Thursday, July 19, 2012

W.H. inaction doesn’t win gun enthusiasts

President Barack Obama hasn’t done much of anything to curb Americans’ gun rights.
Despite his 2008 campaign pledges, he hasn’t pushed to reinstate the assault weapons ban. And he hasn’t tried to force background checks on people who buy firearms from unlicensed dealers at gun shows.
In fact, he’s barely said a word about guns during his presidency, other than urging “the beginning of a new discussion” on the issue after then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot.
But the National Rifle Association and many gun enthusiasts still deeply distrust and fear him.
The powerful gun rights group — which is setting aside at least $40 million to defeat Obama in November — claims he would gut the Second Amendment in his second term through a series of domestic or international moves that he’s been hesitant to advance over the past three-plus years.
Gun and ammunition sales, which rocketed when Obama took office, are again on the rise as owners stockpile weaponry in part because they’re afraid those won’t be available if he wins reelection, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a firearms industry trade group.
“He’s his own stimulus plan for the gun industry,” Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) said.
“I get the [NRA] magazine. I think he’s on the cover nine out of 10 times,” added Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska).

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