# Respond to this Anti-Obama Gun Freak **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 14, 2008, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687 "2008-11-14T09:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/41 "2008-11-15T15:26:07Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Oh, ferchrissake! Obama, despite what you have heard, is a fairly CONSERVATIVE Democrat!!! See? That’s FIVE exclamation points, the most I give. You have nothing to fear that your guns will be yanked from your warm, flexible, hands. ANYTHING ELSE IS FROM LISTENING TO SCAREMONGERS ON THE RADIO!!! Look: Dude is trying to build a fuckin’ COALITION! HOW THE FUCK CAN HE HOPE TO DO THAT WHILE DUMPING ON THE GUN FANS??? Explain why his gun control goals are/were on his website. Explain why the Democrats have the same goals on their party platform Explain why HR 6257 was introduced to ban weapons as recent as 6/12/2008 Explain why gun owners should not fear the leadership in the senate who voted for the 1994 AW ban and are still in the Senate in 2008. Explain why the so called author of the 1994 Aw Ban, and who reintroduced it in 2004 being now the Vice President-elect should not concern gun owners. Nah, nothing to worry about here… give me a fucking break. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/42 "2008-11-15T15:48:53Z")
I think it’s safe to say that the biggest concern I have with President-elect Obama is his stance on gun rights. I voted for him despite that. I think it is likely some gun measure will pass at least one house during his presidency, and I just hope it will die in the other. We have more urgent issues right now than gun control, and it will only become an issue if he makes it one. I hope his disapproval of drama will keep it from becoming enacted. I think he is more likely to try to assist in location specific issues than a general gun control, (eg, cities), and I think he’s learned from the ‘bitter’ comment. Further, I think he’s more intelligent than most insofar as ‘thing that goes up’, and whatever position he takes, while it won’t be mine, won’t be blatantly stupid. I rather expect extended capacity magazines to be banned. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/43 "2008-11-15T15:57:46Z")
**E-Sabbath** , I think you’re being a little obtuse here, perhaps deliberately so. Pres.-Elect Obama doesn’t have to make it an issue; he has a prefectly willing hatchet man serving right beside him, and plenty of support in both chambers of Congress. He can “wash his hands” of the affair, even as he signs a “Bill Package” that gives millions of dollars of relief to kittens, puppies, and orphans (so the _eeee_-vil Pubbies don’t block it) and oh, by the way, also has the “2009 New-And-Improved-Comprehensive-This-Time-We-Really-Fucking-Mean-It-Assault-Weapons-Ban” tacked onto it. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/44 "2008-11-15T16:34:50Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Did you admit that that you were repeating other’s arguments, or did you pretend they were your own? > > There are, roughly speaking, two kinds of internet debaters: > One kind argues and debates becasue they enjoy the intellectual process. They understand that losing a debate is a good thing, as it makes you go and look facts up, find better arguments, or maybe even consider the possibility that the other guy has a good point. > > The other kind enjoys the visceral thrill of attacking someone, and the security blanket of repeating their own unquestioned beliefs. They think the purpose of a debate is to win. > You’re in the second group, and it’s not a group any adult should be proud to be in. ☹ I admitted that I needed a little help with a response. I was in no way attacking anyone or trying to win. Guess I’ll just slink off now… This is why I usually don’t participate in Great Debates. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/45 "2008-11-15T16:39:15Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > ☹ I admitted that I needed a little help with a response. I was in no way attacking anyone or trying to win. Guess I’ll just slink off now… This is why I usually don’t participate in Great Debates. Thanks. **furt** ’s being ridiculous. Pay him no mind. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/46 "2008-11-15T16:43:51Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > ☹ I admitted that I needed a little help with a response. I was in no way attacking anyone or trying to win. Guess I’ll just slink off now… This is why I usually don’t participate in Great Debates. Thanks. So a nameless fella on a SoIll message board said something about your guy that you didn’t like. So you came to this powerhouse of all things Obama looking for some help. I can understand that. Did you give credit for your stellar reply to the SoIll gent to the denizens of the SDMB? Or just walk away from that board feeling smug and superior with your reply? Do you feel better responding to a self described “anti-Obama Gun Freak” with words from someone else? ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/47 "2008-11-15T16:45:36Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > **furt** ’s being ridiculous. Pay him no mind. I think he is right on the money. I don’t know his brand of politics or his take on the issues. But on his point we both agree. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/48 "2008-11-15T17:10:05Z")
As you all know I’m a big Obama supporter, and I agree that he’ll probably sign some legislation tightening gun laws, and I would support that on an ideological basis. But form a political point of view I think it’s ultimately a losing issue for the Democrats, and hope that the House doesn’t bring it up. There are far more important things to be done than futz around with guns. I think that the situation we have now is about as good as a compromise as we can get. The Supreme Court – when they ruled on the DC gun laws – essentially endorsed the gun restrictions of cities like New York which is a de facto ban on handguns. Obama would be wise to not interfere. There are also no “single-issue, gun-banning liberals” to speak of, so he won’t lose votes for not pushing it. You take the gun issue off the table by gaining the trust of the 2nd Amendment voters. Hell it’s in the GD Constitution, it’s won’t be possible to restrict it much more anyway. I think it’s stupid and unnecessary that we’re the only industrialized nation with such archaic laws and such, but this is the situation that we have been given, and I see no way to change that. If you want to reduce guns, you’ll have to change the culture. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/49 "2008-11-15T17:12:23Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > ☹ I admitted that I needed a little help with a response. I was in no way attacking anyone or trying to win. Guess I’ll just slink off now… This is why I usually don’t participate in Great Debates. Thanks. **Furt** ’s response (“there can be only one!!! debate or die!!!”) says more about him than it does about Great Debates in general. Take the comment with a grain of salt the size of a planetary body. Me, I don’t see how Obama has political capital to waste on gun control. One, the Democrats don’t have their filibuster-proof majority; two, there are _two wars_ going on; three, there is an economic crisis; four, there are messes to clean up from the Bush administration, not the least of which is _strengthening_ the Constitution since Cheney pissed all over it. I doubt that a message of “destroy the 2nd amendment” is going to be compatible with “restore the 1st, 4th, 5th, and bits of the 6th through 9th amendments inclusively.” ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/50 "2008-11-15T17:18:00Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > From a local (Southern Illinois) message board Re: Obama: > > “I don’t have an axe to grind because of race. However, I don’t trust him at all about not tinkering with gun owners and what they will be allowed to have. He, after all, is supported by the Chicago political machine and they want to take all guns because they can’t control the guns in Chicago. He is going to be the perfect horse to ride. I think he is gullible enough to try and get the entire federal government to outlaw guns. That all being said, he fits the description\* morally as well. Most people won’t understand my feelings but he might as well be racist himself when I have owned a gun longer than he has been alive.” > > \*he had referred to Obama as a bastard. > > I’d like to hand this guy his lunch, but I’ve been going back and forth with him, to no avail. Help me! What would your response be? I’m not a fan of these types of OP. You get a response here and pass it off as your own when you talk to him. That’s weak sauce IMHO. If he’s so wrong, and clearly you think he is, you should be able to formulate a response that will communicate that to him. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/51 "2008-11-15T17:21:08Z")
Oops. I see someone further downthread has already pointed this out. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/52 "2008-11-15T17:23:03Z")
The gun loonies are correct. Obama is not concerned with the economy. the war or any of those problems. He is staying up nights trying to find a way to confiscate all guns. The reason he never brought it up ,was to hide the cabal of gun snatchers from view. But they are there. Waiting for you to go to work so they can use their unlimited search warrant rights to go into your homes and take your guns. As a practicing liberal ,I think we have too many guns in America and it is bad. Like most of us, I spend zero time thinking about guns, until the gun nutters start crying about imaginary rights being taken away. Nobody is after your damn guns. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/53 "2008-11-15T21:00:36Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > … As a practicing liberal ,I think we have too many guns in America and it is bad. Like most of us, I spend zero time thinking about guns, until the gun nutters start crying about imaginary rights being taken away. Nobody is after your damn guns. Imaginary rights. That’s a good one. Are you going to bring up pistols and the Second Amendment again? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/54 "2008-11-15T22:17:52Z")
