Democratic hopefuls vary a bit on death penalty (Obama on carry permits)

Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty ^ | February 20, 2004 | David Mendell

[jdege]

Democratic hopefuls vary a bit on death penalty

By David Mendell
Chicago Tribune staff reporter
February 20, 2004

This story contains corrected material, published Feb. 21, 2004.

Leading Democrats seeking their party's nomination to the U.S. Senate generally agree that laws governing capital punishment, drugs and guns should be overhauled, although they differ about how that should be accomplished and the role of the federal government in that process.

[...]

All of the candidates endorsed stricter gun-control measures, but each said tougher enforcement of existing gun-control laws should be a priority over the introduction of new laws.

Each candidate supported closing loopholes that allow gun shows to sell weapons to unauthorized buyers. Each also advocated the renewal of a federal ban on the sale of assault weapons, which expires in September.

Obama, however, called for a host of new gun-control measures: strengthening the assault-weapons ban to include high-capacity clips made prior to 1994; holding parents criminally responsible for children who injure someone with a gun found in the home; placing trigger locks on all guns; and allowing gun buyers to purchase only one weapon per month.

Hynes advocated increasing penalties for crimes committed with a gun, and Hull would increase funding to update technology that provides instant background checks on gun buyers.

All of the candidates, except Hynes, said they opposed allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons. Hynes and Chico said states, not the federal government, should regulate the matter.

"I consider this an issue for the states to decide, not the federal government," Chico said.

Obama disagreed. He backed federal legislation that would ban citizens from carrying weapons, except for law enforcement. He cited Texas as an example of a place where a law allowing people to carry weapons has "malfunctioned" because hundreds of people granted licenses had prior convictions.

"National legislation will prevent other states' flawed concealed-weapons laws from threatening the safety of Illinois residents," Obama said.

[...]

[jdege]

I've been reading a forum by a purportedly pro-gun Obama supporter. He's been claiming that Obama and McCain are indistinguishable on guns. Certainly McCain is by no means perfect on guns (though he did sign on to the Heller brief).

I've tried to post comments pointing to this URL, which I believe clearly indicates the differences, but he's running a moderated forum, and has refused to approve my posts.

Fine. It's his site, and his rules.

But I've not seen much reference to this URL. I've seen the claim that Obama wants to forbid carry permits by all states repeatedly endlessly in a widely-copied talking-points memo, but I've seen almost no reference to the story itself.

Well, here it is. Obama isn't being quoted out of context, he's very clearly advocating a federal law to prohibit states from issuing carry permits.

This needs wider distribution.

[WayneS]

“Each candidate supported closing loopholes that allow gun shows to sell weapons to unauthorized buyers. “

Wow. I’ve bought weapons AT gun shows (and went through the REQUIRED back-ground check I might add; thereby PROVING that there IS no “loophole”).

But, I have NEVER been able to buy a weapon FROM a gun show before. How do they do that?

[wastedyears]

I do agree that firearms laws should be overhauled.

Get rid of them.

[calex59]

Too bad, it doesn’t matter what the a**hat wants, he isn’t going to get it. Such a law has been declared null and void by the Heller decision. Lots of people don’t think so as yet, but they will. Obama is NOT for firearms freedom, he declared the DC gun ban constitutional way back about January of this year and once in Nov or Dec of 2007. He is lying his tail off now in order to get votes from pro-gun people. Follow the NRAs lead on Obama and you won’t go wrong. He gets an F from them.

[RipSawyer]

Democrat goals:
1. Abolish the death penalty for criminals no matter how heinous the crime.

2. Permit the death penalty for infants already born.

3. Deny law-abiding citizens the means to defend themselves from killers.

And they say we conservatives are inconsistent! Those who still don’t believe there is a worldwide conspiracy to destroy America with the Democrat party as its instrument of destruction need to wake up and smell the rot.

[neverdem]

Candidates' gun control positions may figure in Pa. vote

All three candidates oppose creating a national handgun registry.

Rather than create a national registry, "I do think we have to do a better job sharing information between local and federal officials," Obama said yesterday. He differs with McCain and Clinton about whether people should be allowed to carry concealed guns. Clinton and McCain oppose outlawing it.

"I am not in favor of concealed weapons," Obama said. "I think that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations."