Obama thinks Virginia is "In Play"

Presumed Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator Barack Obama seems to think that Virginia is in play this year, having handily won the Commonwealth's Democratic Primary earlier this year. He was in Bristol today with U.S. Senate candidate and former Governor Mark Warner and will be in Prince William County later today with U.S. Senator Jim Webb. It should be noted that both Warner and Webb have verifiable gun rights credentials. Obama is the most anti-gun presidential candidate in history.

While Warner did not veto any of the pro-gun bills that arrived on his desk while he was Governor, he does have some history of stating support for certain gun control laws. He is on record as supporting the Clinton gun ban (Washington Post, 10/9/96). Also while running for Governor, Warner said he opposed the repeal of Virginia’s handgun rationing law (one gun-a-month) and said he would veto a bill to repeal it. He also supported Fairfax County's attempts to ban guns in recreation centers saying “If this kind of legislation went through, I'd sign it,” but added “My sense is under the current General Assembly, you're not going to see this kind of law go through.” (Washington Post, July 21, 2001).

Warner is running against another pro-gun former governor, Jim Gilmore, to fill the seat of retiring Senator John Warner. Given that Warner has stated that he supported the Clinton Gun Ban (ban on semi-autos purposely misnamed "assault weapons) and that Obama has said he wants to reinstate the ban, Virginia gun owners should take every opportunity to press Governor Warner on the issue and how he would vote if he is elected. Governor Gilmore is a member of the NRA Board of Directors.