McCain Slams Obama for Opposing Gun Ownership
(CNSNews.com) -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the Second Amendment provides individuals the right to bear arms was a "landmark victory" and that his Democratic rival is on the wrong side of the debate.
"Unlike Senator Obama, who refused to join me in signing a bipartisan amicus brief, I was pleased to express my support and call for the ruling issued today," McCain said in a statement issued by his campaign following Thursday's 5-4 ruling.
"Today's ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller makes clear that other municipalities like Chicago that have banned handguns have infringed on the constitutional rights of Americans.
"Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to guns out of bitterness, today's ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right -- sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly," he added.
McCain was referring to Obama's controversial remark before the Pennsylvania primary in April, when he told a San Francisco fundraiser: "You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. ... And it's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," Obama said.
McCain, who has been campaigning in the western United States touting his energy plans, said the ruling is not the end of the battle for personal liberty.
"This ruling does not mark the end of our struggle against those who seek to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens," McCain said. "We must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms. But today, the Supreme Court ended forever the specious argument that the Second Amendment did not confer an individual right to keep and bear arms."
Some Second Amendment supporters fault McCain for advocating restrictions on gun show sales.
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr on Thursday noted that McCain has co-sponsored legislation that could require the registration of attendees at gun shows and even ban such shows.
McCain, on his campaign Web site, says he supports legislation that would require an instant criminal background check for all sales at gun shows.
Originally published June 26, 2008.
