Today, as President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), I announced our endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Because the gun issue has recently become a factor in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, I want to share the remarks I made today:

As a gun rights organization we have not come to this decision lightly. We were formed two years ago because our research shows that millions of gun owners wanted a change. They not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection of their communities as well as the protection of our lands. We reached out to the Obama campaign several weeks ago to offer our support and approval as was reported by Paul Bedard of US News and World Report. We believe recent attacks on Senator Obama's stand on the 2nd Amendment and his commitment to our hunting and shooting heritage are unfair and American Hunters and Shooters Association is stepping up to set the record straight.

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. In addition, Senator Obama's commitment to conservation and protection of our natural resources and access to public lands demonstrates to us his commitment to America's hunting and shooting heritage. 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

Now I know a wolf in sheep's clothing when I see one. This organization is a group of Fudds if there ever was one. It is no different than Andrew McKelvey's "AGS" eight years ago, or the "American Firearms Association." back in the 80's. This is a favorite of "Third Way" and DLC thinkers along the lines of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. "New Democrat" is another term. AGS ironicaly merged with Third Way. Why do I mention 3rd way? Well, one of the biggest pushes among the more devious gun grabbers (as opposed to those like Josh Sugarmann who are somewhat honest about a ban) is to pretend how much they support "hunting," compare the 2nd Amendment to hunting, and then say that they support hunting guns, and not those evil black rifles and gun shows, etc. The main polling and PR firm behind that approach was Penn, Schoen & Berland. Mark Mellman and Mark Penn were the leaders. If the name Mark Penn rings a bell, that's because he is one of Hillary Clinton's top advisors. Hillary is bashing Obama's gun remarks which is a laugh. She's an Elmer Fudd type herself with her "learning to shoot" comments as her record is almost as bad as Obama's.

AHSA backs Obama. Of course they would, as they are a bunch of Fudds. Now I need to back up my comments about AHSA being an Elmer Fudd organization. We can start with their two leaders and former board member (and co-founder).

Ray Schoenke - President.

Newsmeat is a great website. You can look up who donated to who. Ray Schoenke is a longtime democrat from the Maryland/DC area. That doesn't stick out as much at these two donations.

SCHOENKE, RAY, WASHINGTON, DC - BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE - VOTER EDUCATION FUND $5,000primary 03/23/00

SCHOENKE, NANCY, WASHINGTON, DC, HOMEMAKER, BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE - VOTER EDUCATION FUND, $5,000primary, 02/02/00

$10,000 to the Brady Group - the leading gun grabbing organization in the country. That's no friend of hunters and shooters.

Bob Ricker - Ricker is a whore who sells himself to the highest bidder. He was this gun rights guy until bought off by the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence and how runs his mouth against the 2nd Amendment. He also pushed for frivolous lawsuits against firearms manufacturers and testified against them in the infamous NAACP/Brooklyn lawsuit against firearms manufacturers.

The other big name is John Rosenthal - leader of Stop Handgun Violence, a Massachusetts gun grabbing organization. Massachusetts has some of the strictest laws in the country, along with Ray Schoenke's Maryland.

But lastly, let's look at AHSA's policy statements. Now unfortunately, AHSA changed their website a bit since all of us are on to them. However, I do have Westlaw and Lexis-Nexis access so those suckers can't hide from me.

"Denying terrorists, illegal aliens, organized gangs, and juveniles/ youthful offenders access to firearms; "

That's already illegal. Those CONVICTED are not allowed to own firearms. The key word is convicted. We ARE innocent till proven guilty in this country, whether people like it or not.

They support a ban on .50 caliber BMG's, even though they aren't used in crimes. These are $4000+ firearms.

From Rosenthal and the Boston Globe 2/5/06 (Excerpted)

Central to AHSA's mission is a national legislative agenda that includes closing loopholes that let criminals purchase weapons at gun shows, banning military-style assault weapons, requiring training for gun owners, and pushing for issues like wildlife conservation that Rosenthal says the NRA has neglected.

1. There is no gun show loophole.

2. Assault Weapons is a loaded term and refers in some circles to ALL semi-automatic - which are most firearms. They are also less powerful (ammo caliber) than hunting firearms.

