In this Aug. 9, 2019, photo, Democratic presidential candidate Montana Gov. Steve Bullock speaks at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. As a Democratic politician in deep-red Montana, Bullock has long searched for a middle ground on guns. Now a presidential candidate in a party pushing hard for new gun-control laws, he still is. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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The following profile of 2020 Democrat presidential candidate Governor Steve Bullock is unintentionally funny, but not in a make-you-laugh kind of way. Right off the bat, the AP’s Michelle L. Price refers to his home state as “deep-red Montana.”

Take a look at the history of the state’s elected Congresscritters, Senators and Governors and you see just as much blue as you do red. Big Sky Country has been deep purple since Hector was a pup. And the continued out-migration of California isn’t making it any more crimson.

Right now, the Montana has a Republican Congressman (the state has only one), a Senator from each party, and current Democrat Governor Bullock. So please, spare us the deep-red set-up.

You’d be forgiven for not knowing that Bullock’s running for president this year. He’s one of a slowly dwindling crowd of mostly indistinguishable (policy-wise) candidates. Colorado’s John Hickenlooper dropped out yesterday, not that anyone really noticed.

2020 Democrat candidate composite
Courtesy NBC News

Go ahead, see how many you can name.

The AP’s piece paints Governor Bullock as the reasonable voice of moderation where gun control is concerned. This in a group of Dems enthusiastically preaching registration, confiscation and jail for those who dare to resist.

The Governor, the AP says, doesn’t want to see Dems go “too far” in their zeal to disarm Mr. and Mrs. America.

What does Bullock consider too far? Not an “assault weapon” ban. He’s all for that. How about universal background checks (and all that goes with such a law)? He’s all-in on that, too.

So now we know what apparently constitutes the reasonable “middle ground” regarding the Second Amendment in today’s Democrat party; banning the really scary-looking guns and registering all of the rest…because that’s what universal background checks would mean if they’re going to actually enforce it.

Here’s the AP’s full piece . . .

By Michelle L. Price

As a Democratic politician in deep-red Montana, Steve Bullock has long searched for a middle ground on guns. Now a presidential candidate in a party pushing hard for new gun-control laws, he still is.

While many of his Democratic opponents go all-in on new proposals for restricting guns, responding to the latest string of mass shootings, Bullock is the rare voice of caution warning Democrats about going too far. While he embraces new restrictions — including a ban on assault weapons — he also worries about the wisdom and political viability of some of the new policies on the table, and fears that Democrats may be playing into the hands of the powerful gun lobby.

“I do have a different perspective than some of the field,” Bullock said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’ve lived through the political narrative at times that the NRA sort of stirs up, trying to suggest that every Democrat wants to take away everyone’s guns,” he said. “So, like having to register all your firearms, I don’t think that’s good policy, necessarily, and I’m not sure that it’s that good of politics if we want to win, as an example.”

Such concerns used to be common place, even signs of political savvy. Red state Democrats openly bragged about their gun ownership and defense of gun rights, in an attempt to neutralize the issue. But in a sign of how far the party has traveled, leading presidential candidates this year are far more likely to talk up plans for requiring universal background checks, banning assault weapons or registering guns. Opposition from the National Rifle Association is viewed as a badge of honor. If there’s a lane for a moderate on gun control in the race, it is nearly wide open.

Bullock’s positioning is not surprising. He won reelection as governor in 2016 despite President Donald Trump’s blowout victory in Montana and has billed himself as the Democrat who can understand Republican voters and win back the White House. But he’s struggled to win attention, support and financial backing in a crowded field topped by a former vice president who also claims sway with Trump voters. He’s at risk of not qualifying for the next debate.

As Bullock has searched for a middle ground on guns, he’s shifted some of his positions along the way. It’s an evolution he says many Americans can relate to.

“I think where I am is consistent with most people in this country right now, if we could ever get some of the divisive politics out of the issue,” he said in Thursday’s interview.

In 2000, when he mounted an unsuccessful primary campaign for Montana attorney general, he made a point of releasing a 10-point plan to address school shootings. The plan, only two years after the Columbine High School massacre rocked the nation, called for more modest changes like increased police presence in schools, more support and mentoring for students, and a law making it a state crime for a student to have a gun at school — a lapse Bullock at the time called “an outrage.”

When he ran for state attorney general again eight years later, he won despite his Republican opponent trying to paint him as soft on the 2nd Amendment. A year later, he publicly praised Montana’s Democratic senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester for opposing a suggestion from Obama Attorney General Eric Holder that the U.S. re-instate an assault weapons ban.

