Speaking at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis, “President Barack Obama said that if gun control measures are going to pass Congress, gun control advocates have to get as organized and well-financed as the National Rifle Association.” [Click here for full video if you dare.] “Honestly this is not going to change unless the people who want to prevent these kinds of mass shootings from taking place feel at least as passionate, at least as mobilized and well-funded as the NRA and the gun manufacturers are because the politics in Congress are such where even members of Congress who know better are fearful if they vote their conscience and support common sense measures like background checks, they’re worried they’re going to lose.” Roger that: they are going to lose. Because their constituents reject gun control. The Prez also . . .
. . . reflected back on the December 2012 elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, and said he thought that would have prompted Congress to take action.
“Since legislation has been controversial for some time, I thought that this was going to be a breakthrough moment,” Obama said. “It was probably the most disappointing moment I had in dealing with Congress.”
“This is the only advanced country that tolerates something like this,” Obama said. “We have what’s basically a mass shooting it seems like happening once every couple of weeks. Kids on college campuses, kids at home. We are not going to be able to eliminate all of that violence, and there is a strong tradition of gun ownership and wonderful folks who are sportsmen and hunters. I respect all that.
We should be able to take some basic common sense steps that by the way are supported by most responsible gun owners, like having background checks so you can’t just walk into a store and buy a semi-automatic. It’s something I’m going to keep on talking about.”
Get that? Obama respects sportsmen and hunters. But not you, Bubba. Not you who believes that your right to keep and bear arms is a natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right – regardless of why you want to do exercise it.
Which reminds me, msnbc.com reports that the Democrats are also talking about bringing back some mo’ federal gun control. With a bit of luck they’ll shout it from the rooftops, to help get out the pro-gun vote. That’s the kind of change I hope for.