Once again those that cling to guns are showing bitterness in the change soon coming to the White House. Gun sales during the week Obama was elected jumped nearly 49% driven by fears that Obama and a Democrat run Congress will usher in stricter gun control laws.
On Sunday Obama tried to alleviate worries.
“I believe in common-sense gun safety laws, and I believe in the second amendment,” Obama said at a news conference. “Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear. I said that throughout the campaign. I haven’t indicated anything different during the transition. I think people can take me at my word.”
Gun-buyers find little reassurance in Obama’s weekend statement.
But National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said it’s not Obama’s words — but his legislative track record — that has gun-buyers flocking to the stores.
“Prior to his campaign for president, his record as a state legislator and as a U.S. Senator shows he voted for the most stringent forms of gun control, the most Draconian legislation, gun bans, ammunition bans and even an increase in federal excise taxes up to 500 percent for every gun and firearm sold,” Arulanandam said.
It is clear that to reassure gun-buyers Obama is going to have to do more than tell them he believes in the second amendment. His track record speaks volumes and when he tries to suggest that he is supportive of gun ownership, one only need to think about a statement he said on the campaign trail.
And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
It is understandable why gun-buyers can’t seem to take President-elect Obama at his word.
Jennifer
