Debbie Schlussel: The Disconnect of Obama Gun-Owners: Only Palin Gets It on This One
The two most important rights we have are enunciated in the First and Second Amendments.
And one of the things I do like about Sarah Palin is that of all the four candidates on the two major Presidential tickets, she's the only one who really gets it and is spot on, regarding the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Unlike Palin, John McCain has not always been so solid on this issue, as long-time Second Amendment supporters know. But he's a heckuva lot better than Barack "Bitter Gun-and-Religion Clingers" Obama.
That's why I found myself scratching my head a month ago when I took a day-long course required in Michigan to obtain a Concealed Pistol License (CPL), also known as a permit to Conceal and Carry a Weapon (CCW).
Most of the class and most of the instructors were Black. Out of 17 people in the class, only five were White. At least one of the Black gun-owners in the class was wearing an Obama T-Shirt. And during the break, I heard many of the Black classmates talking about their excitement for Barack Obama and his chances at winning the Presidency.
Don't they know, I wondered, that this is the guy--Obama--who called people like them "bitter" and that they are not gun-owners but gun "cling[ers]"? Don't they know, I thought to myself, that Obama is completely opposed to the ultimate reason for this class, which is the right to conceal and carry a weapon for protection?
This was before the Palin selection as McCain's Veep choice, but still, it's indisputable that McCain is far stronger on solid Second Amendment rights than Obama, who seems to believe the Bill of Rights skips from One to Three.
Yes, there is a significant disconnect between Black gun-owners, especially those who seek CPLs, and the man many of them will vote for based on common skin color, but not common degrees of safety and security.
In all fairness, I must note that the terrific head instructor and owner of this excellent firearm academy, Rick Ector of Rick's Firearm Academy--who is Black--told me that he will hold his nose and vote for McCain because of the Second Amendment. I give him a lot of credit for being true to his principles and an independent thinker.
Incidentally, if you live in the Detroit area, I highly recommend Rick's Firearm Academy. I learned a lot, and so did experienced long-time gun-owners in the class. Here's video of Rick Ector's instruction.
Posted by Debbie on October 6, 2008 10:01 AM to Debbie Schlussel