Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Standing Guard: The Company He Keeps

Monday, August 11, 2008

What do a radical South Side Chicago priest who has demanded that law-abiding firearm dealers and state legislators be “snuffed out,” and Chicago’s political boss, who is “livid” and “outraged” over the Supreme Court’s recognition of the Second Amendment, have in common?

Influence over Barack Obama.

In the case of Mayor Richard S. Daley--who heads the toughest, most powerful urban political machine in the nation--his early primary endorsement of freshman U.S. Senator Obama’s bid for the Democratic nomination for the presidency requires a big political payback. And I suspect that payback will involve our gun rights if Obama takes the White House in November.

With the extra-ordinary victory for
the nation’s gun owners, the Supreme Court recognized that all peaceable law-abiding Americans should indeed have that choice.

When the Supreme Court issued its historic landmark decision in June striking down the District of Columbia gun ban as violating the individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Mayor Daley issued a five-minute diatribe.

As the Chicago Tribune, which immediately demanded the repeal of the Second Amendment, put it: “In railing against the Supreme Court ruling, Daley stressed the danger of private gun ownership .”

Alluding to the urban gun-ban cabal headed by his New York colleague Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Daley sputtered, “Every mayor will be outraged over this. Why should we allow more and more guns in our homes? Could you see everyone having guns in their home?”

With the extraordinary victory for the nation’s gun owners, the Supreme Court recognized that all peaceable, law-abiding Americans should indeed have that choice.

If Daley had his way, he wouldn’t “allow” a single gun in any home. Recently, in Los Angeles, he said, “It is about time that America wakes up and says . . . we can outlaw smoking in a bar so quickly, yet you cannot outlaw guns in America.” And at another rally he screamed:

“NO GUNS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA!”

Daley is a defendant in NRA’s lawsuit to throw out the Chicago gun ban, which is virtually identical to the unconstitutional D.C. ban.

Time and time again, Obama has said the Chicago ban is in line with his vision of the Second Amendment.

No matter how much Obama wraps himself in empty words about the Second Amendment, know him by the friends he keeps--like Dick Daley.

When it comes to the Second Amendment, the company Obama keeps speaks more than his own words. They would destroy the Second Amendment and so would Obama, the candidate.

And that brings me to the radical priest, Michael Pfleger.

On May 27, 2007, with a mob of 1,000 gun-ban radicals cheering him on--blocking the entrance to Chuck’s Gun Shop and Range in Riverdale, Ill., a suburb of Chicago--Pfleger screamed a clear death threat against the owner.

“John Riggio. R-I-G-G-I-O. We’re going to find you and snuff you out . . . like a rat--we’re going to catch you and pull you out . . . whatever it takes to shut this gun store down . . . We’re gonna snuff out John Riggio . . .

“We’re gonna snuff out legislators who are against our gun laws.”

I have never encountered such hatred. Pfleger’s words were recognized as death threats by Chicago’s Cardinal George who issued a rebuke--saying, “publicly delivering a threat against anyone’s life betrays the civil order and is morally outrageous, especially if this threat came from a priest.”

Why is this radical priest so important with the coming election? Because Fr. Pfleger is a key long-time advisor to Sen. Obama, who in turn procured for Pfleger a $225,000 grant from the state and a $100,000 earmark from the federal government. Pfleger is a financial contributor to Obama’s campaigns.

In a Chicago Sun-Times article touting Obama’s faith--in which he stressed the importance of close advisors in “maintaining your moral compass”--the newspaper declared:

“Friends and advisors such as the Rev. Michael Pfleger . . . who has known Obama for the better part of 20 years, help him keep that moral compass set, he [Obama] says.”

Most Americans never heard of Michael Pfleger until videotapes surfaced of a racist rant on Obama’s behalf mocking Hillary Clinton. The performance by Fr. Pfleger was at the invitation of Obama’s Trinity United Church of Christ, made infamous by its America-hating pastor Jeremiah Wright, with his diatribes declaring, “God Bless America? No! No! No! God D--- America.”

