There have been many misperceptions about Barack's stance on gun rights, straying from his spoken commitment to the Second Amendment.
Fortunately he has some well-known hunters and shooters on his side. Recently supporter and American Hunters and Shooters Association President (and former NFL player) Ray Schoenke campaigned for Barack in Gallipolis and the Jackson County Headquarters.
In a letter to the editor in the Mansfield News Journal, a hunter/supporter directly addresses the gun issue:
In my opinion Barack Obama is the wise choice for president.I am an avid firearms person and love to hunt. I have belonged to the National Rifle Association and other organizations and have voted Republican in the past on this issue alone. I really believe this has become a fear issue with the electorate and is being fostered by the Republican Party along with the NRA. Just remember that whenever a firearm controversy raises its ugly head, the membership roles of the NRA expand, so it is in their interests to foster these issues.It has taken the Europeans centuries to realize you have to keep religion and politics separate. This was one of the greatest tenets our founding fathers put in place for us. If you think the rest of the world is not paying attention to nor has a stake in the outcome of our election you better pay attention. Through modern times our presidents have cloaked themselves with the mantle of leader of the free world. If you don't believe they are paying attention, then why did 200,000 Europeans listen to one speech of Senator Obama's?This election is not about or for me; it is about my children and grandchildren. If we continue down this same path there will be absolutely no future for any of them.
In my opinion Barack Obama is the wise choice for president.
I am an avid firearms person and love to hunt. I have belonged to the National Rifle Association and other organizations and have voted Republican in the past on this issue alone. I really believe this has become a fear issue with the electorate and is being fostered by the Republican Party along with the NRA. Just remember that whenever a firearm controversy raises its ugly head, the membership roles of the NRA expand, so it is in their interests to foster these issues.
It has taken the Europeans centuries to realize you have to keep religion and politics separate. This was one of the greatest tenets our founding fathers put in place for us.
If you think the rest of the world is not paying attention to nor has a stake in the outcome of our election you better pay attention. Through modern times our presidents have cloaked themselves with the mantle of leader of the free world. If you don't believe they are paying attention, then why did 200,000 Europeans listen to one speech of Senator Obama's?
This election is not about or for me; it is about my children and grandchildren. If we continue down this same path there will be absolutely no future for any of them.
On other issues important to rural Ohioans, Barack has proven himself to be light years ahead of his opposition, with strong support of the farm bill, advocacy for corn-based ethanol energy, and interest in investing in infrastructure and rural education. As this article recounts, Barack's friends from fellow corn state Illinois, including state Senator John Sullivan and former Illinois USDA executive Stephen Scates.
("Barns for Obama" like this one, written about in the Toledo Blade here, attest to Barack's visible support in rural areas).
Other issues like these, argues one Ironton man in the letter to the editor here, should also claim importance amongst Second Amendment voters:
If you are an avid hunter and target shooter like me, you should be relieved to know that neither presidential candidate wants to take away your right to enjoy your sport. Obama and McCain both support the Second Amendment, which gives each of us the right to bear arms. Obama and McCain both have voted against a number of restrictive gun provisions, including the right of the federal government to confiscate firearms during emergencies. What is interesting is that both candidates have also drawn the ire of the NRA for their support of criminal background checks for purchasers at large gun shows. However, there are other positions that the candidates have taken that may be important in helping sportsmen decide how to vote this November. McCain has voted against the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program (Obama co-sponsored) that are strongly supported by Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. To my fellow Ohio Sportsmen, the good news is that both Obama and McCain will protect our right to enjoy our sport, so there is not much to choose between on this issue. On the other hand, there are a great number of very important non-sportsman issues, which will decide what kind of world, and country future generations will live in. There are big differences between the candidates, it just does not have to do with guns.
If you are an avid hunter and target shooter like me, you should be relieved to know that neither presidential candidate wants to take away your right to enjoy your sport.
Obama and McCain both support the Second Amendment, which gives each of us the right to bear arms. Obama and McCain both have voted against a number of restrictive gun provisions, including the right of the federal government to confiscate firearms during emergencies.
What is interesting is that both candidates have also drawn the ire of the NRA for their support of criminal background checks for purchasers at large gun shows.
However, there are other positions that the candidates have taken that may be important in helping sportsmen decide how to vote this November.
McCain has voted against the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program (Obama co-sponsored) that are strongly supported by Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.
To my fellow Ohio Sportsmen, the good news is that both Obama and McCain will protect our right to enjoy our sport, so there is not much to choose between on this issue. On the other hand, there are a great number of very important non-sportsman issues, which will decide what kind of world, and country future generations will live in.
There are big differences between the candidates, it just does not have to do with guns.
Are you a hunter who supports Barack? Let us know in the comments section below.
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