Obama is a shrewd politician that insists on getting his way, one way or another. I have always placed more value on politicians' records rather than on their rhetoric. I think we are in for a fight for our sporting and gun ownership rights. If you haven't supported the NRA and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, or written letters to your Congressional reps then now is the time to start.

I've not heard anyone credible suggest that Pres. Obama will push for new firearms restrictions while he is president. The challenge for the new President will be to resist the efforts of Nanci Pelosi, the Brady Campaign, and their ilk. As firearms owners and sportsmen, we still have huge amounts of leverage both with moderate democrats and, potentially, with the new President (as he is obviously not stupid, whatever you may otherwise think of him). If we all let him know where we stand, and also tell the Speaker of the House where we stand, we can give Pres. Obama the, errm, "ammunition" he needs to fend off efforts from those who might attack the 2nd Amendment.

It's up to us to write to our senators, congressmen, and the president. If we confine ourselves to doomsaying and grumbling on internet blogs, we'll only have been preaching to the choir.

Mr.Diehl,you haven't heard from anyone credible? Well, I guess your right. I personally don't consider Biden, Pelosi, Schumer and the likes, very credible either. Either that or you really haven't been paying attention. Biden and Obama both have said on more than one occasion that one of the first orders of business is to re-instate the Clinton gun ban and make it permanent. Obama has already broken at least one of his campaign promises and its the second day. He promised not to hire anyone to a post that did any lobbying. I'm not sure of the names, but it was on the news this morning. One of them was a lobbyist for a defense contractor and the other for the health industry. Where does it stop? In the oath that most public officials take and if I'm not mistaken, the military also, you promise to defend the Constitution from domestic and foreign threats. At what point do we start. When you attack any of the bill of rights, isn't that a threat? Aren't we supposed to "take up arms" and remove those threats? When do we start? Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that we forcefully overthrow the government or attack ANY public official. Part of what you said is right, we all need to start writing our elected officials and let them know how we feel.

At this time, I'm more concerned about H.R. 45, which is the only actual BILL on firearms control presently in consideration in either of the legislative bodies. It was introduced on 6 January, before Obama took office. I have now written to both of the local Honorable members of the House in general opposition to more firearms control legislation, and I have called both members' offices in specific opposition to H.R. 45. I have also written to the new President opposing H.R. 45 and pointing out that such a bill would greatly undermine the consensus of purpose seemingly achieved in the recent election. I also noted that such bills make it difficult for moderate progressives to defend the actions of democrats. I likened the requirement for people to obtain a Federal license to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights to a requirement for a license to exercise their 1st Amendment rights.

I hope everyone here will write and call their Congressmen immediately. At this point in time, there's no need to call your Senator, because there is no comparable bill before the U.S. Senate. I also recommend that you write to President Obama, using your best Sunday dinner diplomatic language, so that he will have enough ammo (in the form of popular opinion) to advise the Democratic party leadership in the House that H.R. 45 is a divisive and very unpopular proposal.

I voted for him, I worked to get him in office and I believe him when he says he wouln't interfere with our sporting traditions. If he wants to reinstate the assault weapons ban, I have no problem, I don't like black rifles anyway. Most of my guns are black powder and single shot. What "hunting tradition" involves assault weapons anyway? None that I know of. hink they need assault rifles to hold off the black helicopters of the New World Order they are out of their minds. No black rifle will hold off SWAT, You'll just die nasty, any civilian can be outgunned by professionals since that shootout in LA with the guys in body armour and AK's. If those guys didn't get away, what makes anybody think they can resist the force government can apply if needed? Think about Waco, Koreshes "Mighty Men" had a Barret lite 50 and were shooting holes in the m113 apcs the ATF brought. So what. The feds brought in REAL tanks and No Barrett rifle can manage serious armor, so the crazy Davidians died. So If you are wanting to go out in a blaze of ego and glory, sure go buy that black rifle. See what good it does.
I have to say, I get tired of folks saying that the "real America" is conservative to the core. Obama won both the popular and the electoral vote, despite the efforts of the GOP to dienfranchise people and steal the election like they did in 04. You can never convince me that America approves of torturers, and I'm glad Gitmo is closing. It should never have existed in the first place. There should never be an American concentration camp (again). The people took the country back, and we are going to keep it.

Evening, All:

Like Bella, I voted for Obama. And also like Bella, I am familiar with the M-16. The particular model I once handled a great deal was the M-16A2. It was issued to me. Sometimes I was issued an M-203, which was an M-16 with a very handy grenade launcher where the normal forearm grip would be.

I have friends who have semi-automatic versions of AR "black rifles." Every badge-wearing friend of mine personally owns a black rifle. I myself own an AK-47-style semi-automatic rifle made in Russia that is chambered in 7.62x51mm, otherwise known as the .308 Winchester. It shoots surprisingly accurately, has a quick-detachable scope that always comes back to its original zero, doesn't kick all that much, and weighs less and handles better than some of my bolt action rifles.

