In Tuesday’s presidential debate, President Obama said that he supported a ban on “assault weapons” and implied that he supports restrictions on “cheap handguns” too. No surprises there. As detailed on www.GunBanObama.com and www.GunBanFacts.com, Obama supported banning both types of firearms and many more when he was in the Illinois legislature, and supported banning “assault weapons” when he ran for the White House in 2008, a position he reiterated in the most recent presidential debate.
Obama’s admission, on national TV, no less, should put to rest his supporters’ phony denials about his long anti-gun record and his supposed support for the Second Amendment.
However, Obama’s candor wasn’t enough for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg–the self-styled Field Marshal of the War on Soda Pop, Salt, Trans Fats, Baby Formula and, of course, the Second Amendment. On Wednesday, America’s most bothersome billionaire busybody said that Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney–who during the debate reiterated his opposition to any new gun control restrictions–had fallen short of his expectations. Thus, Bloomberg said, he intends to form a special political action committee (a so-called “super PAC”) to spend millions of dollars backing candidates who support his gun control agenda, and agree with him on other social issues.
Of course, instead of calling plays from the bleachers, Bloomberg could run for president and let the American people be his judge. But Bloomberg knows that while people are impressed by the size of his bank account, few west of the Hudson River care what thinks on any issue.
And besides that, the American people have already spoken on the subject of guns. Gun ownership is at an all-time high, gun restrictions are the least restrictive they have been since before the imposition of the Gun Control Act of 1968, and a series of Gallup polls beginning in 1990 and 1959, respectively, show that support for gun control in general, and a handgun ban in particular, have fallen to periodic lows.
The political power of a Bloomberg super PAC should not be underestimated, but gun owners hardly need another reason to vote this year. The presidential election highlights a clear choice between the two candidates’ views when it comes to your gun rights. And when you think about the difference between Gov. Romney’s running mate, long time hunter Rep. Paul Ryan, and Vice-President Joe Biden, it makes you wish you could vote twice.
But if every one of us votes and makes sure that our fellow gun owners do as well, one vote apiece will be enough to send the message loudly and clearly enough for even hardheads like Bloomberg to hear.