Gun groups differ on Obama support

Earl Hanna fears what might happen to gun rights if Democrat Barack Obama is elected president over Republican John McCain on Tuesday.

Hanna, owner of B&R Grocery in Lyndhurst, said there has been a “marked increase” in gun sales and interest in guns.

“I think we’re in some trouble if Mr. Obama gets elected,” Hanna said. “His history shows that he’s anti-gun, and you can’t believe anything he says.”

Though deer hunting season begins today, he and national gun rights groups say the increased gun sales are, at least in part, coming amid fears that Obama could strip away gun rights either through legislation or with potential Supreme Court appointments.

According to statistics from National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, gun sales are up eight to 10 percent in the first nine months of 2008.

NICS data shows that nearly 11.2 million people underwent background checks in 2007, up from 10 million in 2006.

Background checks this year through Sept. 2008 – at nearly 8.5 million – are up from 7.8 million during the same period in 2007. This year’s sales, according to Ted Novin, director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, do not factor in hunting season. He believes the sales increase, coupled with a 10 percent increase in excise tax revenue coming from gun sales, is politically driven, especially with the volatile economy.

“I think you can attribute that to fears over an Obama-[Joe] Biden administration,” Novin said.

The National Rifle Association, which endorsed McCain for president, believes an Obama administration could ultimately change the complexion of the Supreme Court, which voted 5-4 earlier this year to strike down a gun ban in Washington, D.C.

Obama, along with Ray Schoenke, president of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, say any fear from gun owners about losing rights are unfounded.

“The hype in which the NRA has put out there that Barack Obama is going to take your guns away is a total distortion,” Schoenke said.

Obama’s position on gun rights, Schoenke said, stems from the U.S. Senator’s urban background in Chicago, where gun violence is a common occurrence.

The Supreme Court ruling, Schoenke said, means that guns cannot be banned.

“There are 199 million guns that nobody needs to worry about,” Schoenke said.

The NRA, though, notes that President Bush made two Supreme Court appointments – Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito – that voted to overturn the D.C. gun ban.

An Obama-Biden administration, according to a recent column by Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president, would, with any court openings, appoint justices that would take away Second Amendment rights.

Chris Kincheloe, owner of Nuckols Gun Works in Staunton, said gun sales are “above average,” between fears of an Obama administration and the upcoming hunting season.

“I’m slammed right now,” Kincheloe said when reached yesterday. “It’s just that busy.”

Kincheloe said sales have picked up in the last two weeks.

“A lot of it has to do with the election,” Kincheloe said. “People are scared who the next candidate is going to be. They worry about their gun rights.”