WASHINGTON D.C., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ — A strong majority of likely voters disagree with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on firearms and self-defense related issues, according to a just-released ATI-News/Zogby poll.
Brad O’Leary, president of ATI-News.com and author of “The Audacity of Deceit: Barack Obama’s War on American Values,” notes that opposition to Obama’s stance on these issues is widespread across multiple demographics.
Ban on Hunting Ammunition
In 2005, Senator Barack Obama voted in favor of legislation sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) that would have banned nearly all rifle ammunition used for hunting and sport shooting. This position puts Obama squarely at odds with over 75 percent of likely voters.
ATI-News/Zogby asked likely voters: “Do you support or oppose legislation to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting?”
Seventy-seven percent of likely voters said they oppose legislation to ban such commonly used ammunition, while only nine percent said they would support such a ban. A strong majority of Democrats (58 percent), Republicans (92 percent) and Independents (84 percent) all oppose the ammunition ban that Obama supported — as do 79 percent of military families. (This nationwide poll of 3,825 likely voters was conducted August 27-29 and has a margin of error +/- 1.6 percentage points.)
“This is just another example of how Obama’s extreme position on basic Second Amendment freedoms runs counter to the beliefs of most Americans,” said O’Leary.
Self-Defense
As an Illinois State Senator in 2004, Barack Obama voted against legislation that protects citizens, who use firearms in self-defense in their home or business in spite of local gun bans, from prosecution. Here again, the Obama position is counter to that of most Americans.
ATI-News/Zogby asked likely voters: “Do you agree or disagree that you have the right to use deadly force as a means of self-defense in your home, without having to retreat?”
Eighty-eight percent of likely voters agree that they should have this basic right to self-defense, while only eight percent disagreed. An overwhelming majority of Democrats (83 percent), Republicans (90 percent) and Independents (91 percent) all agree. (This nationwide poll of 974 likely voters was conducted August 15-18 and has a margin of error +/- 3.2 percentage points.)
Most state legislatures have already taken steps to strengthen this right. Thirty-three states now have “Castle Doctrine” laws that remove a person’s “duty to retreat” from any place he or she has a legal right to be. Of these states, twenty-two also prohibit criminals and their families from suing people who injure criminals in self-defense. Many of these laws have been enacted only in recent years, and more state legislatures are expected to follow suit in 2009 and beyond.
“Why would Obama vote to make it more difficult for citizens to protect their homes, businesses and families from life-threatening criminal attacks?” asked O’Leary. Americans need to question whether or not they agree with the ‘change’ Obama could bring to their basic rights and freedoms.”
For more of O’Leary’s view on Obama’s positions and the views of likely voters, go to www.BarackObamaTest.com.