But you know what? When it comes to shooting and hunting, I almost always exclusively take a bolt-action rifle into the field. I'd take a good lever action into the woods if I had one. I personally see no need when I'm exploring the wilds to have an ability to send 10 or 20 rounds downrange in a few seconds. When I hunt, which is rare, my intent is always to make a perfect shot and to always only need one quick humane shot. I practice shooting a lot. If I need two shots during a hunt, I've made a serious mistake. I haven't needed two shots in a hunt in about 20 years or so.

As far as defending my home goes in case some lunatic breaks into it in the middle of the night, I've got a 12-gauge pump action shotgun with lots of rounds in it, and if I can't get to the shotgun, I've got a Beretta Model 92 with a laser. The AK-47-style rifle, if I missed the bad guy intruder(s) with it, or even if I hit them, would shoot bullets clear through my house and might hit my daughter in her room or my neighbors in their houses hundreds of yards away. I therefore can't actually see a reason why I would use it for home defense.

I'm not worried about the U.N. taking over my country, or about black helicopters hovering over my house. I'm just not that important. And Bella is right about one point: My single AK-47-style semi-automatic rifle would not stop a skilled and determined assault team wearing heavy body armor from making a successful attack on me or my home.

While I do not begrudge or criticize or condemn or have negative feelings about responsible, safe, competent and reasonable people owning and using "black" rifles in the field or on the range, I personally have no need for my AK-47-style rifle (which I got years ago from a client who invited me to take a look through his gunsafe and do a little picking and choosing in lieu of paying me cash for services I had already rendered for him).

The truth is, as for my own personal thoughts and feelings about black rifles go, I'd happily trade my AK-47-style rifle for a sweet Savage Model 99 or other similar rifle that isn't made anymore, but which I've always wanted and longed for. If I am to be completely honest with myself, the fact is I just don't need my AK-47-style rifle and would be more content with any number of different lever-action or bolt-action rifles.

But that's just me. I respect the right of safe, sane, responsible and reasonable shooters to own and shoot as many black rifles as they wish. As far as President Obama goes, I think he's got enough on his plate trying to keep this country from sinking into an abyss of another Great Depression (circa 1929 or so) such that fiddling with gun rights and taking black rifles away from law-abiding people is not likely to be on his agenda for a very long time to come, if ever.

And there will always be wildcatters and handloaders, no matter who the president is.

T.W. Davidson

He's "cool." That's why he was elected - that, and he wasn't Bush. In terms of having a track record, or even demonstrable character or courage under pressure, there is nothing there. We'll see what happens; I suspect he's going to be focused on the economy for the majority of his first term. In his second term (if there is one) he will turn his attention to gun control. I am not hopeful.

There is a reason that the NRA gave him an "F-" rating, and it's not because he believes that "the Second Amendment is an individual right." We really are doomed...

many people tell me all the time that obama isn't going to do anything to the 2nd ammendment. unfortunately, these people are not firearm owners. he has a record that he can't duck away from. he was also supported by george sorros, the brady fanatics and the hsus. don't try to console me. i know where he will head from here. many think he will concentrate on the economy and not have time for our 2nd ammend. rights in this term. obama said himself "a president should be able to concentrate on more than one thing at a time." do you think the brady campaign wants to wait?

"From my cold dead hands!" The legend lives on in all of us.

If you are looking for something credible with regards to Obama's stance on firearms, look no further than the White House webpage...
Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendmentment... they support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.
He may have good ideas on other issues, but like it or not, the new president is no friend of firearm owners.

Hey Laura, the ammunition encoding is a very serious and scary reality. I have a link and I will try to find to post on this blog. It gives a list of which states and a direct link to the house bills in each state. I have written my elected officials here in PA. I use reloads and that entire process would be extinct under the bill before the house here in PA. Plus the tax on encoded ammo - the entire thing just sucks.

Inauguration - OMG this is scary times. I do not look at my 401K statement, retirement seems like it will never be a reality and I just hope that our president is to busy to worry about guns. I don't think most people realize but there are still people in this world who hunt for food. I am a single Mom and this is where our meat comes from plus I absolutely live to and love to hunt and fish. Obama scares me as he is a smooth talker and is already reneging on preeletion statements. BUT he is our president now so I will have to put my faith in hm that he does the right thing.

Bella, I'm sorry you feel that way. It's your right to vote and believe anything you want but if you think he's not going to interfere with hunting or shooting, you need to look at his and Biden's past records. A lot of the problems shooters face today is not standing together. If you want to hunt with a single shot or black powder, that's fine, I do some of that myself. But who are you to tell the rest of us how we have to hunt? Just because someone owns a "black rifle" doesn't mean they're going to go on a rampage. Some of them are very accurate for medium to long range shooting and do a number on coyotes. Besides if you've never shot one, you don't know how much fun they can be. We all need to stick together and stop putting the other guy down just because we don't like the kind of rifle he owns or none of us will have any.