A lot of us have seen some version of this image floating around. Luckily, Goon Anybody debunked it for us back in August:
Sportsmen
Barack Obama did not grow up hunting and fishing, but he recognizes the great conservation legacy of America’s hunters and anglers and has great respect for the passion that hunters and anglers have for their sport. Were it not for America’s hunters and anglers, including the great icons like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our nation would not have the tradition of sound game management, a system of ethical, science-based game laws and an extensive public lands estate on which to pursue the sport. Obama recognizes that we must forge a broad coalition if we are to address the great conservation challenges we face. America’s hunters and anglers are a key constituency that must take an active role and have a powerful voice in this coalition.
From Factcheck:
Taking the postcard’s points in turn, the first one refers to a questionnaire his campaign filled out for a community group in Chicago when he first ran for Illinois state Senate in 1996. This isn’t the first time this candidate survey has come back to haunt him — nor is it the first time we’ve written about it. At the debate in Philadelphia last month, Obama denied that his handwriting was on the questionnaire completed for the Chicago nonprofit, Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization.
He was wrong about that — his handwriting appears on a small part of the document — but he has continued to maintain that a campaign aide filled out the bulk of it, including the multipart question asking if he supported state legislation to ban assault weapons; ban manufacture, sale and possession of handguns; and require waiting periods and background checks before gun purchases. He answered “Yes” on all counts.
Obama says the answers misrepresent his position. “I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns,” he said at the Philadelphia debate.
We can’t say for sure if he did or not. We haven’t been able to find any evidence that he acted on it if he did. In the Illinois Senate, he voted for gun control, including limiting handgun purchases to one a month, but no attempts at a ban that we are aware of. And he didn’t advocate a handgun ban when he was running for U.S. Senate. Still, the reason for the answer on the questionnaire remains unclear.
He has voted on 8 different gun issues:
1, He voted on a bill to give higher penalties for using “armor piercing rounds” in a crime. (this was considered a neutral vote). (bill passed)
2,He voted for allowing persons under 17 to sue weapons manufacturers as long as it was a suit that could be won by an adult (this is labeled Vote against gun manufacturers) (amendment did not pass)
3, He voted for a trigger lock law requiring that a trigger lock be provided with every handgun transfer. Law did not apply to private sales. The law also provided immunity from liability for those that use “secure gun storage or safety device with a handgun” (this is labeled vote against gun owners) (this bill passed)
4,He voted for a change to a bill that would actually define “gross negligence or reckless conduct” in reguards to gun manufacturers (this is labeled against gun manufacturers) (this amendment was tabled and never brought up again)
5,He voted for allowing persons under 17 to sue weapons manufacturers as long as it was a suit that could be won by an adult (this is labeled Vote against gun manufacturers) (amendment did not pass) (yes they tried twice)
6,He voted for an amendment that directed the AG to take on a new job of “determining standards to decide what ammunition is capable of penetrating “body armor exemplar”. Any ammunition (handgun or rifle) that the AG determines to be ‘armor piercing’ is added to the legal list of ammunition to be ‘armor piercing’. From that point forward it would be illegal to sell that ammo. (this is listed as against gun owners) (amendment did not pass)
7, Voted against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in arms act. and I quote “this bill ends current and prevents future liability lawsuits.” Yeah you cant sue a gun manufacturer. (this is labeled Vote against gun manufacturers) (this bill passed and is now law.)
8, voted for a prohibition of any Dept. of Homeland security budget from being used to confiscate guns. that would include allocations to state and local law enforcement. (this is labeled as a vote for gun owners) (this bill passed).
There you go. All his gun votes in the Senate.
Oh and just for chuckles here are a few of Mccains “against gun oweners/manufacturer” votes.
He voted against and then for the Clinton assault weapons ban.
Co-sponsored the McCain / Lieberman Gun Show Loophole Bill (never brought to vote)
Sponsored Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2003 (never brought to vote)
Child Safety Lock Act of 2005 (voted against gun manufacturers)And holy shit I just don’t really know what to say about “GIVE CRIMINALS THE RIGHT TO VOTE”
