Obama’s actions, not his words, should be the focus when considering his support for 2nd Amendment rights

When I noted a few weeks ago that there was a post-election boom of gun purchases I also took note of some of Obama’s supporters trying to act surprised that anyone would react in such a way to the election of Barack Obama. It looks as if Obama’s team has noticed and, apparently, are thinking it’s something serious enough that it needs to be addressed. In yesterday’s Chicago Sun-Times political reporter Abdon M. Pallasch writes:

As gun sales shoot up around the country, President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday that gun-owning Americans do not need to rush out and stock up before he is sworn in next month.

“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.”

Well, as I mentioned in the post I linked above, there’s what Obama says and what actions he takes when he puts on his legislator cap. The major problem I and others who support the 2nd Amendment have is in what Obama considers “common-sense gun safety laws.” Obama appears to consider outright bans on guns with scary-looking features that have nothing to do with their lethality a “common-sense” law. He appears to consider outright bans on rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting a “common-sense” law. He appears to consider prosecuting people who use firearms in their own homes in self-defense a “common-sense” law. He appears to consider the forced closure and perpetual ban on gun stores within 5 miles of a school or a park a “common-sense” law.

And that’s just for starters.

Take note his choice for Attorney General. Mr. Holder is one of the loudest voices for gun bans and legal restrictions against bearing arms, a right finally affirmed by the Supreme Court as an individual right in Heller v. DC. Let’s not forget, by the way, that Obama – an alleged scholar of the Constitution – thought the ban DC had that was the subject of the aforementioned case was constitutional. Had he his way, he’d gut the 2nd Amendment that he claims to support. With his previous actions and his choices of the people he’s surrounding himself with for his administration, how can anyone with any common sense think he’s not going to try to push through restrictions on Americans’ right to keep and bear arms?

Obama’s gun-control supporters are also weighing in, but it’s telling what they’re saying:

“We don’t dispute [the gun sales hike] because the numbers from the federal system certainly confirm that there is increased activity out there. We just think it’s a bit stupid,” said Peter Hamm, spokesman for the Brady Campaign against Gun Violence.

“Anyone who thinks they need to rush out and buy a firearm clearly has not been paying attention to how quickly we make progress on this issue. We don’t think these are first-time buyers. We think they are people who already have more than enough guns at their homes to protect themselves and are buying more.”

Stupid? Yeah, but the Brady Campaign thinks owning a handgun at all is stupid, so that’s not saying anything new. Take particular note of the part I’ve emphasized in bold, however. What does he mean by that? That people don’t need to run out before January 20th because the Brady Campaign and the incoming administration know they can’t submit a gun ban bill, pass it, and sign it in the 1st day in office? Note that he’s not saying people don’t have a reason to be alarmed and to go buy a gun. Just that they don’t need to do it by Jan. 20.

No, Obama’s word isn’t the issue, here. It’s his actions and his attempts at doing exactly what people are afraid he’s going to try again. His word, at least in this matter, is worthless. Deny any support to attempts at restricting the right to keep and bear arms and I’ll believe you mean what you say, Mr. Obama. Until then, vigilance is the word.