During the event, a woman told Obama she had “heard a rumor” that he might be planning some sort of gun ban upon being elected president. Obama trotted out his standard policy stance, that he had a deep respect for the “traditions of gun ownership” but favored measures in big cities to keep guns out of the hands of “gang bangers and drug dealers’’ in big cities “who already have them and are shooting people.”
“If you've got a gun in your house, I’m not taking it,’’ Obama said. But the Illinois senator could still see skeptics in the crowd, particularly on the faces of several men at the back of the room.
So he tried again. “Even if I want to take them away, I don’t have the votes in Congress,’’ he said. “This can’t be the reason not to vote for me. Can everyone hear me in the back? I see a couple of sportsmen back there. I’m not going to take away your guns.’’
Soap Box Ravings believes that when you combine his actual statement with his past demonstrated behavior that Barack Hussein Obama will in fact come for your guns if he gets "the votes in Congress." He is backed by many wealthy people who are totally against the private ownership of firearms. The last go around demonized "assault rifles" and assault rifle look alikes regardless of the fact they were not assault rifles. Stand by, if he is elected, he will be after your firearms. Soap Box Ravings says be very wary of anyone who uses the word BUT in their response to anything you have an interest in; regardless of what it is.
Senator "Bill" Nelson and The Democrat Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama This is a response Soap Box Ravings received from Senator Bill Nelson regarding Soap Box Ravings' comments forwarded to the Senator:
Please do not reply to this e-mail. If you need to send another message to Senator Nelson, please use the form on his Web site: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm#email
Dear Soap Box Ravings:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Supreme Court ruling in the case of D.C. v. Heller. As you are aware, this ruling upheld a constitutional right to own guns for self-defense and hunting.
In 1976, the District of Columbia's City Council passed legislation that strongly restricted firearms in the District. The law banned all handguns unless they were owned and registered in the District before 1977. The Court's 5-4 ruling on June 26, 2008, struck down the District of Columbia's 32-year-old ban on handguns as incompatible with gun rights under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
I support the constitutional right to bear arms. I grew up on a ranch in the Florida countryside and have been a hunter since I was a boy. But, I also support efforts to reduce gun violence and promote firearms safety.
I will keep your views in mind whenever the issue of gun control is debated in the Senate. Your communication is important to me and enables me to serve you and the citizens of Florida.
P.S. From time to time, I compile electronic news briefs highlighting key issues and hot topics of particular importance to Floridians. If you'd like to receive these e-briefs, visit my Web site and sign up for them at http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/ebriefs.cfm=
Soap Box Ravings would like for any reader to note the use of the word "but" in the response. Soap Box Ravings spent 30 years in the military plus another 15 years in law enforcement where he handled and was responsible for many types of weapons large and small. Soap Box Ravings has been a qualified small arms instructor for over 25 years with certifications from the US Navy, the State of Florida and the National Rifle Association. Soap Box Ravings will bet a $100 to a donut that Senator Bill Nelson's support of efforts to reduce gun violence and promote firearms safety will be unreasonable and restrictive to firearms ownership.
Senator Mel MartinezThis is a response Soap Box Ravings received from Senator Mel Martinez regarding Soap Box Ravings' comments forwarded to Senator Martinez, the comments forwarded to him were the same comments forwarded to Senator Bill Nelson:
Dear Soap Box Ravings:
Thank you for contacting me regarding gun rights in Washington D.C. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.
It is clear to me that when our Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution, they included the Second Amendment to guarantee people the right to keep and bear arms. That right is an individual right that should be afforded the same protection as any other individual right in our Constitution. I can assure you that I will keep your thoughtful comments in mind should any gun control legislation come before the Senate during the 110th Congress.
In 1976, the City Council for District of Columbia passed legislation governing the regulation of handguns within D.C. On June 26, 2008, the United States Supreme Court issued a 5-4 opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller.In Heller the Supreme Court concluded that D.C.'s gun ban is unconstitutional because it requires that any firearms in the home be disassembled or use firearms for the core, lawful purpose of self-defense.
Despite this clear pronouncement from the Supreme Court in Heller,the D.C. government has not yet acted to correct its gun regulations. That is why I have supported H.R. 6842, the National Capital Security and Safety Act, which passed by the House of Representatives on September 17, 2008. This bill, like H.R. 6691 - the bill referenced in your letter - requires the District of Columbia to revise its firearms laws and regulations as necessary to comply with Heller.I hope this legislation will be supported by the Senate and have joined in Senator Hutchison's September 17, 2008 letter to Senator Reid calling for H.R. 6842 to be brought to a vote before the Senate as soon as possible.
Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Mel Martinez
United States Senator
Soap Box Ravings would like the reader to note the absence of the word "but" and commends Senator Martinez for his stance on this matter. Do not get me wrong, Senator Martinez and I are not always in agreement but normally he waffles a lot less than Senator Nelson. Also, the fact that he signed his e-mail makes it seem like he also showed more interest in my concerns.
