Lies

F: To the National Rifle Association for its ad campaign twisting Barack Obama’s position on the Second Amendment beyond recognition. The NRA cooked up almost out of whole cloth an Obama “10 Point Plan to ‘Change’ the Second Amendment” that runs almost entirely counter to the candidate’s position. Truth in campaign ad sites operated by PolitiFact, run by the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly, and at The Washington Post, slammed the campaign. The Post gave the effort a rating of “Three Pinocchios,’’ which translates to ads containing “Significant factual error and/or obvious contradictions,’’ while PolitiFact branded it with the “Pants on Fire’’ designation. For the record, this newspaper supports the Second Amendment and the rights of individuals to own firearms and recognizes the long tradition of hunting in these mountains. We’d also add people can feel free to vote against Obama, but ought to be making that decision on facts, not fairy tales. We would also point out this stunt was pulled by the NRA and not the McCain campaign.

Asheville Citizen-Times, September 29, 2008 READ ARTICLE

"Now I learn that Barack Obama supports a huge new tax on my guns and ammo."
--Karl Rusch, National Rifle Association "Hunter" video, September 22, 2008.

The National Rifle Association has opened fire on Barack Obama for allegedly supporting a "huge new tax" on gun owners. The charge is contained in a series of new TV ads attacking the Democratic presidential candidate for his "anti-gun" stance. While it is clear that Obama is no friend of the NRA, the tax hike charge rests on very flimsy evidence. There are other problems with the ads as well.

The Washington Post, September 23, 2008 READ ARTICLE VIEW YOUTUBE

In an ad titled "Hunter," aired Monday, September 22, the National Rifle Association asserts that Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has voted to ban common ammunition and supports banning shotguns and rifles used by hunters. "Now I learn that Barack Obama supports a huge new tax on my guns and ammo," the narrator of the ad says. "If you can believe it, he also supports a ban on the shotguns and rifles most of us use for hunting."

Get the facts after the jump!

The Facts
On his campaign Web site, Obama says he respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms and "will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport and use guns." As CNN reported, Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, told supporters at a Virginia rally on Saturday, September 20, "I guarantee you, Barack Obama ain't taking my shotguns. So don't buy that malarkey. They're going to start peddling that to you. I've got two and if he tries to fool with my Beretta, he's got a problem."

CNN, September 23, 2008 READ ARTICLE

A National Rifle Associationadvertising campaign distorts Obama's position on gun control beyond recognition.

The NRA is circulating printed material and running TV ads making unsubstantiated claims that Obama plans to ban use of firearms for home defense, ban possession and manufacture of handguns, close 90 percent of gun shops and ban hunting ammunition.

Much of what the NRA passes off as Obama's "10 Point Plan to 'Change' the Second Amendment" is actually contrary to what he has said throughout his campaign: that he "respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms" and "will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns."

"NRA Targets Obama," FactCheck.org, September 22/29, 2008 READ ARTICLE

"Obama's Ten Point Plan to 'Change' the Second Amendment…Ban use of firearms for home defense."

National Rifle Association on Friday, August 1st, 2008 in direct mail piece

In a hard-hitting direct-mail piece to its members, the National Rifle Association detailed an alleged plan by Sen. Barack Obama to transform gun-ownership regulations.

Obama's "plan" appeared on a section of the mailer designed to be cut out and carried around in a wallet. The front of the wallet card said, "Barack Obama's Ten Point Plan to 'Change' the Second Amendment." The reverse listed the 10 parts of the alleged plan, starting with, "Ban use of firearms for home defense."

An NRA spokeswoman confirmed the authenticity of the mailer, which first appeared in early August 2008, but would not provide details of what its claims were based on. For that, she referred us to various NRA Web sites.

We could find no support on any of them for the allegation that Obama has a plan to ban the use of firearms for home defense. What we did find, and what we suspect is the root of this allegation, was information about a vote Obama cast as an Illinois state senator in May 2004. (See this essay by NRA executive vice president officer Wayne LaPierre.)

PoliFact.com (CQ/St. Petersburg Times) August 1, 2008 READ ARTICLE