Gosh, things are starting to get a little uncomfortable in the Senate these days. The senior harridan from California went to all the trouble to draw up a new, more restrictive “assault weapons” ban, but can’t manage to round up enough members of her own party to get even close to passage. So Harry Reid, recognizing the uncompromising tyranny of mathematics, yanked the AWB from the larger gun control bill so that it won’t kill the chances of the remaining, less off-putting items on the gun-controllers’ to-do list; namely universal background checks and anti-gun trafficking measures. But while DiFi isn’t happy her baby is mostly dead, she’s been promised a vote on adding her common sense gun ban back to the big bill as an amendment once it reaches the Senate floor. Which is exactly what some of her colleagues in the majority fear most . . .
An up or down vote on the AWB amendment will inconveniently put a clear spotlight on each member’s gun rights bona fides. In other words, they won’t be able to tell the folks back home, ‘Gee, I’m a gun owner and support the Second Amendment, but closing the gun show loophole is just too important, so I had to vote for the overall package.’
With a clear binary option, as thehill.com reports, red state and vulnerable Dems will be in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t position:
Democrats facing tough reelection races will either attract the ire of the National Rifle Association or prominent gun control activists such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I). A vote against the ban could spark primary challenges that could weaken Democrats in the general election.
It’s one thing to throw in your lot with the civilian disarmament caucus and stump for a gun grab when you represent a safely blue state like California, New York, New Jersey or Massachusetts. It’s another kettle of fish if you’re a “moderate” Dem representing a toss-up or right-leaning state. In those cases, a bright line vote in favor outlawing your constituents’ ARs could be detrimental to your reelection prospects. Particularly if your term is up in 2014.
Even Democrats who reliably vote with their leadership, such as Sens. Mark Warner (Va.), Tim Kaine (Va.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), on Wednesday said they were not certain they would support the assault weapons ban. Warner faces reelection in 2014. Kaine, who formerly headed the Democratic National Committee, was on Obama’s short list to be his running mate in 2008.
Bummer. But Feinstein intends to hold her pal Harry to his promise. She laid out her thinking for CNN via realclearpolitics.com:
This is very important to me and I’m not going to lay down and play dead. I think the American people have said in every single public poll that they support this kind of legislation. It’s aimed to protect children, to protect schools and malls. It’s aimed to dry up the supply of these over time. And it came out on a 10-8 vote of the Judiciary Committee. Not to give me a vote on this would be a major betrayal of trust.
So when Feinstein offers up the AWB amendment to the gun control bill on the floor, she’ll be putting some of her more vulnerable fellow Dems in a mighty tight spot. A vote for the ban would only further enflame their already highly PO’d RKBA constituents. The ones who aren’t likely to forget before election day what the blue bunch has tried to do their gun rights. Then again, the Gun Control Industrial Complex won’t be very understanding of a ‘no’ vote either, no matter how precarious their home state electoral position may be.
“People are not going to say, ‘That’s a tough vote for them, let’s not do anything,’ ” said Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. “There is a feeling that to win this thing we need all the Democrats. That means people who are in tough races in 2014 don’t get passes. I would expect issue ads and advocacy for all senators.”
Rock meets hard place. Brought to you by the senior senator from the great state of California.
DGU how? No defense occurred. ADW, certainly.
I not quite sure what some of you guys are talking about..The 10mm is by far the most versitile round around. It really is. Day by day more people are picking up on this and I could not be more happy. You can own one gun and go from .40 cal power – Bear stoping full loads and you can do it with one g29 gen 4. As for availability, well it’s all over the place out here in AZ and if you look on ammoseek or the other list it ranges from 50 cents – 2.00 bucks for the best you can buy. The 9mm is actually a little more because it’s all gone. Now, I understand that when things calm down It WILL cost a little more but it’s not bad and it’s growing in popularity everyday. I don’t think it’s recoil is bad at all and I LOVE the fact that with one firearm I can gear up for anything the day calls for. Try one, you will love it!!
Love her overwrought, jacked up interview style. Give us a break sister. Kept waiting for that “unloaded” gun to go off while she was waving it around with her finger on the trigger. iDIoT
This is the great thing about American politics. Just when you start to think that the Republican party is dead from self-inflicted wounds, here come the Democrats to prove that they can do the whole self-immolation thing even better.
I loved where they showed her firing it. Leaning back as far as possible and visibly displeased when the gun fired, with a look on her face that said, “eww, guns! Icky!”
Their plan is to attach her AWB legislation as an amendment to a “Must Pass” bill.
Do you now understand why this is not dead yet?
Conceal carry permits are tax revenue generators giving up something that creates revenue for the state is difficult for a politician to do.
This news story was especially helpful in illustrating that the sole qualification to be a TV news reporter is complete, utter, airheaded stupidity.
