to be everything to everyone and to garner as many votes as possible which, I think, was the objective of the San Fransisco fund raiser comments and was, in my mind, much ado about nothing!
I've read his book "The Audacity of Hope" and he makes clear that he understands the culture of guns and hunting in rural America but also has reservations about AK-47's in downtown Chicago. Doesn't a reasonable politician have to weigh both of these concerns? Gun control is one issue of many and a small issue relative to many problems we currently face. No one is going to loose their gun, can you imagine 80 million people foregoing guns?
He is a great candidate and a thinker. I'll take my chances with a "listener" who may have gun concerns over an idealisticly inflexible gun rights advocate! And no, I don't think gun control is the solution.
I am unwaivering in my support and think Obama is an overall wonderful opportunity for the U.S. to move forward.
Obama 08!
Back to Gun Control and where Obama stands. See what Gun Owners of America has to say: http://www.gunowners.org/pres08/obama.htm
I don't intend to take my chances with or trust any politician. Get their firm positions and hold them accountable. Send them lots of voter feedback when in office. Don't ever let them feel comfortable.
Now, if you share Obama's positions on banning all semi-auto shotguns, rifles, and pistols; opposing concealed carry except for retired police officers; supporting local gun bans; and are OK with lawsuits against firearm manufacutures, then you have found your candidate.
I have twice provided the On The Issues website which sources Obama's gun control positions. OTI is a non-partisan organization.
From their website:
>>>>>>>
Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions
Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:
Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998
<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>
35. Do you support state legislation to:
a. ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns? Yes.
b. ban assault weapons? Yes
c. mandatory waiting periods and background checks? Yes
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
How would Obama answer Q. 35 today?
The bottom line is if you want Uncle to tell you what guns you may have, after signing lots of paperwork, vote Obama...vote Hillary...or, grumble, vote McCain. The evil of three, soon to be two, lessers. The only question is, which parts of the Bill of Rights will each work the hardest to wreck?
for ten years.......Obama!
For those that seem themselves centrist, perhaps they should look 2 standard deviations to their left and they will find Obama. See: http://www.ontheissues.org/VoteMatch/candidate_map.asp?a1=1&a2=1&a3=1&a4=4&a5=4&a6=4&a7=5&a8=2&a9=5&a10=4&a11=1&a12=3&a13=2&a14=1&a15=2&a16=4&a17=2&a18=1&a19=1&a20=2&i1=1&i2=1&i3=1&i4=1&p=75&e=15&t=21
comma, comma, comma, what does it mean?
(HINT: Like the Constitution itself, it means whatever we decide it means.)
And they fought on nearly equal terms with the enemy. Unlike today, those citizens were not restricted in what their rifle could do. To put this into context of current times, those citizens were not limited to semi-auto rifles when their enemy had fully automatic rifles.
Please do not degrade Our Rights any further with more "common sense" gun laws. There are too many of them already that restrict my right to defend my life and family in the most efficient manner.
If you want to keep guns off the street, keep them from being stolen from our homes. Fight poverty. Bring jobs back to the US. Restore the middle class and bring our citizens out of poverty so that they do not think they need to commit crime to survive. That is common sense.