Researching Obama's Anti-Gun History (specifically 5 mile ban)

[wacki]

I'm putting this in legal in the hopes that a few lawyer types might now how to dig this information up. This web site:

http://www.gunlawnews.org/Senators/Barack-Obama-14.html

Documents Obama's voting history in a way that is irrefutable. It documents Obama voting "yay" on Ted Kennedy's .30-30 ban. Here is a list by the NRA:

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=3991

Which uses this as a source:
http://www.volokh.com/posts/1203389334.shtml

To show that Obama wanted to 'protect' every school and park into a 78+ square mile gunshop/gunrange free zone. The problem is that your random internet blog isn't exactly something that will convince those on the fence. I doubt the Chicago Defender is as well. Is there with a bit more credibility that documents Obamas 1999 proposal? EDIT: For those not familiar with this ban please read this link:
http://www.sportsmenforobama.org/content/view/43/

which would ban all gun shops in Denver.

Thanks,

Wacki

 

[cloudedice]

Here's a start. Everything on the links I give are cited with actual sources:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm

Notable quotes:

FactCheck: Yes, Obama endorsed Illinois handgun ban
Obama was being misleading when he denied that his handwriting had been on a document endorsing a state ban on the sale and possession of handguns in Illinois. Obama responded, "No, my writing wasn't on that particular questionnaire. As I said, I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns."

Actually, Obama's writing was on the 1996 document, which was filed when Obama was running for the Illinois state Senate. A Chicago nonprofit, Independent Voters of Illinois, had this question, and Obama took hard line:

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.

Obama's campaign said, "Sen. Obama didn't fill out these state Senate questionnaires--a staffer did--and there are several answers that didn't reflect his views then or now. He may have jotted some notes on the front page of the questionnaire, but some answers didn't reflect his views."
Source: FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 Philadelphia primary debate Apr 16, 2008

And so I think there is nothing wrong with a community saying we are going to take those illegal handguns off the streets. And cracking down on the various loopholes that exist in terms of background checks for children, the mentally ill. We can have reasonable, thoughtful gun control measure that I think respect the Second Amendment and people's traditions.

(Emphasis mine)

2000: cosponsored bill to limit purchases to 1 gun per month
Obama sought moderate gun control measures, such as a 2000 bill he cosponsored to limit handgun purchases to one per month (it did not pass). He voted against letting people violate local weapons bans in cases of self-defense, but also voted in 2004 to let retired police officers carry concealed handguns.
Source: The Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson, p.148 Oct 30, 2007

(Emphasis mine)

Obama voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. If there was any issue on which Obama rarely deviated, it was gun control. He was the most strident candidate when it came to enforcin and expanding gun control laws. So this vote jumped out as inconsistent.

When I queried him about the vote, he said, "I didn't find that [vote] surprising. I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry. This was a narrow exception in an exceptional circumstance where a retired police officer might find himself vulnerable as a consequence of the work he has previously done--and had been trained extensively in the proper use of firearms."

It wasn't until a few weeks later that another theory came forward about the uncharacteristic vote. Obama was battling with his GOP opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Source: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell, p.250-251 Aug 14, 2007

(Emphasis mine)

OBAMA: Let's be honest. Mr. Keyes does not believe in common gun control measures like the assault weapons bill. Mr. Keyes does not believe in any limits from what I can tell with respect to the possession of guns, including assault weapons that have only one purpose, to kill people. I think it is a scandal that this president did not authorize a renewal of the assault weapons ban.

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.

(Emphasis mine)

 

[cloudedice]

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=9490

Gun Issues
(Back to top)

2007 In 2007 Gun Owners of America gave Senator Obama a rating of F.

2006 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 100 percent in 2006.

2005 Senator Obama supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 0 percent in 2005.

2004 Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2004, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Obama a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

2002 Based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionnaire sent to all state legislative candidates in 2002, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund assigned Senator Obama a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F).

1998 Based on a questionnaire and the votes that National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund considered to be the most important in 1998, they have assigned Senator Obama a grade of F (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F-).

(Emphasis mine. Likely because he voted against something that was at least marginally pro-2A, but since it wasn't hardline enough, the GoA was against it.)

Here's a list of news stories about his speeches: http://www.votesmart.org/speech.php?can_id=9490

His voting record on Gun Issues:
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490&type=category&category=37&go.x=11&go.y=11

 

[wacki]

Thanks for the links, but none of them reference this:

http://www.sportsmenforobama.org/content/view/43/

Is this credible or not? The NRA and Kopel seem to think so but I can't find a rock solid source.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Politics. Sorry.