2012 Democrat Platform

The Democrats finally released their platform yesterday evening. With regard to firearms and firearm rights, it is a study in contrasts with the Republican platform which was ardently pro-gun rights. It is full of the gun prohibitionists’ favorite codewords like “commonsense” and “reasonable” along with their usual so-called respect for the Second Amendment.

Firearms. We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans’ Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun violence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforcement of existing laws, especially strengthening our background check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense improvements – like reinstating the assault weapons ban and closing the gun show loophole – so that guns do not fall into the hands of those irresponsible, law-breaking few.

If you wondered what a second Obama term meant for gun owners the road map is right in front of us. Private sales will be outlawed which is what they mean by their use of the oxymoron “gun show loophole”. Moreover, when they say they will reinstate the assault weapons (sic) ban, you can rest assured that it won’t be like the Clinton-era ban which had many loopholes in it. They will have learned their lesson from before and you can expect any new ban to be draconian.

Elsewhere in the platform, the Democrats talk about future Supreme Court nominations and applaud the selections of both Sotomayor and Kagan.

That’s why President Obama appointed two distinguished jurists to the Supreme Court: Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Moving forward, we will continue to nominate and confirm judges who are men and women of unquestionable talent and character and will always demonstrate their faithfulness to our law and our Constitution and bring with them a sense of how American society works and how the American people live.

You should remember back to Justice Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings where she declared that the Second Amendment was settled law. She promptly then was one of the dissenting votes in McDonald v. Chicago. If just one of the majority in Heller and McDonald dies or retires during a second Obama term, you can fully expect your Second Amendment freedoms to be at risk. You should also remember that most cases never advance beyond the District Court and Circuit Courts of Appeal and that stacking these courts with anti-gun appointees will also put your rights at risk.

The Democrats have said what they plan to do in a second Obama term and I believe them. As a gun owner and one that believes in gun rights, I plan to do everything I can to make sure that second term never happens.