“Senator Obama, Where Do You Stand?”

" Following the recent landmark Second Amendment ruling by the U. S. Supreme Court, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, sent Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Hussein Obama (Dem., IL) a letter, dated July 4, asking whether he believes the law in the City of Chicago—his hometown—that bans law-abiding citizens from having firearms in their homes, violates the Second Amendment.

The letter, signed by NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane, referenced the case of the District of Columbia et al. v. Heller, which affirmed that the Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution protects the individual right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms, including handguns. NSSF’s decision to send Sen.

Obama the letter stems from the candidate’s recent remarks in which he indicated his agreement that the Second Amendment guarantees the individual’s right to keep and bear arms. That statement seems in contrast to his voting record, however, including his support for banning the civilian ownership of handguns, a position he took as an Illinois state senator, and his position as a U. S. senator in supporting the District of Columbia gun ban.

The Supreme Court will likely hear more Second Amendmentrelated cases following the Heller decision, and there remains a strong likelihood that the next president will appoint at least one new Supreme Court Justice. This possibility demands that candidates for office clearly articulate how they view firearms freedoms and the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. In his letter, Keane inquired of Sen.

Obama: "In light of the Heller decision, NSSF would like to know whether you believe that Chicago’s gun ban violates the Second Amendment rights of lawabiding Chicago residents? Do you continue to support banning an entire class of firearms from private ownership by law-abiding citizens, including your fellow Chicago residents? Do you believe the Second Amendment rights of Americans should depend on where they happen to live?

If you do, which other rights enshrined in the Constitution do you believe are limited by municipal borders?" I can’t say that I was surprised to learn that, as of the date this issue went to press, NSSF had received no response from Sen. Obama or his campaign committee. Need Some Extra Cash? If you would like to turn your gunsmithing ideas and expertise into cash (we pay pretty handsomely), I would like to discuss your article ideas with you.

Contact me, Keith Lawrence, Editor, at: American Gunsmith, Merritt Island, FL 32954; email voice fax Editor Keith Lawrence Technical