Poll proves strong American majority opposes Obama's position on guns

12:10am Thursday, September 04, 2008

By Chad D. Baus

According to an Associated Television News/ Zogby poll, a strong majority of likely voters disagree with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on firearms and self-defense related issues, and that the opposition to Obama's stance on these issues is widespread across multiple demographics.

One poll question focused on Federal legislation Obama supported in 2005 that would have banned nearly all rifle ammunition used for hunting and sport shooting.

This topic is especially interesting, given faux "lifelong Republican" hunter Tony Dean's support for Barack Obama, maintaining he is "99 percent sure a President Obama isn't going to infringe on gun rights."

Dean's support for anti-gun Democrats over the past four election cycles seems based largely on his belief in the concept of human-caused global warming, and on the notion that they won't come for his favorite trap gun (despite all their statements and votes to the contrary).

But do likely voters share the beliefs of hunter-environmentalists like Tony Dean and his ilk?

From the ATI-News press release:

Ban on Hunting Ammunition

In 2005, Senator Barack Obama voted in favor of legislation sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) that would have banned nearly all rifle ammunition used for hunting and sport shooting. This position puts Obama squarely at odds with over 75 percent of likely voters.

ATI-News/Zogby asked likely voters: "Do you support or oppose
legislation to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting?"

Seventy-seven percent of likely voters said they oppose legislation to ban such commonly used ammunition, while only nine percent said they would support such a ban. A strong majority of Democrats (58 percent), Republicans (92 percent) and Independents (84 percent) all oppose the ammunition ban that Obama supported -- as do 79 percent of military families. (This nationwide poll of 3,825 likely voters was conducted August 27-29 and has a margin of error +/- 1.6 percentage points.)

Clearly, the majority of Americans (even non-gun owners) are more protective of the Second Amendment than are pro-hunting environmentalists like Tony Dean.

In another poll question, Zogby inquired as to American's views on Self Defense.

Self-Defense

As an Illinois State Senator in 2004, Barack Obama voted against legislation that protects citizens, who use firearms in self-defense in their home or business in spite of local gun bans, from prosecution. Here again, the Obama position is counter to that of most Americans.

ATI-News/Zogby asked likely voters: "Do you agree or disagree that you have the right to use deadly force as a means of self-defense in your home, without having to retreat?"

Eighty-eight percent of likely voters agree that they should have this basic right to self-defense, while only eight percent disagreed. An overwhelming majority of Democrats (83 percent), Republicans (90 percent) and Independents (91 percent) all agree. (This nationwide poll of 974 likely voters was conducted August 15-18 and has a margin of error +/- 3.2 percentage points.)

Most state legislatures have already taken steps to strengthen this right. Thirty-three states now have "Castle Doctrine" laws that remove a person's "duty to retreat" from any place he or she has a legal right to be. Of these states, twenty-two also prohibit criminals and their families from suing people who injure criminals in self-defense. Many of these laws have been enacted only in recent years, and more state legislatures are expected to follow suit in 2009 and beyond.

Once again, it is clear that the vast majority of Americans are stronger supporters of the right to bear arms for self-defense than are hunters who put their theories about the environment ahead of the need to elect leaders who will protect the Second Amendment.

"Why would Obama vote to make it more difficult for citizens to protect their homes, businesses and families from life-threatening criminal attacks?" asked Brad O'Leary, president of ATI-News.com. "Americans need to question whether or not they agree with the 'change' Obama could bring to their basic rights and freedoms."

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.

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