On Monday, Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown issued a statement supporting the United States Supreme Court's 5-4 decision affirming that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right to own firearms, and overturning the District of Columbia gun ban.

Brown's statement:

I have always believed that the second amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms, and applaud the Supreme Court's decision to recognize and uphold this important constitutional freedom. I am proud to stand with all responsible gun owners in affirming this landmark decision.

Color me not impressed.  First of all, if this is an accurate portrayal of Brown's position, I am glad, because the Court is right that the 2nd Amendment, like all the other rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, is an individual right.

But for anyone who follows this issue closely and feels passionately about it, waiting for 4 days to issue a statement smacks of political posturing.  This is truly a landmark decision and one that true Second Amendment advocates have been anticipating for decades.  True advocates were standing by to issue their statement right away...and what's more, they helped create it.

Meanwhile, at Charlie "I really am a moderate...my press releases say so" Brown headquarters, I can just imagine Charlie and his team getting the call from their San Francisco based, uber-liberal political consultant, seeing the chance to try to score a "moderate" point in a Red District.

Here's how I see the call going:

(Phone Rings in Campaign Office - Code Pink volunteers look up briefly from their work as the hear campaign staffers say, "Charlie, it's Eric Jaye on the line."

"How many times have I told you to refer to me as Colonel Brown," the candidate bristles, before retreating to his office to take the call.

"Hey Eric, what's up?" the candidate asks.

"Char...er...Colonel Brown, I am still troubled by the numbers in the district.  It was one thing when we were running against John Doolittle and could focus on the scandals," Jaye says.  "But now, with him out of the picture, we are basically stuck as a liberal running in a conservative district."

"Hey!  I am a moderate.  My website says so," exclaims Brown.  "Did you know I used to be a Republican?"

"Yes, Charlie, I mean, Colonel, I read that.  I think I wrote that in you bio.  But its not enough to call yourself a moderate.  You need to be moderate on some issues."

"Well, I support making it harder to win Bush's ill-conceived, flawed, and unconstitutional War on Terror by giving terrorists full U.S. constitutional rights"

"Not quite what I had in mind...Colonel.  I am thinking about this gun thing."

"What gun thing?" Brown asks.

"You know, the Supreme Court thing.  That crazy decision the Supreme Court issued last week...where is Anthony Kennedy when you need him?  You know, the one where they said that crazy right wingers get to keep their guns?"

"Yeah, crazy.  What was the Court thinking?  Everyone knows the 2nd Amendment is about the National Guard, not crazy right wingers and their guns.  What was it my buddy Barack Obama said, about uneducated conservatives clinging to their guns and God because they don't know better?"  Brown asks.

"Be careful, Charlie..."

"Colonel!"

"...err, Colonel.  Be careful about that Obama quote.  California may be a blue state, but Placer County and the 4th are pretty Red,"

"So you say...did I mention that I almost beat John Doolittle in 2006?" Brown asks.

"Yes, we know...but we need something else...something to prove you are a moderate."

"But what?  I can't come out in favor of the war, all the Code Pink volunteers will leave.  And if I say I am pro-life, the NOW volunteers will leave."

"How about the hate-filled gay marriage ban, you could support that!"

"That won't fly with the base either," Brown laments.

"Well, then it will have to be the gun thing.  You'll have to say you agree with the Court on this..."

"...Yeah" Brown exclaims.  "That will show that Sarah Brady for not sending any money to help.  I'll show her who can't win in this district.  What do I do?"

"I'm emailing you a press release. I borrowed the language from a Tom McClintock speech I Googled.  I don't quite understand it, but just put it on the letterhead and have Todd get it out."

"I'm looking at it now, it says I have been a gun owner since age 12...that's not exactly true..." Brown questions.

"Don't worry about it, we've had the art department airbrush in a rifle to one of the kid photos you sent us...just get the release out, and if asked, just put a glow in your eye and talk about how much you love shooting things...now on to tomorrow's schedule..."

All in fun, I hope, but seriously, I just remain unconvinced.  Any real Second Amendment advocate wouldn't have waited 4 days to issue a statement.  Charlie's smacks of political opportunism, and I am still firmly convinced he's a typical liberal masquerading as a moderate out of political necessity.