After weeks of dithering as to whether to leave Wright’s Trinity, it was only Fr. Pfleger’s Hillary-smearing rant that ultimately caused Obama to quit.

Yet Obama was silent on Pfleger’s “snuff” threats.

But then closing down law-abiding gun stores is part of Obama’s real Second Amendment vision. He has proposed a law banning federally licensed firearm dealers from operating within five miles of a school or park. Think about almost any community in America and what that would mean.

There are those who say guilt by association is unfair. To them I would say, 20 years with these men as Obama’s closest confidants and spiritual advisors cannot be discounted.

When it comes to the Second Amendment, the company Obama keeps speaks more than his own words. They would destroy the Second Amendment and so would Obama, the candidate.

IN THIS ARTICLE
Politics
TRENDING NOW
Virginia: Governor Spanberger Signing Away Your Rights

Friday, April 10, 2026

Virginia: Governor Spanberger Signing Away Your Rights

Today, April 10th, Governor Spanberger met the expectations of her anti-gun allies, signing two bills into law. This action sets the tone for what may come next as she has until April 13th to render a ...

Trump Administration Addresses Defensive Carry for Active-Duty Military Members

News  

Monday, April 6, 2026

Trump Administration Addresses Defensive Carry for Active-Duty Military Members

Just as we were finalizing another article this week on pro-gun initiatives by the Trump Administration, yet another example was announced. 

Anti-gun Chicago Mayor Spends Astronomical Amounts of Tax Dollars on Armed Security

News  

Monday, April 6, 2026

Anti-gun Chicago Mayor Spends Astronomical Amounts of Tax Dollars on Armed Security

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who was dragged for spending over $30,000 of his campaign funds on hair and makeup in a year, is now facing scrutiny over the optics and price tag of his personal security force.

Trump Administration Continues to Deliver for Gun Owners with Recent Initiatives

News  

Monday, April 6, 2026

Trump Administration Continues to Deliver for Gun Owners with Recent Initiatives

Amid a steady stream of headlines highlighting anti-gun legislative proposals in the states, ongoing litigation battles, and regulatory uncertainty, there is also good news to report on the Second Amendment front, courtesy of the Trump ...

Maryland: Semi-Auto Ban Goes to Governor’s Desk

Friday, April 10, 2026

Maryland: Semi-Auto Ban Goes to Governor’s Desk

Today, the generally assembly passed SB 334, a ban on many common semi-automatic handguns, it now heads to the governor’s desk

Rhode Island:  Extreme Gun Bill Package Threatens Every Ocean State Gun Owner

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Rhode Island: Extreme Gun Bill Package Threatens Every Ocean State Gun Owner

On Wednesday April 8, the House Judiciary Committee had a lengthy hearing with 17 bills on the agenda, the vast majority of which were anti-gun.

Social “Science” Replication Crisis Shows Danger Field Poses to Public Policy

News  

Monday, April 6, 2026

Social “Science” Replication Crisis Shows Danger Field Poses to Public Policy

Gun rights supporters know that civilian disarmament advocates have long employed dubious social “science”/public “health” research in their mission to strip Americans of their Second Amendment rights.

Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

On Saturday, March 14th, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session, and the future of the Commonwealth hangs in the balance. 

Rhode Island:  Senate Judiciary Committee Resumes Second Amendment Attack Next Week

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Rhode Island: Senate Judiciary Committee Resumes Second Amendment Attack Next Week

Rhode Island gun owners will have the weekend to catch their breath before having to return to Providence early next week to resume the fight for their Second Amendment rights.

California: Anti-Gun Legislation Scheduled for Committee Hearings Next Week!

Thursday, April 9, 2026

California: Anti-Gun Legislation Scheduled for Committee Hearings Next Week!

On Monday, April 13th at 10:00 AM, the Senate Committee on Appropriations will hear Senate Bill 948, legislation aimed at dramatically expanding the scope and requirements of California's Firearm Safety Certificate.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.