I was an unaffiliated voter until Spring of 2002. I saw the fascist tendencies of BushCO, went down to the clerk and changed my affiliation to the Democratic Party. Over the last few years, I have given thousands to Democratic candidates, spent countless hours walking for candidates, organized a phone bank to hassle right wing talk show hosts in 2006, and have tried to influence the rednecks that I tend hang out with to vote for Democrats.
One of the most frequently voiced concerns is that the Democrats want to take away our guns. Over and over, I would point to Schwietzer, Tester, Udall, Richardson, Dean and other Democrats that not only don't want to take your guns, but are strong supporters of the 2nd amendment. We got a lot of their votes in 2006, and Colorado has Democratic led delegation in DC, a Democratic Governor, a Democratic State House and Senate and is trending strongly Deomcratic for 2008. We're kicking ass and taking names out West, but one issue can wreck the coalition - Guns. We need that 3-5% to keep everything moving in the right direction. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) is trying to fuck it up and based on the reception I got down at the gun shop yesterday, she's well on her way.
I walked in the door with dozen fresh donuts, and said hello to the owner and a couple of the regulars. The owner has set up a Barber shop type atmosphere at the gun shop and about forty regulars circulate through to talk about guns, politics, woman, etc. during the week. Today, it wasn't "Hey Van, how ya' doing?" "Van, good shooting on Friday night." or "Van, what t-shirt are wearing today?" It was, "Van, you lied to us. Look at this." John hands me a copy of the NRA alert on McCarthy's proposed legislation. Here it is:
The Most Sweeping Gun Ban Ever Introduced In Congress; McCarthy Bill Bans Millions More Guns Than The Clinton Gun Ban
Saturday, February 24, 2007
On Feb. 14, 2007, Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 1022, a bill with the stated purpose, “to reauthorize the assault weapons ban, and for other purposes.”
McCarthy’s verbiage warrants explanation. Presumably, what she means by “assault weapons ban” is the Clinton Gun Ban of 1994. Congress allowed the ban to expire in 2004 for multiple reasons, including the fact that federal, state and local law enforcement agency studies showed that guns affected by the ban had been used in only a small percentage of crime, before and after the ban was imposed.
With the nation’s murder rate 43% lower than in 1991, and the re-legalized guns still used in only a small percentage of crime, reauthorizing the Clinton Gun Ban would be objectionable enough. But McCarthy’s “other purposes” would make matters even worse. H.R. 1022 would ban every gun banned by the Clinton ban, plus millions more guns, including:
• Every gun made to comply with the Clinton ban. (The Clinton ban dictated the kinds of grips, stocks and attachments new guns could have. Manufacturers modified new guns to the Clinton requirements. H.R. 1022 would ban the modified guns too.)
• Guns exempted by the Clinton ban. (Ruger Mini-14s and 30s and Ranch Rifles; .30 cal. carbines; and fixedmagazine, semi-automatic, center-fire rifles that hold more than 10 rounds.)
• All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense. H.R. 1022 would ban them because they have “any characteristic that can function as a grip,” and would also ban their main component, called the “receiver.”)
• All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have “any characteristic that can function as a grip.”
• Target shooting rifles. (E.g., the three centerfire rifles most popular for marksmanship competitions: the Colt AR-15, the Springfield M1A and the M1 “Garand.”)
• Any semi-automatic shotgun or rifle an Attorney General one day claims isn’t “sporting,” even though the constitutions of the U.S. and 44 states, and the laws of all 50 states, recognize the right to use guns for defense.
• 65 named guns (the Clinton law banned 19 by name); semi-auto fixed-magazine pistols of over 10 rounds capacity; and frames, receivers and parts used to repair or refurbish guns.
H.R. 1022 would also ban the importation of magazines exempted by the Clinton ban, ban the sale of a legally-owned “assault weapon” with a magazine of over 10 rounds capacity, and begin backdoor registration of guns, by requiring private sales of banned guns, frames, receivers and parts to be conducted through licensed dealers. Finally, whereas the Clinton Gun Ban was imposed for a 10-year trial period, H.R. 1022 would be a permanent ban.
Please be sure to contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to oppose H.R. 1022!
You can call your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121.
I read through it. Looks like at least four weapons and every pistol magazine in my safe were covered by the ban, and we spent the next hour talking about how many of our guns would be or could be effected by this piece of legislation. I convinced a lot of these guys that this sort of thing wouldn't happen if we elected a Democratic House and Senate in DC. Looks like I lied to them. The coastal Dems obviously don't get it. They have the power they have to the extent they support Western Democrats. This sucks the wind out of our sails. We may as well be pissing into the wind out here. Shave 3-5% off our vote count with the gun issue and we are screwed. Good Work, you stupid motherfuckers.
This begs the question. Are Democrats fucking idiots? Is losing millions of votes worth it? You want to control guns, do it at the State level.
Updated 7:58 AM Mountain Time: I didn't know if I was going to be troll rated into oblivion when I posted this diary. The Kossack response has answered a few questions. Kossack Democrats are not fucking idiots. Losing million of votes is not worth it and controlling guns at that State level, if at all, is the an approach a lot of folks support. The fact that the bill has no co-sponsors shows that the Democratic Party does value the 3-5% that Western Dems need to keep the juggernaut moving.
