American Hunters and Shooters Association founder: Obama will protect gun rights

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=18900§ion=news

Brad Swenson Bemidji Pioneer
Published Friday, October 17, 2008

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama won’t take away Americans’ guns, says the head of the American Hunters and Shooters Association.

“We’re a gun rights organization and we are stating Obama’s not going to take away your guns,” Ray Schoenke, who is founder and president of the AHSA, said in an interview Thursday night.

While Schoenke, whose group has endorsed Obama, was pushing the Democrat’s agenda for sportsmen at the Beltrami County DFL’s campaign headquarters Thursday evening, Todd Palin, husband of Sen. John McCain running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was pitching the Republicans’ agenda on northern Minnesota issues.


Ray Schoenke, seated at right end, founder and president of American Hunters and Shooters Association, talks about Second Amendment gun rights with Beltrami County Democrats Thursday night in the Beltrami County DFL Campaign Headquarters. Schoenke’s group has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president. Submitted Photo

As it turns out, Schoenke and Palin were on the same flight from Detroit to Minneapolis en route to northern Minnesota. And Schoenke is shadowing Palin’s in Grand Rapids, Bemidji, Thief River Falls and Moorhead.

The issue of who supports the Second Amendment the strongest should be off the table, Schoenke, a former Washington Redskins offensive lineman turned Washington, D.C., lobbyist said.

Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a Washington, D.C., total ban on handguns as unconstitutional. In overturning the ban, Justice Antonin Scalia said that “the individual right is confirmed, that law-abiding citizens have the right to own a gun,” Schoenke said.

“That pretty well set the issue aside,” he said. “He basically said government cannot confiscate your guns. Congress cannot enact laws that can take your guns away. Which means Obama can’t take your guns away, nor can McCain. That whole issue is over with.”

Obama had supported the D.C. gun ban, however, while McCain did not.

FULL story at link.

[jody]

1. AHSA opposes reinstating assault weapons ban that Biden calls for

See

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=367&topic_id=14088&mesg_id=14092

and

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x187962

[Omaha Steve]

2. We have one rifle and two hand guns

My rifle with less than one minute of tinkering could be converted to full automatic. I have a 50 shot clip. Do the math. I have no plan to ever even try to do so. My revolver is a sentimental piece. My dad used to take me out to target practice with it. Marta has an over/under mini Derringer that was her mom's.

I have no want to take away guns from responsible owners. The dealer that sold the Columbine weapons was not responsible by any definition. Responsible owners lock up or trigger guard their collection. You might remember the shooting last December in Omaha? A 19 year old killed eight people and injured five others before killing himself.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19095643&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=627143&rfi=6


AP
Surveillance video shows Robert Hawkins firing an assault rifle in the Von Maur department store in the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb.


The ban didn't stop Robert Hawkin from his killing spree. I was talking on the phone when friends and family started calling asking if our son in law that worked at a mall car dealership was ok? The young gunman broke into a cabinet that wouldn't stop a grade school kid.

Go watch Bowling For Columbine before declaring a love for assault weapons. Marta and I have already voted for Obama.

[jody]

3. So you disagree with AHSA's opposition to renewing the AWB. Your position also puts you at odds with

most of the 80 million gun-owners in the U.S.

I assume you know that H.R. 1022 would give the attorney general authority to ban most semiautomatic firearms such as the popular Remington model 1100 with over 4 million produced.

[Omaha Steve]

4. For the record

Who are you voting for?

[jody]

8. I'm a Yellow Dog Democrat and a Pro-RKBA Democrat. Why is that an issue when your OP is not complete

without a statement that AHSA opposes the AWB that Biden supports?

I suspect you are upset you did not know that fact about AHSA.

That's life, :shrug:

[Omaha Steve]

11. My OP?

I posted a press story. You can't seem to warm to the story. Why don't you show us the 80 million you claim I'm not one of. So you are voting Obama-Biden? Or do you worry about your cold hands and your assault weapon?

[jody]

14. I answered your question re for whom I am voting. Apparently you have no idea what an assault weapon

is so I suggest you educate yourself so you can contribute to discussions about Obama's stated support of the Second Amendment.

[1corona4u]

13. Give up...this is an ongoing thing with this one....

I really don't know why they are allowed to stay here. They add nothing to the board, and ALWAYS slam our candidates. I'm hiiding this thread now, so I don't end up wanting to hurt him.....

