America's Hunters And Sportsmen Expected To Take It On The Chin In Obama's Belated War On Terror

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Dec. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

As expected, Barack Obama has shifted the blame for the San Bernardino terrorist attack away from his failed national security policies and towards the nation's law-abiding firearm owners.  In his special address tonight from the Oval Office, Obama called for measures that would seriously abridge a citizen's rights under the 2^nd and 5^th Amendments.

During the course of his address this evening, Obama more than hinted that he is seeking a ban on semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns.  There is absolutely no rational basis for Obama to demand such a ban.  In fact, the terrorists' choice of weapons probably saved a number of lives last week.  Had they opted to employ pump-action shotguns, the terrorists could have killed and wounded many more people given the confined close quarters of the crime scene.  Nevertheless, semiautomatic firearms often present a somewhat aggressive physical appearance to the uninitiated.  As such, semiautomatic firearms may instill a degree of apprehension in people not familiar with firearms.  Obama is purposefully exploiting fears based on cosmetic appearance to advance a political agenda that includes ending civilian firearm ownership.

Obama also called for Congress to pass a law prohibiting persons on the so-called "No-Fly List" from being able to purchase a firearm.  At first blush this proposal may make sense.  However, a closer look uncovers serious due-process issues when employing this mysterious list to disqualify citizens from purchasing firearms.  Like many others, the ISRA has a number of questions about this list.  Who controls the No-Fly List?  What are the criteria for being placed on the list?  By whose authority are individuals placed on that list?  May a citizen challenge his/her placement on the list?  How does one get off the list?  It doesn't take a lot of foresight to see how the Obama Administration could use the No-Fly list to harass political opponents.

Probably the most cynical moment of tonight's address was when Obama encouraged the nation to come together as one people.  According to Obama, the nation needs to make friends with everyone – everyone except the nation's lawful firearm owners, that is.  Obama is really going to have to do better than that to win our support.  As it stands, we view tonight's song and dance by Obama to be nothing more than that – a song and dance.

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The ISRA is the state's leading advocate for safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership.  For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

WEB SITE: http://www.isra.org

SOURCE Illinois State Rifle Association

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http://www.isra.org