John McCain is trying mightily to gain some advantage, any advantage out of today's Supreme Court decision overturning DC's ban on handguns.
From The Hill:
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) immediately seized on the Supreme Court's ruling that Americans have the right to bear arms and slammed his presidential rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on the issue."Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to guns out of bitterness, today's ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right -- sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly," McCain said, referencing a major Obama campaign gaffe.
Throwing at wall. Not sticking.
The problem for McCain here is that rehashing bitter gate is pretty much all he has because he and Senator Obama really aren't all that far apart on this issue. Barack Obama has released a statement of support for the Heller decision and for the position that the second amendment does protect the right to bear arms.
"I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures. The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view, and while it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe. Today's ruling, the first clear statement on this issue in 127 years, will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country."As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals. Today's decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe.
By essentially agreeing with McCain, Obama takes gun control off the table as a wedge issue and leaves McCain with very little to point to distinguishing between their positions.
So he went with this:
McCain also pointed out that his Democratic rival did not join him in signing an amicus brief in the case.
Ahh, the old signed the amicus brief trick. I'm sure that will take off like wildfire.
I'm concerned about the precedent this decision is setting for gun laws in place in cities around the country but Obama is choosing his battles and I'd agree that politically, this is not one worth waging right now.
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