“Max and Jon are exactly right — we need to be enforcing the laws that we have on the books,” Bullock said in a statement released by Tester’s office. “These one-size-fits-all gun laws might be popular in some parts of the country, but they don’t work for Montana.”

In 2018, he came out in favor of universal background checks and a ban on the sale of assault weapons — policies he opposed two years earlier as he was running for reelection, according to a campaign spokesman at the time.

Bullock says the shift came in the wake of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

He and other governors met with Trump at the White House and discussed what could be done to stop future shootings. Bullock said he’s since had to order his state’s flags to be lowered seven times because of mass shootings.

“My conversion on assault weapons has been largely grounded in that,” he said.

After the Parkland shooting, Bullock said he and his children attended a local event put on by March for Our Lives, a gun-control group founded by students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Bullock said he heard the young people describe “the trauma of worrying about if they’re going to be safe at school.”

Bullock said assault weapons aren’t used for self-defense or hunting, “except in very rare instances,” and he sees his evolution as part of a broader shift across America. He cites the decision by Dick’s Sporting Goods last year to ban the sale of assault-style rifles and sales of any guns to someone under 21 in the wake of Parkland.

He said he knows that “certainly not everyone in my state is comfortable with some of the positions that I’ve taken or certainly bills that I’ve vetoed,” including a number of gun-rights bills backed by the National Rifle Association.

Can anyone think of even one gun control bill that a President Bullock would veto if it reached his desk? Go ahead. We’ll wait.

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61 COMMENTS

  1. The middle ground is not that the problem is guns, or is not guns, or is more guns or less guns. The problem is bad people doing bad things. The problem is HUMAN VIOLENCE.

    Focus on human behavior and we’d get somewhere.

    The US Secret Service Safe Schools Initiative focuses on human behavior. Where applied, pre-planned violent attacks are stopped while they are still a plan, before anyone gets hurt.

    The inner city gang problem has been focused on as a behavioral, communicable disease by CureViolence.org. They have an excellent track record, but Chicago kicked them out for stealing local politician’s thunder.

    That’s just two, there are many more.

    • The problem is the left doesn’t want to solve any of these problems. They claim to want to solve them, but in reality, they celebrate every mass shooting as another win for their argument. It’s the same with everything the left wants. Poor people? Socialism. Still poor people? More socialism. Global warming? Ban coal. Still global warming? Ban cars. Neo Nazis? Ban hate speech. Still neo Nazis? Ban free speech. Ban ban ban everything.

  2. I was forced to either open carry or deep conceal because of this deuchbag when I was eating out in Montana this summer. They can’t get constitutional carry in city limits or concealed carry in restaurants that serve alcohol because the cities elect the demonrat governors.

  3. Here we go again. Another hasn’t got a change in Hell of being nominated…Much less elected. Focus Focus Focus.

  4. Bullock IS NOT reasonable.

    In the context of his fellow contenders, he just looks that way because he is not completely on board with the Globalist Fantasy horseshit.

  5. The “middle ground” on Gun Control is “no.”

    One side is trying to ban things.
    One side is trying to overturn bans on things.
    The middle ground is just not banning anything else.

      • Sounds as if enough Commiefornians have moved into Montana to get Bullock elected and spread the disease of Leftardism,it is a plague that will overcome it’s host.

  6. But why, oh why do I NEVER hear them mentioning more severe sentencing for abusers of the right and the Amendment? Like “Straw Man Purchasers” going to prison for 20 years and being charged with whatever crimes the recipient of their assistance commits unto and including felony murder. Let’s see how many wives and girlfriends think they love somebody that much. And 20 or 25 years for a felon in possession and life if caught a second time. If they can’t consider this sort of thing then they really demonstrate they are hypocrites!! And this isn’t all, it’s just a sample of what I think the sentences should be whether or not new gun control laws are passed.

    • Timothy Toroian,

      … “Straw Man Purchasers” going to prison for 20 years and being charged with whatever crimes the recipient of their assistance commits unto and including felony murder. Let’s see how many wives and girlfriends think they love somebody that much.


      Democrats would never do that because they would lose two voters for 20+ years.

        • I think Bernie was toying with that idea, if memory serves (I haven’t searched online to check before writing this).

      • Mark it,the next Commiecrat restorative justice push will be to let felons vote in prison,they already have the deceased voting for them.

    • Why not get back to what the 2nd Amendment says and means, even the militia part, when taken in context. I will support anyone that supports the Constitution, all of the Constitution, and will not support nor vote for anyone that does not.

  7. I live in Montana. Deep red everywhere but the cities, no different than anywhere else across the u.s.

    Sad to see this state getting pushed left via propaganda.

