A Recurring Worry

Presidential candidate Barak Obama said, "Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear... I think people can take me at my word."

Some have said he's lying. I don't think so. The problem with the statement here is "lawful".

From September 13, 1994 to September 13, 2004 it was not lawful to assemble a rifle with more than two of five listed cosmetic features; a pistol with more than two of five listed features or a shotgun with more than two of four listed features. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Assault_Weapons_Ban

Guess what? For the ten years of that ban lawful gun owners also had nothing to fear. The worrisome thing is the law was different then than before, and now. With me so far?

Let's say that Congress passes a registration law tomorrow. All firearms must be registered by midnight, January 1, 2010. Everyone on New Year's Day who has not registered all of their firearms is no longer a lawful gun owner! But his statement is still correct, he's still not lying, he still hasn't lied. Lawful gun owners can still take him at his word, they will not be arrested.

What he has not said, or promised, is that everything that I have now that is legal will remain legal as long as he is president. He has not promised to veto any gun control bill that hits his desk. He has said, with what sounded like regret in his voice, that he did not have the votes in Congress for a new assault weapon ban.

While he didn't lie, I think he was being disingenuous.