Today, as President of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA), I announced our endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Because the gun issue has recently become a factor in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, I want to share the remarks I made today:

As a gun rights organization we have not come to this decision lightly. We were formed two years ago because our research shows that millions of gun owners wanted a change. They not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection of their communities as well as the protection of our lands. We reached out to the Obama campaign several weeks ago to offer our support and approval as was reported by Paul Bedard of US News and World Report. We believe recent attacks on Senator Obama's stand on the 2nd Amendment and his commitment to our hunting and shooting heritage are unfair and American Hunters and Shooters Association is stepping up to set the record straight.

Senator Obama has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the 2nd Amendment by his vote in support of the Vitter amendment to HR 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill of 2007. This amendment prevents the Government from confiscating guns in a time of crisis or emergency. Imagine how the citizens felt during Hurricane Katrina when government agents kicked in doors to confiscate law abiding citizens' guns at a time when they needed them the most. We know Senator Obama "gets it." To say that he is an elitist is patently ridiculous. To hunters and shooters everywhere, Senator Obama's vote demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the meaning of the 2nd Amendment which means he recognizes the individual right of all citizens to keep and bear arms. Senator Clinton, on the hand, failed to grasp the importance of this critical issue to hunters and shooters and voted against this Amendment. She turned her back on America's gun owners. In addition, Senator Obama's commitment to conservation and protection of our natural resources and access to public lands demonstrates to us his commitment to America's hunting and shooting heritage. Senator Obama will be a strong and authentic voice for America's hunters and shooters and it is with great pleasure that we endorse his candidacy.

-Ray Schoenke

LOLOAD



Google ol' Ray Schoenke Neo

this guys financially supports Handgun Control, Inc. and America Coming Together




and he has run for democratic office, so ya he is out of touch.

and how dare you even mention this group so close to the passing of Charelton Heston!!!!

i think Neo was employing the age old rhetorical device known as sarcasm...

Obama gets the endorsement of the American Hunters and Shooters Association....Must be some out of touch, liberal elitist group.

Enough already! Pale is talking about protecting you from being deleted and/or thrown off BOL. Your constant provocation is wearing thin with a lot of people here. I've tried to suggest that you debate the issues instead of pulling out page after page of published opinions in an effort to raise the hackles of others or merely throw more questions out without answering those posed to you. Here's my last hint: If you sense the tone of a political debate is getting angry, it's time to back off.