Washington Interns

On Thursday, Presidential candidate, Senator John McCain stated that he agreed with the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule the D.C. gun ban. McCain called ruling a “landmark victory for Second Amendment freedom” Voicing a stance that could help him win over conservatives and libertarians, McCain said, “This ruling does not mark the end of our struggle against those who seek to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens. We must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms.”

On the other hand, Senator Barack Obama tried to avoid the issue by saying that he favors an individual’s right to bear firearms as well as a government’s right to regulate them. In an attempt to appeal to moderates and the more liberal, Obama said local governments should be able to regulate guns, but did not say as to whether he agreed with the Court’s overturn of the D.C. ban. But he said Thursday’s ruling “will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country.”

“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 commonsense, effective safety measures,” Obama said.

Obama said his view was supported by the court’s ruling that the Constitution does not permit “the absolute prohibition of handguns.” That language “reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe,” Obama said.

Both presidential candidates endorse an individual’s right to bear arms. But they strongly differ beyond that. McCain has had a mostly conservative record on the issue; Obama, a mostly liberal record.

Source: Associated Press (AP) - Thursday, June 26, 2008

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