As a Democrat who owns multiple firearms and enjoys shooting, it's frustrating to run face-first into the right-wing paranoia that is embraced by so many gun owners. President Obama has done nothing to affect gun rights, and yet many are convinced that he's behind a vast anti-gun conspiracy, and that Fast and Furious is somehow related. It's hard to just smile and nod and slowly back away without seeming condescending.

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He will sell gun owners out in a heartbeat. Republicans are often a much bigger menace to gun rights than Democrats.

I have absolutely no idea who Romney exactly is. He changes his positions so often on every issue that I feel that he has multiple personalities or is a shape shifter.

McCain wasn't all that popular with gun owners either. Republicans seem to believe that all gun owners will run out and automatically vote for any candidate they run for the office of President. Often they seem to believe that all gun owners are just as stupid as the very liberal members of the Democratic party say.

It is true that when the choice is between a Democrat who wishes to impose draconian gun laws such as gun bans or the national registration of all firearms and a Republican is actually in favor of gun rights, gun owners will usually choose the Republican. This is only logical as gun owners often have a considerable amount of money and time invested in shooting sports or seriously believe that a firearm offers the best method of self defense in case of a truly violent attack by a criminal who intends to seriously injure or kill his victim. In close elections their vote might make the difference. However most gun owners have the intelligence to detect a politician who is merely pandering to them in order to get their vote.

Romney is now busy trying to convince conservatives that he is actually a true conservative which is laughable. He also is trying to convince gun owners that he has always totally supported the rights of gun owners which also is false.

It's my opinion that Obama will easily win his second term if the economy shows true signs of improvement prior to the election. If not the election will be close and Obama might well lose. The gun control issue will not be a major factor in this election as while many gun owners worry that Obama might change his pro-gun record during his second term they also can't trust Romney.

I personally believe that with the exception of the extremely liberal members of the Democratic Party, our party views gun control as a dying issue not worth losing elections over. We had control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency for two years and yet no major gun control laws were passed. If I am right many gun owners who deserted our party over this issue will eventually return and our future will be brighter.

It seems to me that it would better for Democrats to come forward on crime/gang control and our poorly handled War on Drugs, instead of the losing gun control issue. The economy surely needs work and I am sure the President is well aware of it and will do whatever he can to get us on the right track. There are however a lot of areas that need attention and I think Democrats should champion those. I think it would be a winner for everyone.