Mr. McCain and Guns

“I know how to use guns; but I don’t own one.”
— John McCain, November 2007

Not only that, but here is what the NRA’s America’s First Freedom magazine wrote about McCain in 2001:

“The gun control debate in Washington has hit center stage because Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has now become one of the premier flag carriers for the enemies of the Second Amendment.”

OK. So now we have McCain as the holier-than-thou, pro-gun Rambo out there attacking Barack Obama after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling.

The man who had a rating from the NRA of C+, a western senator to boot — or in his boots — who clearly was no fan of the NRA over the years.

Here are a few other little facts that may make it difficult for McCain to be the “gun candidate”:

McCain calls for GOP “tolerance” for closing gun show loopholes (May 2002)
McCain calls for a ban on cheap guns (Saturday Night Specials) and for gun show checks (August 1999)
McCain supports a ban on certain assault weapons (August 1999)

And, of course, with his efforts at campaign finance reform, McCain again incurred the wrath of the NRA. Again from their magazine:

“Under the guise of reforming election funding, Sen. John McCain and others are attempting to muzzle your voice concerning critical national issues — including the Second Amendment … John McCain is their Judas goat — leading the sheep to slaughter.”

Now, let me get this straight — the NRA says they are prepared to spend $40 million to support John McCain for president? Just which John McCain is that?