The next step in the gun debate will certainly be more legal action in the courts, as the National Rifle Association quickly made clear in the wake of Thursday's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down a handgun ban in Washington, D.C.

But there will also be a political step, and that did not get off on the right foot for Barack Obama, who seemed like he was trying to own both sides of the gun argument.

That was not the case for John McCain.

"Unlike Senator Obama, who refused to join me in signing a bipartisan amicus brief, I was pleased to express my support and call for the ruling issued today. Today's ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller makes clear that other municipalities like Chicago that have banned handguns have infringed on the constitutional rights of Americans," said a McCain statement.

"Does Barack Obama believe that the D.C. handgun ban was constitutional or unconstitutional? We can't tell and Barack Obama won't say," taunted another release from the McCain campaign about some seemingly contradictory statements by Obama before and after the gun ban ruling.

Obama's camp said Obama made what was described as an "inartful" statement last year about the gun ban, when he said it was constitutional.

"Inartful?"  Wow.  That's a new one for me.

Just part of the lead paragraph from an Associated Press story sends the message on this one:

"Barack Obama sought to straddle the subject by saying he favors an individual's right to bear firearms as well as a government's right to regulate them," the AP story said.

But the worst part was yet to come.

"The campaign would not answer directly Thursday when asked whether the candidate (Obama) agreed with the court that the D.C. ban was unconstitutional."

"GOP Aims at Obama After Gun Ruling," read the headline on Politico.com.

"I am amazed at the flipping on this position by Barack Obama. Initially, he comes out and says that he believes in banning hand guns," said Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS.)  

"He is for the D.C. gun ban, and now seems to be sidestepping the issue and acknowledging support."

Instead of giving you a few quotes, I will end this blog by simply giving you the Obama statement that was sent to reporters on Thursday.  You can judge for yourself whether he is trying to have it both ways on this issue that divided the Supreme Court 5-4.

Leave some comments and let me know what you think.

Statement of Barack Obama on Supreme Court Decision in District of Columbia V. Heller

"I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures.  The Supreme Court has now endorsed that view, and while it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe.  Today's ruling, the first clear statement on this issue in 127 years, will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the country. 

"As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen.  I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne.  We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals.  Today's decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe."