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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
(FOX NEWS) President Obama, who as a candidate once claimed some voters "cling" to guns and religion and has launched a renewed push for an assault-weapons ban, revealed a curious factoid in an interview with The New Republic -- he's an avid skeet shooter, apparently.
"Up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time," Obama said.
The president was responding to a common question asked to gun-control advocates: "Have you ever fired a gun?"
Obama revealed his skeet-shooting interest -- something that he has not mentioned before -- and went on to defend America's hunting tradition.
"Part of being able to move this forward is understanding the reality of guns in urban areas are very different from the realities of guns in rural areas," Obama said. "And if you grew up and your dad gave you a hunting rifle when you were 10, and you went out and spent the day with him and your uncles, and that became part of your family's traditions, you can see why you'd be pretty protective of that."
The president made clear that the women of the Obama family do not go skeet shooting with him.
"Not the girls, but oftentimes guests of mine go up there," Obama said in the interview. "And I have a profound respect for the traditions of hunting that trace back in this country for generations. And I think those who dismiss that out of hand make a big mistake."
Asked Monday about Obama's comments, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said he wasn't sure how often the president goes shooting.
"He does go to Camp David with some regularity," Carney said.
Obama and congressional Democrats have tried to insist that their push for gun-control legislation would respect the rights of hunters and sportsmen.
Shotguns, which are typically used in skeet shooting, would be largely exempt from a renewed assault-weapons ban.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced the ban last week, as well as a new federal limit on high-capacity magazines.
Obama said in the interview he wants to "bridge" gaps between the two sides in the debate in the months ahead.
"And that means that advocates of gun control have to do a little more listening than they do sometimes," he said.
The National Rifle Association and a number of Republican lawmakers have already lined up against the Feinstein bill, claiming the last assault-weapons ban did little to curb violent crime.
"The American people know gun bans do not work and we are confident Congress will reject Senator Feinstein's wrong-headed approach," an NRA spokesman said last week.
"Up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time," Obama said.
The president was responding to a common question asked to gun-control advocates: "Have you ever fired a gun?"
Obama revealed his skeet-shooting interest -- something that he has not mentioned before -- and went on to defend America's hunting tradition.
"Part of being able to move this forward is understanding the reality of guns in urban areas are very different from the realities of guns in rural areas," Obama said. "And if you grew up and your dad gave you a hunting rifle when you were 10, and you went out and spent the day with him and your uncles, and that became part of your family's traditions, you can see why you'd be pretty protective of that."
The president made clear that the women of the Obama family do not go skeet shooting with him.
"Not the girls, but oftentimes guests of mine go up there," Obama said in the interview. "And I have a profound respect for the traditions of hunting that trace back in this country for generations. And I think those who dismiss that out of hand make a big mistake."
Asked Monday about Obama's comments, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said he wasn't sure how often the president goes shooting.
"He does go to Camp David with some regularity," Carney said.
Obama and congressional Democrats have tried to insist that their push for gun-control legislation would respect the rights of hunters and sportsmen.
Shotguns, which are typically used in skeet shooting, would be largely exempt from a renewed assault-weapons ban.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced the ban last week, as well as a new federal limit on high-capacity magazines.
Obama said in the interview he wants to "bridge" gaps between the two sides in the debate in the months ahead.
"And that means that advocates of gun control have to do a little more listening than they do sometimes," he said.
The National Rifle Association and a number of Republican lawmakers have already lined up against the Feinstein bill, claiming the last assault-weapons ban did little to curb violent crime.
"The American people know gun bans do not work and we are confident Congress will reject Senator Feinstein's wrong-headed approach," an NRA spokesman said last week.
Monday, January 28 2013, 07:15 PM CST
Tennessee News
Tishomingo County voters OK beer, alcohol sales
May 22, 2013 23:38 GMT
IUKA, Miss. (AP) -- Tishomingo County is the latest Mississippi jurisdiction to legalize alcohol sales.
Voters approved the sale of liquor, wine and beer Tuesday, reports the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/13JCcix).
It wasn't clear referendums would pass until affidavit ballots were counted Wednesday.
With more than half Tishomingo County's voters casting ballots, legalizing alcohol passed by 42 votes, while legalizing beer and light wine passed by 73. The county borders Alabama and Tennessee.
Lawmakers legalized liquor at a proposed resort at the county's Bay Springs Lake in 2010, but it wasn't built.
Greene County voters legalized beer sales last year, while Corinth, New Albany and Senatobia have legalized alcohol sales under a 2012 law that allows cities to hold votes.
Mississippi has 13 remaining counties that allow no beer or alcohol sales.
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