[jody]

15. ROFLMAO at your refusal to help Obama who asked his supporters to get in the face of people and tell

them he supports the Second Amendment.

To do that successfully, you need to know what the various aspects of the 2nd interest 80+ million gun owners.

Reinstating the AWB is one aspect that AHSA opposes.

[boppers]

5. What makes you think the 80 million support AW-styles?

Most gun owners don't have modified weapons, or weapons designed for military "appearances"...

..and at the heart of it, that's what the AWB was all about, reducing the amount of fetish guns. The kind of guns preferred by the nut-jobs who go on shooting sprees, as compared to the kind of guns most americans own.

Oh, and the 1022 claim is misleading, the Remington 1100 is not mentioned. It merely gives the AG *authority* to change the list as manufacturers change model names (as has happened before) as they try to re-brand their fetish guns.

[jody]

6. Read H.R. 1022 again because it does give the AG the authority I stated. Facts are AHSA objects to

the AWB as I stated in my reply to the OP.

[Omaha Steve]

7. It took you 8 minutes to reply earlier today

Now you avoid a direct question. Again of ALL the candidates for US President, who will you be voting for and why???

OS

[jody]

9. LOL, you don't direct my actions. n/t

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jody]

12. Why do you call me "Republican EXPOSED"? Is that your response when you cannot reply intelligently

to a statement?

[Omaha Steve]

18. Reply intelligently?

I don't claim 80 million arms owners are all correct, and I alone am wrong. That doesn't seem to be the case. Tell me the kid in the mall had a right to shoot a relatives stolen assault rifle. Tell me the kids at Columbine were at fault because they went to school. The average Joe (plumber) doesn't have a use for an assault rifle. Am I right or wrong? I have no problem With Obama-Biden on guns. You seem to. Two stories about a hunters group I posted today seem to bother you. I'm shocked. Just shocked.

[jody]

20. You posted the same item twice and failed to say AHSA opposes the AWB and also

that most AHSA founders are associated with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, formerly known as Handgun Control, Inc.

Note the Brady Campaign has endorsed Obama, something I wish had not happened because it detracts from Obama's repeated statements that he supports the Second Amendment and that he will not take rifles, shotguns, and handguns from gun-owners.

I'm delighted that AHSA has taken a firm position opposing the AWB because it helps Obama.

[Omaha Steve]

22. I did not

I posted two different stories in 2 different places. This post was not the AFL-CIO post in the Labor Forum. I've wasted enough time on your "I'm a Dem but I hate Obama-Biden" crap. Enjoy election day. You never did say just who you are voting for or why.

[jody]

23. Read my post #8. I tried to make it simple enough so a child would understand. n/t

[Omaha Steve]

25. It does not say who your voting for, just that you are pro assault weapon

And you still aren't willing to. It seems you have 80 million fictitious friends ALL in your camp. You claim to want a semi more than a good economy with jobs. Jobs that pay good enough to buy more guns. :-) Congratulations. Your the first person on the DU I've ever put the ignore on. Good job. Many have tried.

I'll be enjoying election day while McCain gets less than 80 million votes. Wonder how many Obama-Biden will get?

[jody]

26. Please visit the site below for the history of Yellow Dog Democrats.

http://www.yellowdogdemocrat.com/history.htm

[boppers]

16. If you're interpreting HR 1022 that way, you're quibbling over a paragraph...

Here's the list:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1022

The 1100 is not on it, no matter how hard you look, or try to claim it is.

Here's how the list can be added to:
'A semiautomatic rifle or shotgun originally designed for military or law enforcement use, or a firearm based on the design of such a firearm, that is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, as determined by the Attorney General. In making the determination, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a firearm procured for use by the United States military or any Federal law enforcement agency is not particularly suitable for sporting purposes, and a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.'

So, you're basically claiming that a gun *could* be added, not that a gun is on it, and insinuating that such a weapon *would* be added, as a scare tactic.

[jody]

17. Facts are precisely as I stated. n/t

[boppers]

19. You said "ban most semiautomatic firearms". WRONG.

Since most semi-automatic firearms have legitimate sporting purposes, you are wrong on the facts. The AG would not have that authority, as stated in 1022, and noted upthread.

[jody]

21. Have a good day. n/t

[derby378]

28. The Second Amendment isn't about "legitimate sporting purposes"

:hi:

[IndianaJones]

24. bwaaa...thats a gun control organization. nt.

[PM7nj]

27. So... do you disagree with them about Obama?