The Second Amendment: A Way of Life Under Siege

The 2nd Amendment states, "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." As the Sportsman's Paradise, Louisiana will not surrender its right to practice these enduring traditions, nor will it surrender the right to self defense, a statute on which the freedom and safety of Louisiana depend.

Under the agenda of President Obama and his liberal allies, it's no secret that the 2nd Amendment is in danger in Louisiana and across our great nation. Just take a look at President Obama's record when it comes to gun rights, which earned him an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association:

• Endorsed a total ban on handguns (Independent Voters of Illinois General Candidate Questionnaire, March 2008)
  
  
• Voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people who use firearms in self-defense (Illinois State Senate, SB 1936)
  
  
• Voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting by expanding the definition of "armor piercing ammunition" (Amendment to S. 397, July 2005)
  
  
• Opposes right to carry laws (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 2008)
  
  
• Voted to allow reckless and unsubstantiated lawsuits against the firearms industry (United States Senate, S. 397, July 2005)
  
  
• Supports mandatory waiting periods (Independent Voters of Illinois General Candidate Questionnaire, March 2008)
  
  
• Favors a band on standard capacity magazines (Radio Iowa, 2007)

These measures are just the beginning. And with his liberal allies controlling the House and Senate, President Obama will have help ushering in his anti-2nd Amendment agenda. The right to use firearms for protection and our sporting and hunting traditions is constantly under siege, and the people of Louisiana deserve a leader who will fight for these rights and traditions.

The 2nd Amendment: Vitter's View

Senator Vitter is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. Unlike President Obama and his liberal allies, Senator Vitter's 2nd Amendment voting record earned him an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association:

• To protect manufacturers and small businesses, Senator Vitter voted to prohibit lawsuits against gun manufacturers for illegal misuse of their products (Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, July 2005)
  
  
• To protect Louisianans during hurricanes and other crises, Sen. Vitter voted to prohibit federal agents from confiscating firearms during an emergency or major disaster (Amendment to Homeland Security Appropriations bill, July 2006)
  
  
• Voted to prohibit foreign and UN aid that restricts US gun ownership through taxes or registration (Amendment to Department of State's International Aid Bill, "The Vitter Amendment," September 2007)
  
  
• Co-sponsored a bill allowing law-abiding citizens to possess firearms in national parks (Protecting Americans from Violent Crime Act, February 2008)
  
  
• Co-sponsered the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill that would allow individuals the right to carry lawfully concealed firearms across state lines, while respecting the laws of the home state (Respecting States Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, February 2009)

When making his argument to ban foreign and UN aid that restricts US gun ownership, Senator Vitter made clear that he possesses the leadership Louisiana's gun owners deserve:

"This is a straight funding limitation amendment. Many folks who haven't followed the proceedings on this in the U.N. may ask: What is this all about? Unfortunately, it is about an effort in the United Nations to bring gun control to various countries through that international organization. Unfortunately, that has been an ongoing effort which poses a real threat, dating back to 1995. In 2001, the UN General Assembly adopted a program of action designed to infringe on second amendment rights. The Vitter amendment simply says we are not going to support any international organization that requires a registration of US citizens' guns or taxes US citizens' guns." - Senator David Vitter, September 6, 2007 ("Senator Vitter On The Issues: Gun Control")

The 2nd Amendment: What They're Saying

• "Sen. Vitter told FOX News that the [Obama Stimulus] bill "is a payoff for that political activity in last year's election, particularly with the fraudulent voter registration drives," Sen. Vitter said. The bottom line is that the only thing this bill will "stimulate" is attacks against your gun rights by leftist anti-gun groups. Supporters of the Second Amendment must take action now to see that such funding provisions are stripped from the misnamed stimulus package..." - Opposing Views: "Stimulus Bill Includes Massive Money for Anti-Gun Radicals"
  
  
• "Obama's nominee for attorney general, Eric Holder (formerly Janet Reno's Deputy Attorney General), who faces Senate confirmation this week, reaffirmed in the recent DC v. Heller Supreme Court case his long-held position that the Second Amendment affirms no right of individual gun possession by private citizens... Other conservatives also get it, like Louisiana Sen. David Vitter: "[Holder has] clearly advocated near-universal licensing and registration, and he joined and filed an amicus brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller U.S. Supreme Court case arguing that the Second Amendment was not an individual right. That's deeply disturbing..."" - EnterStageRight.com: "Sixty Million Armed Patriots... and Counting"
  
  
• "The Senate’s overwhelming 84-16 vote this week to prohibit gun confiscations from private citizens in emergencies shows there has been a remarkable shift in the public’s attitude about gun rights after the Hurricane Katrina debacle, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) said today..." - Second Amendment Foundation: "Passage of Vitter Amendment Shows Public Shift on Gun Rights After Katrina"
  
  

Help Senator Vitter Protect 2nd Amendment Rights