Out of context? Paul voted against the PLCAA, that's all that's important to know if, like me, you spent time and money lobbying for its passage.
So McCain didn't support one of Ron Paul's looney bills
Out of context in the sense that you act as if that is the only gun related action in Paul's 20 years in Congress. Actually, it is the only one which can possibly be misinterpreted as anti-gun. I think Paul was wrong on the commerce clause in that vote, and agree with Dave Kopel that the PLCAA was quite possibly the only correct application of the commerce clause in recent memory, but I'm not going to try to lie to people and say that Paul voted the way he did because he is anti-gun. He voted the way he did because he dislikes federal interference in state tort laws.
If I were trying to propagate such a lie, I would at least try to find one other example of his "anti-gun" behavior.
What is looney about proposing the repeal of federal firearms laws? I think it's a good idea.
Back in the 1980's, I remember people telling me to stop supporting looney libertarian ideas like privatizing Socialist Security. Fortunately, some of us just don't listen when an idea we know is good is called looney. Now the idea has become so acceptable that we might live to see at least partial control of our own retirement planning. The same thing happened with school vouchers, another formerly looney libertarian idea. I think these changes are good.
The same thing can happen to federal firearms laws, and you can help. Instead of calling a good idea "looney" why not just tone it down one notch and call it a good idea that is unrealistic at this time?
Now for some context when comparing McCain and Paul:
McCain wants to end private, unregulated gun transactions in America. We all know the so-called "gun show loophole" he wants to close is really a "private sale loophole" which will quickly escape the confines of gun shows. It seems like he has the same respect for individual gun rights as he does for individual rights to political expression: he thinks it's OK as long as government is watching over those pesky individuals, but real individual freedom is not OK with John McCain. Paul thinks the feds should butt out of gun shows.
McCain also wants only rich and politically connected people to have guns, just like he wants only rich and politically connected people to be able to talk about politicians before an election. Banning cheap handguns is not a good idea if you need a handgun and can't afford an expensive one. Paul thinks the price of your handgun should be an individual decision, not a federal one.
McCain also loves trigger locks, and says he is intrigued by "smart guns" which (unless their technology fails at the wrong moment) will only allow the owner to fire the gun. Paul again thinks such things should be at the discretion of individuals.
McCain said he was open to voting for an assault weapon ban, depending on the details.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “McCain Calls for Hearings” Aug 17, 1999
Ron Paul was never open to voting for any mean-looking weapons ban, regardless of details.