A photograph of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin packing heat was praised at the first ever joint fundraiser between the Fresno County Republican Party and the National Rifle Association.

Republican attendee Barry Bauer said, “Using it (the photo of Palin holding a rifle) as a tool to get votes is reasonable… the other party is very anti-gun.”

Fresno for Obama spokesperson, Les Hiatt said the republicans have it all wrong saying Barack Obama, “believes that there is a 2nd amendment and does support a right to bear arms. Even Joe Biden says in a speech one time that he has 2 shot guns.”

In the face of economic crisis and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the right to bears arms has been somewhat of a side-lined issue.

Nonetheless, it’s an issue that could hold tremendous weight in battleground states, like Pennsylvania where polling shows 4 in 10 voters own a fire arm.

Obama has stated on various different occasions his support of the 2nd amendment.

Still many valley republicans are skeptical.

Both sides of the political aisle agree the photo of Palin holding a gun is more than just an image.

Click on the link to see Carolyn Bruck’s full report.