A recent hit diary on Barack Obama is trying to tear down the presumptive Democratic nominee on the issue of gun control. For some perspective, let’s take a look at what REAL "irresponsible bullshit" looks like – by examining the position’s of Barack Obama’s opponent in the upcoming general election, John McCain.
Here are a few lowlights...
John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens. Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals - criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.
Gun Manufacturer Liability
John McCain opposes backdoor attempts to restrict Second Amendment rights by holding gun manufacturers liable for crimes committed by third parties using a firearm, and has voted to protect gun manufacturers from such inappropriate liability aimed at bankrupting the entire gun industry.
Assault Weapons
John McCain opposes restrictions on so-called "assault rifles" and voted consistently against such bans. Most recently he opposed an amendment to extend a ban on 19 specific firearms, and others with similar characteristics.
Importation of High Capacity Magazines
John McCain opposes bans on the importation of certain types of ammunition magazines and has voted against such limitations.
Banning Ammunition
John McCain believes that banning ammunition is just another way to undermine Second Amendment rights. He voted against an amendment that would have banned many of the most commonly used hunting cartridges on the spurious grounds that they were "armor-piercing."
DC Personal Protection
As part of John McCain's defense of Second Amendment rights, he cosponsored legislation to lift a ban on the law abiding citizens of the District of Columbia from exercising their Constitutional right to bear arms.
The Firearm Purchase Waiting Period
John McCain has opposed "waiting periods" for law abiding citizen's purchase of firearms.
McCain’s positions speak for themselves. There’s really no comparison to Barack Obama here. So why would a Daily Kos diarist tear down our nominee in favor of John McCain?
I think that to get elected – especially when following a 50-state strategy – you need to be clear about respecting the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms. I write this diary from Kansas, for example, and we like our guns here. Just go ask my Aunt who lives a few blocks away from me with the arsenal that my Uncle left behind after his recent fatal heart attack. He didn’t trust the government under Bush.
From that basis of respect for gun ownership, it is possible to limit the more dangerous, over-the-top desires of gun-nuts: armor-piercing bullets, high capacity magazines, assault weapons, immune gun manufacturers, etc.
The Rethugs would paint us as "gun grabbers" and push back our support to the cities and coasts if we went after people's right to keep and bear.
There is a middle path, and Obama walks it. As both a student of the Constitution and a man who has seen the senseless pain and death caused by guns on the streets of inner city Chicago, I trust Barack Obama to safeguard American's rights -- ALL of them.
UPDATE: exlrrp, in a comment below, adds some of Obama's positions on this issue as A STATE SENATOR.
-- " I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manfuacturer's lobby. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality. Not only do we need to punish that man for his crime, but we need to acknowledge that there's a hole in his heart, one that government programs alone may not be able to repair.
--"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...."
from wiki:
"He supported several gun control measures, including restricting the purchase of firearms at gun shows and the reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.[94] While in the US Senate, Obama has voted against legislation protecting firearm manufacturers from liability.[95] Obama did vote in favor of the 2006 Vitter Amendment to prohibit the confiscation of lawful firearms during an emergency or major disaster, which passed 84-16.[96]
During a February 15, 2008 press conference, Obama stated, "I think there is an individual right to bear arms, but it's subject to commonsense regulation."[97] He voiced support for the District of Columbia's ban on handguns, which is scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court next month in the landmark case D.C. v. Heller.[97]
His current position as a candidate is vaguer...(hat tip: soonerhq)
"He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns for the purposes of hunting and target shooting."