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The Most and Least Impressive Photos of Presidents Holding Guns

Not very impressive.

Over the weekend, the White House released a photo of President Obama firing a shotgun in an attempt to prove that he has, at least one time, indulged in the great American pastime of "shooting at stuff." Unfortunately, the photo seemed to fail to impress the nation's skeptical gun folk, who criticized Obama for everything from his grip to his aim to his gut. However, other presidents have looked even worse while posing with guns. Herewith, nineteen photos of presidents (and presidents-to-be) holding and firing guns, in ascending order of impressiveness.

19. Bill Clinton wants to ban this, so not impressive at all.

FILE - In this April 25, 1994 file photo, President Bill Clinton holds a Colt AR-15 rifle during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, where he launched efforts to pass the assault weapons ban. Dayton, Ohio Police Lt. Randy Bean, whose fellow officer Steve Whalen was gunned down with an AR-15 in 1991, looks on at left. The White House has released a photo of President Barack Obama firing a gun, two days before he is set to travel to Minnesota to discuss gun control. It shows Obama shooting at clay targets on the range at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, where he says he engages in the sport "all the time." The image was released at a time when Obama is pushing a package of gun-control measures in response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. But the image of a U.S. president holding a gun is certainly nothing new. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File)

18. Harry Truman about to blow his head off.

09 Jun 1948, Bremerton, Washington State, USA --- Original caption: June 9, 1948 - Bremerton, Washington: President Truman looks into the barrel of a Grand rifle during an inspection of Marine troops in Bremerton, Washington, before proceeding to Seattle, June 10, 1948 on his cross country tour. Speaking in a Seattle stadium that was about half full, the Chief Executive again charged that the Republican controlled congress has prevented passage of important legislation. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

17. While dove hunting, George W. Bush looks like he just heard the smoke monster, but it was probably a dove.

01 Sep 1994, Houston, Texas, USA --- Journalists accompany Texas governor candidate George W. Bush on his hunting expedition in a field on opening day of dove season in Houston. --- Image by © Greg Smith/CORBIS

16. George H.W Bush dressed like the Bolivian national flag for some reason.

US Pres. George Bush dressed in hunting gear w. friend/oil heir William Farish, both sporting rifles, on quail hunt at Lazy F ranch. (Photo by David Valdez/White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

15. The aforementioned Obama photo.

The following six photos are all pretty neutral — neither impressive nor embarrassing.

14 (tie). FDR aims at something.

20 Jul 1920 --- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic nominee for Vice President is a lover of sports and outdoor life. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

14 (tie). Jimmy Carter at a gun show.

17 Jan 1984, Atlanta, Georgia, USA --- FILE - In this Nov. 14, 1984 file photo, former President Jimmy Carter sights down the barrel of a shotgun as Reinhart Fajen, a gunstock manufacturer, checks the fit, in Atlanta as Carter stopped during a visit to the national shooting sports foundation shot show at the World Congress Center. The White House has released a photo of President Barack Obama firing a gun, two days before he is set to travel to Minnesota to discuss gun control. It shows Obama shooting at clay targets on the range at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, where he says he engages in the sport all the time. The image was released at a time when Obama is pushing a package of gun-control measures in response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. But the image of a U.S. president holding a gun is certainly nothing new. (AP Photo/Ric Feld, File) --- Image by © Ric Feld/ /AP/Corbis

14 (tie): FDR again.

1917, Indian Head, Maryland, USA --- Franklin D. Roosevelt on a Rifle Range --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

14 (tie): George W. Bush getting revenge on one of those doves that scared him so much earlier.

01 Sep 1994, Houston, Texas, USA --- Texas governor candidate George W. Bush aims his shotgun while hunting dove on opening day in Houston. --- Image by © Greg Smith/CORBIS

14 (tie). Calvin Coolidge shooting clay pigeons at home.

FILE - In this Sept. 6, 1928 file photo, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge shoots at clay pigeons at his vacation home on the Brule at Superior, Wis, He scored 29 out of 37. The White House has released a photo of President Barack Obama firing a gun, two days before he is set to travel to Minnesota to discuss gun control. It shows Obama shooting at clay targets on the range at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, where he says he engages in the sport "all the time." The image was released at a time when Obama is pushing a package of gun-control measures in response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. But the image of a U.S. president holding a gun is certainly nothing new. (AP Photo/File)

14 (tie): George H.W. Bush holding a gun he was given as a gift.

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 1992 file photo, U.S. President George H. Bush displays a rifle given to him as a gift, in Billings, Mont., as his Chief of Staff James Baker, left, watches during the campaign stop. The White House has released a photo of President Barack Obama firing a gun, two days before he is set to travel to Minnesota to discuss gun control. It shows Obama shooting at clay targets on the range at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, where he says he engages in the sport "all the time." The image was released at a time when Obama is pushing a package of gun-control measures in response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. But the image of a U.S. president holding a gun is certainly nothing new. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)

8.) Here's Bill Clinton sitting behind, and possibly touching, a very large gun, which makes him a badass by proximity.

28 Oct 1994, Kuwait --- American President Bill Clinton visits American soldiers based in Kuwait. --- Image by © Larry Downing/Sygma/Corbis

7. Jimmy Carter sitting on the absolute biggest gun he could find.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter reaches for the barrel of on old Navy gun that overlooks the Mississippi River in Burlington, Iowa’s Crapo Park, Wednesday, August 22, 1979. Daughter Amy looks and listens. (AP Photo/Thumma)

6. Dwight Eisenhower gets major points for shooting simultaneously with Winston Churchill.

1944: From left to right: American General Dwight D Eisenhower (1890 - 1969, later the 34th President of the United States), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) and Lt-Gen Omar Bradley (1893-1981), shooting with the American Army's new carbine at an American armoured troops camp in England. The Allied war chiefs are escorting the British prime minister on a tour of inspection. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

5. A young, terrifying-looking Teddy Roosevelt will not hesitate to use that knife to finish the job.

1885, USA --- A portrait of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) in buckskin, without his trademark glasses. This portrait is dated 1885, the year he retired to his ranch in the Dakota Territory, following the death of his mother and first wife. He would go on to become the Police Commissioner of New York City, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, a hero of the Spanish-American War, Governor of New York, the 26th President of the US, and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. --- Image by © CORBIS

4. Dwight Eisenhower just going nuts with a machine gun.

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower fires a light machine gun from the hip. June 1944 --- Image by © CORBIS

3. Ronald Reagan single-handedly defeated the Soviet Union with this assault rifle even though it weighs as much as he does.

2. An older Teddy Roosevelt killed an animal to hang on his wall. Super impressive.

ca. 1900s --- Theodore Roosevelt holds a leopard he killed on an African safari. --- Image by © CORBIS

1. But not as impressive as this even larger dead animal that Roosevelt killed for absolutely no reason.

1909, Sotik, Kenya --- Original caption: 1909- Sotik, Africa- Photo shows Theodore Roosevelt standing over the dead rhino. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
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Photos: Dennis Cook/Corbis; Bettmann/Corbis; Greg Smith/Corbis; David Valdez/Getty Images; null/Corbis; Ric Feld/Corbis; Eugene Tucker/Bettmann/Corbis; Greg Smith/Corbis; AP/Corbis; Ron Edmonds/Corbis; Larry Downing/Corbis; Thumma; Keystone; null/Corbis; Corbis; Alliance Voice; Corbis; Bettmann/Corbis

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