3. Require Training? I support training, but have problem with government involvement in this.

http://thomas.loc.gov/ - From Thomas in 2004

In a recent report, the ATF identified three, .223 and the 7.62 caliber rifles, as the ones most frequently encountered by police officers. These high-capacity rifles, the ATF wrote, pose an enhanced threat to law enforcement, in part because of their ability to expel particles at velocities that are capable of penetrating the type of soft body armor typically worn by law enforcement officers. Another rifle caliber, the 30.30 caliber, was responsible for penetrating three officers' armor and killing them in 1993, 1996, and 2002. This ammunition is also capable of puncturing light-armored vehicles, ballistic or armored glass, armored limousines, even a 600-pound safe with 600 pounds of safe armor plating. It is outrageous and unconscionable that such ammunition continues to be sold in the United States of America.

That was what a so called "cop-killer" bullet is to Ted Kennedy. The .30-30 Winchester. Now that 600 point thing is a pile of crap, but that's Kennedy for you. This bill was voted on twice, once in 2004 and once in 2005 - identical bills from Kennedy. Hillary Clinton voted for it twice. Barack Obama voted for it once as he was elected in 2004. That's AHSA for you.

The Irony in all of this is that even some of the other Daily Kos posters besides Schoenke get it. Now most of them aren't friends of the 2nd Amendment, but they are if nothing else pragmatic, and know that gun owners will vote against those who take away their freedoms. Obama is a gun grabber. AHSA are gun grabbing wolves in sheep's clothing.

So what is Obama's record on the 2nd Amendment.

First off, he was a former Board member of the notorious Joyce Foundation. The Joyce Foundation is the main funder of gun grabbing organizations in the US. They fund groups such as VPC which supports a total ban. They have hundreds of millions of dollars to fund these astroturf organizations.

- I commented on one of his puff pieces here. He supports "Ballistic prints" which don't do anything for crimes. He supposed the so called "assault weapons" ban.

From the WSJ - He voted present on another nasty bill.

He voted to ban almost all centerfire ammunition -From Thomas

He voted to support frivolous lawsuits against firearms manufactuers. - From Thomas

And CBS exposes his State Senatorial record.

Obama regularly supported gun-control measures, including a ban on semiautomatic "assault weapons" and a limit on handgun purchases to one a month.

He also opposed letting people use a self-defense argument if charged with violating local handgun bans by using weapons in their homes. The bill was a reaction to a Chicago-area man who, after shooting an intruder, was charged with a handgun violation. Supporters framed the issue as a fundamental question of whether homeowners have the right to protect themselves. Obama joined several Chicago Democrats who argued the measure could open loopholes letting gun owners use their weapons on the street. They said local governments should have the final say, but the self-defense exception passed 41-16 and ultimately became state law.

"It's bad politics to be on the wrong side of the Second Amendment come election time," said Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association. "It will certainly be talked about. You can take that to the bank." On the other hand, Obama parted company with gun control advocates when he backed a measure to let retired police officers and military police carry concealed weapons.

He supports guns for the important people, but not us. That's Obama's elitism for you. That fits the views of the Elmer Fudd organization that is supporting him as well. But wait, there's even more from Politico.

Obama State Senate survey - pt 1

- Obama State Senate survey - pt 2

On guns...TOTAL BAN!

Now his aids tried to cover for him and say that wasn't his work. BS. Buck stops at the top. Politico called that as well.

The evidence comes from an amended version of an Illinois voter group's detailed questionnaire, filed under his name during his 1996 bid for a state Senate seat. Late last year, in response to a Politico story about Obama's answers to the original questionnaire, his aides said he "never saw or approved" the questionnaire. They asserted the responses were filled out by a campaign aide who "unintentionally mischaracterize[d] his position." But a Politico examination determined that Obama was actually interviewed about the issues on the questionnaire by the liberal Chicago nonprofit group that issued it. And it found that Obama -- the day after sitting for the interview -- filed an amended version of the questionnaire, which appears to contain Obama's own handwritten notes added to one answer.

Is it really surprising that an organization headed by two, and formerly three gun grabbers, would back a gun grabber? Not really. The good news is that most of us know what AHSA is about, and no amount of photo ops are going to change that. It's the record that counts, and the records of Obama, Schoenke, Ricker, and Rosenthal show that none of them are friends of the 2nd Amendment.