  8. All I can say is “WHO”?!? I actually knew who Hickenlooper was what with all the Colorado idiocracy😫

    • Hickenpooper, speaking of Leftist Morons,is he still a active Commiecrat presidential candidate or did he fall off the face of the earth,either way nobody cares what will become of him.

  9. I just dont get it. Why do all the politicians and their celebrity spokes people want to take away and outlaw our guns? It is insanity to think that will make the world a better place full of better humans. All the conspiracy theorists must be right. Only if they want us even more tightly controlled, mere serfs, peasants on their plantations, would they be so energetically demanding we be stripped of our rights. It really is that simple.

    • “Now I will tell you the answer to my question. It is this. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from the oligarchies of the past in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives. They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just around the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me.”
      ― George Orwell, 1984

    • Because they can’t give our sovereignty to the UN and the one-world socialist government, as long as we the people are armed.

  10. The Democrat party has been taken over by Communists a very long time ago. It’s just that they took their mask off now. Those that are left who don’t know it are simply “Useful Idiots”.

    • Those same Democrats have been running the school system for 50+ years now. Today if you ask a kid who’s scored straight A’s in history and political science classes what a communist is, they don’t know. Ask them what a Marxist is, they don’t know. Ask them what the Fabian Society is, they don’t know. Ask them about Nazis or Fascists, they don’t know that either… and those kids vote.

      • Those same Democrats destroyed the 2A education in schools. And the rifle teams in High Schools as well. Schools with Armed Teachers or who have rifle teams still are in Republican areas.

        President Trump is correct. The Democrats destroyed the cities.
        BTW
        it was a black man who asked the President to speak out about the terrible situation in West Baltimore. Thank god he did.

        BLACK Former NFLer Asked Trump To Call Out King Elijah in Baltimore! 11 minutes long

  11. “All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The communist party must command all the guns, that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party.” – Mao Tze Tung“
    The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subjugated races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subjugated races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that the supply of arms to the underdogs is a sine qua non for the overthrow of any sovereignty. So let’s not have any native militia or native police.” -Adolf Hitler

  12. This pos has twice vetoed no license needed concealed carry. I believe this presidential run is just to get some national exposure. Later this fall he will switch to the Senate race against our Republican senator Steve Daines.
    Unfortunately he is still very popular in most cities and will be a formidable opponent. We will have a lot of hard work to do to prevent this liberal lier ( like all the others) from winning.

  13. A virulent pandemic is overdue by many decades, at this point.

    Since Leftists hang out in cities, a real nasty one sure could come in handy about now…

  14. I have never been more worried about my 2nd Amendment rights then I am right now. I knew we could not trust Trump from the get go and now we are forced between him and all these nutjobs running on the left. Wayne at the NRA has shit all over us and let us down while sitting in his mansions and riding in his limos. What does the NRA do vote him in again!?!?

    • (sigh)

      Richard, dear Richard…

      (sighs again, places hand over eyes and shakes head in disbelief)

      How many times must we all say this? There are no “2A Rights”. There is the Natural (e.g., God-given) right to self defense that has always predated any man made document, including the Constitution. The 2A does not speak to We The People to grant us this right…it speaks from us To The Government to tell them they cannot infringe on it.

      This natural right will always exist. Even if the 2A is ever gutted in the future, this Natural right will manifest itself and be codified elsewhere in another document. But the right is always ours to claim.

  15. Governor Bollocks has vetoed permitless carry at least twice (and possibly thrice). Out of pure spite, mind you, as our neighbors have not had an issue with it.

  16. Sure, but the sad thing is there’s just as many Republicans signing on to this Big government control. And why not? Not a single one is scared of us, “We the People“.
    There are way too many lazy Americans allowing others to do all the work. #GetInvolved

  17. Hollywood Is The Blame For All These Shootings!
    Every Movie, Video Games and Most Television Shows Are Nothing But Gun Violence!
    The Government Needs To Regulate Hollywood!
    “NO More Guns In Movies, Video Games Or On Television!”
    “WE NEED Hollywood Control!”
    The Politicians & All The Gun Grabbers “AREN’T” Intelligent Enough To Get The Guns Off The Criminals!
    So They All have To Resort To There Low Life Style Of Trying To Take Away The Rights Of The Innocent!
    But They All Keep There Guns And Armed Guards Etc.! They All Want To Make It Real Easy For The Criminals! And The Criminals Just Love All Of Them For That!
    It’s Really All About Gun Confiscation!
    There Is “NO” Real Justice In The U.S.A. Anymore!
    Plus The News Media Goes On & On & On and Gives These Mentally ill People All The recognition There Looking For!

