I blogged Barack’s ballistic bromide back in the day. In fact, the last time the CIC’s pro-2A note to a “sportsman” was on the block I offered Alexander Autographs a grand for ownership. And lost. I guess the autograph’s owner has hit hard times in the Obama economy. Or maybe he or she realizes that the Prez’s lack of initiative on the gun control front limits the note’s future value. Anyway, it’s listed at $6k – $7k. Worth it? We shall see. Meanwhile, Barack’s a Jr.? Who knew? Make the jump for the fascinating if slightly misleading story behind Sale 48 Lot 1214 . . .
BARACK H. OBAMA, JR. (b. 1961)
The 44th and current President of the United States, and the first African American to hold the office. Very rare A.L.S. as President on his White House correspondence card, 1p. 8vo., [n.p., n.d.].
Obama replies to letter dated Feb. 18, 2009 (copy included with the lot), penned by a gentleman who had expressed concern about the newly-elected President’s stance on the Second Amendment. The writer, a sportsman and conservationist, asks of Obama:
“…I’m a strong supporter of gun safety and mandatory hunter education lessons…We (sportsmen) already almost entirely support wildlife conservation, through present hunting license fees, taxes, waterfowl stamps, habitat stamps…If you make hunting ammo/guns so expensive that we cannot afford to hunt…where will the funds for wildlife come from?…Are these (legally bought sporting guns and ammo) a primary contributor in the majority of crimes?…Are we law abiding Sportsmen going to have to pay the price for another problem?
I only hope that prior to your making decisions on bans, excise taxes, laws, etc. that you look at the facts proven historically by other countries’ attempts to control gun violence. Most recently…Australia imposed a ban/surrender law forcing individuals to give up their firearms, which the Government then destroyed….The Results? Within 1 years’ time, homicides up 3.2%, assaults up 8.6%…homicides with firearms are now up 300%! Can you please put my mind at ease…“.
Obama responds , in full:
“I believe in the 2nd Amendment, and the rights of Sportsmen like you. Period. Sincerely Barack Obama“.
With original envelope, fine. Obama’s pre-election anti-gun stance led the NRA to actively lobby against him. Indeed gun sales soared after his defeat of John McCain. Less than a week before this letter was penned and in the wake of a shooting which left five dead on Northern Illinois University’s campus, Obama took another aggressive stance against gun violence, stating that the country must do “whatever it takes” to stem the tide of senseless shootings.
However, he had also famously expressed his support for individuals’ rights to bear arms, adding that “commonsense regulation” was also necessary, leaving Americans – particularly hunters – questioning whether his support of the Second Amendment was actually genuine and guessing as to whether he would eventually yield to gun control advocates. With similar shootings in 2012, both candidates Obama and Romney have remained silent on gun control.
Estimate $ 6,000-7,000