False statements distract from truly critical issues

In his Sept. 7 letter, Phil Poutre made a number of outrageous claims about Sen. Barack Obama's stance on gun ownership.  Making false arguments like this distracts us from the truly critical issues of our economy, national infrastructure, education, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and so much more.

As recently as Sept. 5, 2008, Sen. Obama stated, "I believe in the Second Amendment, and if you are a law-abiding gun owner you have nothing to fear from an Obama administration."

Mr. Poutre stated that Obama "will restore voting rights to 5 million convicted violent gun crime felons." Apparently Mr. Poutre is not aware that Idaho is already one of 19 states that automatically restore voting rights to former felony offenders after they have completed their sentence.

Our household supports responsible gun ownership. My grandfathers, father, uncles, aunts, cousins, and husband are hunters. Senator Obama is no threat to Second Amendment rights.

As the Obama campaign has repeatedly stated, we are more than what divides us. In his convention acceptance speech he stated, "The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals."

Gun advocates such as Mr. Poutre should direct their energy and outrage at individuals like the two young men in Bonner County who were recently charged with poaching a cow moose and allowing her calf to starve. This kind of reckless behavior and poor judgment gives guns a bad name and makes the outdoors less safe for those who follow the rules and take the responsibility of gun-ownership seriously.

NICHOL DASKIVICH

Sandpoint