I’m not trying to be obtuse, Ex. I’m saying that I’m hoping Obama has learned from the ‘bitter’ comment that gun control is something that people will raise a howl over. And we know he’s against drama. So unless and until we have another major shooting, I think gun control is probably not something that will come from him. When we do, I think we’re more likely to see specific measures to curb whatever happened, rather than a sweeping bill. Obama’s said, repeatedly, he’s not in favor of guns in the city at all. Heller kind of blocks that bill, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a variant. I think we’re more likely to see a region-focused bill rather than a sweeping national ban on any specific weapon. What a congresscritter gets up its mind to do, though, is something different, of course, and I do see some crazy mother trying to ban everything if the Dems maintain their dominance. I think this is one of the benefits of the Dems sliding towards the middle, less Dem concern about gun control from an ideological standpoint. But probably no bill near election time, and probably not this year at all, as they got seriously more important stuff to be dealing with. Edit: When I say ‘come from him’, I’m talking about originating from him, including Rahm and other sideways ways to get it on the table. Also, Gonzomax isn’t allowed to take part in gun discussions anymore. I think we can all agree on that. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/55 "2008-11-16T01:40:18Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The gun loonies are correct. Obama is not concerned with the economy. the war or any of those problems. He is staying up nights trying to find a way to confiscate all guns. The reason he never brought it up ,was to hide the cabal of gun snatchers from view. But they are there. Waiting for you to go to work so they can use their unlimited search warrant rights to go into your homes and take your guns. > As a practicing liberal ,I think we have too many guns in America and it is bad. Like most of us, I spend zero time thinking about guns, until the gun nutters start crying about imaginary rights being taken away. Nobody is after your damn guns. Congratulations, sir, you hit a density of strawmen per sentence that’s very difficult to achieve. Imaginary rights. I like that. I think there’s a long list of rights you could make the case for that are imaginary long before one specifically encoded in the Constitution as being worthy of enumerated protection, though. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/56 "2008-11-16T03:31:44Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Also, Gonzomax isn’t allowed to take part in gun discussions anymore. I think we can all agree on that. I got everything else you said, and you’re probably right; it’s the proliferation of these “gun” threads since right before the election that’s got me kinda jumpy. It’s almost as if a certain group of people of a particular ideological bent were trying to shove the whole “gun debate” back into the center of the public’s consciousness… …but to what end? As far as **gonzo’s** concerned, I reckon he’s free to participate in as many of these threads as he (she? I’m getting “him” vibes from “his” posts) desires to. And I’m free to ignore him, and giggle at his posts. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/57 "2008-11-16T03:43:51Z")
Ask him why he is such a pussy. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/58 "2008-11-16T04:49:51Z")
Again, didn’t realize I was being inappropriate. Thank you for again reminding me why I try to stay out of GD. Sincere thanks to those of you who were kind and informative without trying to belittle me. Carry on…I respectfully withdraw my participation in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/59 "2008-11-16T06:57:33Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > Explain why HR 6257 was introduced to ban weapons as recent as 6/12/2008. Interestinly [HR 6257](http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6257) was sponsored by a Republican, and three of the four co-sponsors are Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687/60 "2008-11-16T07:17:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Interestinly [HR 6257](http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-6257) was sponsored by a Republican, and three of the four co-sponsors are Republicans. Which should make a gun owner be less concerned? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respond-to-this-anti-obama-gun-freak/472687.md?page=4)