Obama’s Protracted Battle With The NRA And Second Amendment Supporters

by Don Azarias
February 16, 2013
“Jesus asked the apostles, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ [Then] He said to them, ‘But now the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one.’’’— Luke 22:35-39
Those Biblical words came from the Son of God, the Real Messiah, the Kings of Kings. No man can challenge its veracity and no man can alter its true meaning. I would say that, if Jesus and his apostles were here today, they would be members of the NRA.
While President Barack Obama, together with his Democratic allies and the National Rifle Association (NRA) are entangled in a Constitutional labyrinth with regard to the Second Amendment, there are indications that it would be a brutal and deeply emotional battle between the parties involved.
The NRA through the Web video accused Obama of hypocrisy for having Secret Service agents protect his daughters even as he opposes the NRA’s call for armed guards in schools.
It opens with a narrator asking, “Are the president’s kids more important than yours? Then why is he skeptical about putting armed security in our schools when his kids are protected by armed guards at their school?” The video continues, “Mr. Obama demands that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes but he’s just another elitist hypocrite when it comes to a fair share of security.”
On his way to a second term in office Obama, aside from his protracted battle with the NRA regarding gun control, is facing tempestuous political battles over the national debt ceiling, taxes, spending cuts and immigration overhaul with a recalcitrant Congress particularly the U.S. House of Representatives. And, for that, the American people should be grateful. The absence of opposition from this branch of the federal government would allow Obama to rule by fiat which is contrary to the Founding Fathers’ intent.
After that deadly shooting rampage at an elementary school in Connecticut that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults, Obama unveiled a tough package of measures to curb what he said was “an epidemic” of gun violence. They include proposed legislation to ban the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines and to expand background checks. He also announced a raft of 23 steps that he could take by executive action alone without requiring congressional consent.
However, critics claim that Obama is trying to take advantage of the situation for his political gain. They are saying that Obama is calling for things his administration could have pursued since he took office four years ago. Many of the executive actions “initiated” today either enforce or reinforce existing laws and statutes.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) went even further with his criticism. He released a statement shortly after today’s signing ceremony that reads:
“Nothing the President is proposing would have stopped the massacre at Sandy Hook. President Obama is targeting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens instead of seriously addressing the real underlying causes of such violence. Rolling back responsible citizens’ rights is not the proper response to tragedies committed by criminals and the mentally ill. Making matters worse is that President Obama is again abusing his power by imposing his policies via executive fiat instead of allowing them to be debated in Congress. President Obama’s frustration with our republic and the way it works doesn’t give him license to ignore the Constitution.”
Rubio further reiterated the American peoples’ overwhelming sentiment in their support of the Second Amendment:
“Guns are not the problem; criminals with evil in their hearts and mentally ill people prone to violence are. Rather than sweeping measures that make it harder for responsible, law-abiding citizens to purchase firearms, we should focus on the root causes of gun violence and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.”
Yet each time tragic incidents, involving the use of firearms, happen, Obama and his misguided allies always point their accusing fingers at the NRA. Like them, not very many people know that, in order to further its cause, the venerable NRA organization created the NRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It’s sole purpose is to raise tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans. And, working in tandem with various government law-enforcement agencies and private entities, these activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance markmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context. Funds granted by The NRA Foundation benefit a variety of constituencies throughout the United States including children, youth, women, individuals with physical disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters and competitive shooters.
Maybe it’s about time for the NRA to start tooting its horn if that’s the only way it can disabuse those people of their misconceptions or preconceived notions.
As expected, the legislative part of Obama’s package drew predictable and heavy opposition from the gun lobby and Republicans and is even drawing resistance from some members of his own party.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D-Nevada), for instance, says that while an assault-style weapons ban might pass the Senate, he doubts it could pass the Republican-led House. Reid said immigration tops his priority list after the upcoming fiscal fights—not gun control.
Sen. Reid, thanks for your candor for saying that, “immigration tops your priority list after the upcoming fiscal fights—not gun control.” I wish I could give you the benefit of doubt, but I can’t. The truth is you are only taking that stance because you know darn well that Obama’s executive orders to override the Second Amendment is unconstitutional that no Congressional lawmaker, in his right mind, would be foolish enough to support. Maybe it’s about time that you stop insulting American people’s intelligence, for a change.
Make no mistake, Sen. Reid, that those law-abiding citizens and the NRA will never surrender their right to keep and bear arms because that right is enshrined in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.