Just got off the phone with Ray Schoenke of AHSA...

[derby378]

It was a short talk, and I really didn't want to take up too much of his time, but it was a good talk. He shared with me a little of his background along with some of his favorite hunting sites, and he told me that he's a regular reader of the Amendment II Democrats blog.

Ray also told me that whenever the Obama administration entertains talk of gun control, he'll be at the table, working to prevent another semi-auto ban from being enacted.

In other words, a good talk. :bounce::woohoo::bounce:

[skooooo]

1. ..

:wtf:

[derby378]

2. He's keeping himself rather busy on the campaign trail...

Lots of stops in the northeast in support of Obama. He's headed to Pennsylvania next.

[WWFZD]

3. Thanks for sharing that conversation Derby.

The closer this gets to lever pulling, or touch screen tapping, time I can honestly state that I support this guy, Obama that is. And I'm pretty highly sought after - a staunch libertarian, formerly mostly Republican voting Ohioan. Having the endorsement of our fine guv Ted Strickland primarliy did it for me, that and this rightwing pandering, corporate welfare supporting, current iteration of the Republican party.
I will be scrutinizing Obama's every move and listening to his statements. Any attempt to support the AWB or pass an onerous "ammo tax" and I'll turn on him in a second, but I'm sold. Call me a single issue voter, I couldn't care less, I can't compromise the BoR.

[jody]

4. I will be surprised if Schoenke has a voice in discussions re the 2nd. n/t

[derby378]

5. As much as he's been campaigning for Obama...

He might have the best shot. The Brady Campaign waited until November to endorse Obama, and AHSA had already done so months before.

[jody]

6. IMO Biden (F), Pelos (F), Kennedy (F), & Feinstein (F) will have more influence than Schoenke. n/t

[derby378]

7. We still have Feingold, Baucus, Webb, Tester, and Casey...

There is still hope! :hi:

[jody]

8. I agree and I personally will flood papers in my state with LTTE at the first sign that a newly

elected representative supports any bill or amendment that in anyway infringes upon RKBA.

[SteveM]

9. Hopefully, Schoenke will see the futility of national gun control legislation...

The Democratic Party and its candidates should move toward a local outlook with regards gun-control. This would remove gun-control as a damaging national policy with consequences to both national and local candidates, and toward a local policy where local candidates can rise and fall based upon their respective stands on gun-control. Any local measures can rise and fall based on their constitutionality.

Thanks for taking the initiative.

[aikoaiko]

10. Is anti-AWB new for AHSA (via Schoenke) or has this always been the position of the org?

I tried digging, but I couldn't put much time into it and I didn't find anything either way.

Good for you for talking to Schoenke about this matter.

[derby378]

11. I think the AHSA position is in a state of evolution

They were formed back in June 2005, same as Amendment II Democrats. They've already had a turnover when John Rosenthal left AHSA to head up Stop Handgun Violence, and Ray has indeed donated to folks like the Brady Campaign several years back. But from what he's been telling me, Ray has been misquoted in the past concerning semi-automatics, and does not want to see a new ban enacted.

AHSA is still in its infancy when you consider that the NRA is 150 years old, so a few growing pains are to be expected. I think we should watch how this organization develops. They know we're here, and they're listening.

[Codename46]

12. What about other weapons?

Such as .50BMG rifles?