  18. Reasonable? Pro 2A?? Not even close to the Truth.

    Bullock is a complete whore to the DNC and dark money…he is only surpassed (at least in Montana) by the even bigger whore Jon Tester. Two election cycles in a row (2012 and 2018) Tester had the distinction [sic] of being the greediest (documented) Congresscritter…taking the most money from K and L street lobbyists. Jon sucks as a gentleman “rancher”, but, he is hellonwheels at selling his soul (vote / influence) for money.

    Tester and Bullock brag about what they have done for Montana’s veteran population…horse pucky. Our VA is just as F’d up as Phoenix and Washington DC’s clinics.

    Steve Daines is no ball of fire, however, he is quietly consistent in his (mostly conservative) views and voting.

    I like Gianforte…don’t know if he can win against a strong D opponent for Governor. I really like Tim Fox and think he would be a strong conservative Governor but so many people don’t know anything about him.

    2020 (State wide and National level) is gonna suck even more than 2018 did as far as the rhetoric of campaigning, lies, pandering, dark money and MSM propaganda…get ready for the ride folks and hang on tight.

  19. Pro-tip: There is no difference between the two parties. They both exist for the sole purpose of soliciting political donations to get people elected so they can reward party loyalty with government jobs and contracts. Any talk of policy is just marketing. Like a beer commercial suggesting if you drink this beer you’ll have cool friends and sex with beautiful women.

  20. If you say you are a Democrat, Liberal, Progressive or Socialist you are a just a Damn Communist & ALL Commies are Demons. I would just line you up on a wall & Shoot you in your Fuckin Lyin Ass Face. There is NO SUCH THING as a “Reasonable” Dumbasscrap. Kill them Now or Kill them Later they Must be Exterminated Completely before they EXTERMINATE YOU!

    • And once again, we have another example of why a growing number of Americans with little skin in the game think “Red Flag” confiscation laws may be a good thing. Honestly- if you go around espousing this sort of thing in open forum where you have no idea who may be in the audience, so to speak, you only add more gasoline to the flames.

      “… Kill them Now or Kill them Later they Must be Exterminated Completely before they EXTERMINATE YOU!” Really? No due process? Breaking no law other than expressing an opinion? Man, put the bottle down and keep away from guns and sharp objects for a while- OK?

      I’m highly invested in the US and Iowa Constitutions, as well as deep pocket investments in real funds and time, yet I cannot believe the Founders, nor very many people of even moderate intellect would find your proposal/fantasy even moderately sane. You are probably more inline with what drives Antifa. I don’t ever want to be associated with this sort of drivel.

      And I also cannot believe I’ve spent even this much time commenting on an article about someone who isn’t even in the running for the Dem’s Presidential candidacy. Cripes. Just a magnet for one-liners.

  21. If people are shocked at what happened in Philly this week imagine what will happen if they try to pull a New Zealand. There will be a dozen incidents every day with folks that don’t care and have nothing to lose. Like most people I’ve plenty to lose and I’m not going down in a blaze of glory over my firearms but what about the .1% who flip out and decide to make a show of it. They really should remember the sheer number of guns makes rounding up a dangerous and impossible task for cops to implement, because They are going to outsource this to the police and expect them to make it a high priority.

  22. Yeah, Blah, Blah Blah. Hitlery said she was “Pro 2A” too. Had a TV commercial to boot. Just lying asshats pandering for votes.

    • Whenever a Democrat says they’re pro-2A or pro-firearm I think of the photoshopped image of Obama firing (?) a shotgun…lies compounded with more lies…

      Democrats remind me of one of the world’s most numerous Faith’s wherein it is acceptable, even ethical (by their standards), to lie, cheat, steal, bluster, threaten legal action, or physically attack non-believers.

  23. Reasonable would be to stop worrying about controlling guns and start worrying about controlling people who need help adjusting to reality, to their situations, to self control, to seeking and getting help. For those who cannot see themselves as problematic when they are, it is up to their families, friends, co-workers or whoever notices that they need help, to step up and see if they can help them get help. We have to stop ignoring problems and hoping they go away by themselves. This is how we got to where we are now.

    And states should bring back mental health institutions and well designed work/farm/factory-like hospitals that help people while helping them feel like valuable contributors to society.

  24. I’ve got a lot of views on gun control. Guns, they’re like women, I like to put my hands on them and control them. Put my finger in the special tight place… I’m all about that. At the same time, one shouldn’t play with them when drinking. Might cause a negligent discharge. Try and avoid those.

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