This thread leaves me with some introspect regarding the practice of new years gunfire. I live in rural area where this is common. The real problem is the folks who do no give thought to , or have an understanding of the external ballistics of what they are shooting. I would agree that firing into the air with anything other than birdshot should be banned.
Jeepjockey59, i think youʻre way off base.
Violent movies and video games are no different than violence in books. would you stop your kids from reading Lord of the Rings or something because there is violence?
entertainment is entertainment: the violence level hasnt changed, just the delivery. there is no proven correlation between people playing violent video games or watching violent movies and actually committing acts of violence. its a myth perpetrated by people from past generations who can adapt to new things and dont put the effort into actually understanding what they are. this same attitude is what fueled the utterly retarded panics surrounding such innocuous things like harry Potter and Pokemon. its just a case of “I donʻt understand it, therefore it must be bad”. and thatʻs the attitude im getting from you.
this same unwillingness to understand is why we have to constantly fight back against willfuly ignorant gun grabbers.
also, millions upon millions of gamers play these violent video games every day. the only reason they are connected with some shooters is simply because they exist. its like blaming a shooting on bicycles because the killer happened to love mountain biking. its an extremely popular hobby, of COURSE some killers will enjoy it. hell, games are now more popular than tv in the 18-34 age demographic. its simply a case of coincidence since there is so much of it out there.
“Violent movies and video games are no different than violence in books.”
You CANNOT be serious! Unless your violent novels depict visible brutality and gore, you are WAY too full of yourself.
EVERYBODY knows there’s a big difference. Even you.
Anyone know if the price is going to come down to the previously mentioned $6,800 after the initial launch? Thanks.
So your saying the NFL encourages mass shootings when they run up and down a grass lawn with applied white stripes while holding a small synthetic spheroid shaped object?
If you kill too many predators, it will upset the natural balance and other problems will occur from it. Like what happened with wolves in Yellowstone.
If there are too many predators it will upset the natural balance and other problems will occur from it. Balance has two ends to it.
Find it funny the only Dems who want the AWB is the Kaliforian hag and Obama both Obama and Biden dont have reelection SO only Dems in total fascist strongholds want it.
Almost all the Dumoldcraps want it. Only the ones in the fascist strongholds can afford to go public with it.
Don’t want my movies, games or guns censored, thank you very much. My choice. Land of the free and all that.
Bellingham is kinda small-town, even by Washington standards, but even the police in Bellingham have DNA kits.
Apparently this information has yet to filter down to the drug-dealing types.
Everyone I know who describes themselves as a ‘centrist’ is actually a liberal with one or two exceptions that they claim makes them a centrist. Being a liberal who likes guns and a strong national defense is not a centrist.
If you have “never sided with Rush Limbaugh, Sam Yorty, Dr. Laura, or Sarah Palin”, then you are definitely a (modern day definition of) liberal. A centrist would have sided with them at least half the time.
Labels are not divisive, but descriptive. Perhaps the use of adjectives in front of the label will help lessen the sting of a broadly defined position. “Fiscal conservative and social liberal” is how my “centrist” friends like to describe themselves. But in general, the term ‘liberal’, ‘progressive’, ‘conservative’, or ‘libertarian’ gives a pretty good illustration of a person, yes?
As for the bashing of certain types, well, that’s America and that’s free speech. You should see some of the quotes that our founding fathers threw about when discussing each other and the type of persons they were. Even the worst bloggers and their comments wouldn’t compete with them.
But in the end, I wish you would not go, as the community benefits from diverse points of views. Perhaps it is tough to stomach at times but truth and honesty combined with wit and passion will create quite an entertaining and educational conversation.
“Now get in the pit and try to love someone.” — Bob Ritchie
Just to be clear, the Constitution has always trumped treaties.
Didn’t have to put the amendment about the constitution. Ried vs Covern in the 50’s rule that no foreign treaty gives the government powers/ abilities not given or allowed by the constitution.
Who else used the preview feature of the video player to skip directly to the boob scene?
No, U voting for anti-second amendment pols will do that
Dan I’ve read about half the book and several of your articles. Admire your wit and eriting. But something in the body lanyuage in the video and now your Fearless Leader crack got to the something undefined that was bugging me. You are just to quick to demean someone you dont agree with…and sadly that seems to be the hallmark of the progressive who insists he’s right facts be damned. All that travel and all that listening…and no honest answer about Obama and the anti’s post Sandy Hook? Really?
As a teacher this kind of defenseless mindset pisses me off to no end. As a teacher, as a leader, one must take the responsibility of those in their charge.
The NRA should not have to point out that teachers must defend their students either; but the progressive liberal mindset will eventually (if it hasn’t already) destroy our culture.