Where Do the Candidates Stand on Guns and Crime?

The freedom to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the Bill of Rights as a basic American right. Millions of American enjoy shooting sports and hunting or feel that they need a firearm for the defense of themselves, their homes, and their families. Yet, this freedom is threatened by the deeds of criminals and the need of politicians to respond. Every few weeks a deranged individual bursts grabs America's attention with a gun and fifteen minutes of infamy. On February 14, 2008, a gunman shot 22 people and killed five at Northern Illinois University near Chicago. In April 2007, another mentally disturbed student killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. As Americans, we never know when the next heinous mass shooting may occur. Since our professional journalists seem to be busy covering our presidential election as a horserace, we may want some basic information on how the leading candidates (Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain) feel about violent crime and gun control. Unfortunately, it is difficult to ferret out the true positions of the candidates when it comes to crime and gun control.

Barack Obama has a mixed record on crime. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, in his 1996 bid for state office, Barack opposed the death penalty and supported gun control. However, according to ontheissues.org, he supports the death penalty for extreme violent crimes that shock society such as crimes against children. He hopes to reduce the rate of recidivism by increasing the amount of support provided to help inmates reenter society. According to an Obama campaign factsheet aimed at sportsmen, Barack Obama "understands and believes in the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns for the purposes of hunting and target shooting."