For Democrats, Gun Control Fades From Agenda

(IStockPhoto)

A decade ago, the calculus was simple: Those who wanted greater gun control aligned with the Democrats. And those who wanted fewer restrictions on guns turned to the Republicans.

No longer.

Though an amendment to mandate that states recognize concealed weapons permits issued by other states, effectively allowing people to carry concealed weapons across state lines, narrowly failed on Wednesday, it garnered 58 votes in the Democrat-dominated Senate. (It needed 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.)

On Tuesday, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg called the amendment, sponsored by South Dakota Republican John Thune, "about as anti-police, pro-gun trafficker piece of legislation that has ever come before the United States Senate."

Among those who backed the amendment was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who was joined by Southern and Midwestern Democrats in voting yes. Other Democrats who backed the amendment included Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. The New York Times has a full breakdown here.

In fact, it fell to two Republicans, George Voinovich of Ohio and Dick Lugar of Indiana, to effectively prevent the amendment from passing.

Despite the fact that Democrats control both the executive branch and Congress, supporters of gun control have had few opportunities to celebrate this year. The Senate moved to weaken the District of Columbia's strong gun laws (though the House stalled the legislation, which was attached to the D.C. Voting Rights bill) and Congress voted to allow individuals to carry guns in national parks.

"It's been a very difficult period," Peter Hamm, of the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence, told Hotsheet. "It's been frustrating that in the first six months of a Democratic administration with a Democratic Congress, that Congress hasn't seen fit to go in the right direction on the gun issue."

Hamm said there was "an awful lot of political gamesmanship" going on around Wednesday's vote. He said the amendment was put forth in part "to force Democrats from certain states to register what they consider a difficult vote" and called its defeat the first major victory of the year from the perspective of gun control advocates.

Indeed, for many Democrats a vote for gun control is a losing proposition. Reid, who is facing a potentially difficult 2010 reelection campaign in Nevada, knew his decision to vote for the amendment would help insulate him from charges that he is insufficiently committed to the second amendment. As Glenn Thrush notes, Arkansas Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor initially voted no on the amendment but changed that vote to yes when it became clear that it would be defeated, presumably to protect himself against similar charges.

Voters have generally moved away from pro-gun control positions in recent years, despite high-profile shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech and elsewhere. In April, a NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll found that just 53 percent of Americans favored a law to ban the sale of assault weapons and semiautomatic rifles. In 1991, that figure was 75 percent.

An ABC News/Washington Post Poll found that same month that 51 percent of Americans favor tougher gun control laws, down from 61 percent in 2007 and 67 percent in 1999.

Shortly after the vote on the amendment, the National Rifle Association sent out a celebratory statement stating that, despite the loss, the vote "shows that a bipartisan majority agrees with the NRA." Among the senators the NRA thanked for their efforts to pass the amendment was Democrat Jim Webb, who the group hailed along with "all senators who voted in favor of this amendment on both sides of the aisle."

[jimbobbeefsteak]

"Who is trying to disarm you?"

The democrat regime currently in control of the U.S. federal government. Try to keep up now.

[gunownerdan]

I would like to see bannednancy, or anyone else who reads this, to try and say these quotes are false...........

"The peaceable part of mankind will be continually overrun by the vile and abandoned, while they neglect the means of self defense."
Thomas Paine

"The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
Samuel Adams

"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
Alexander Hamilton

"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun."
Patrick Henry

"No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
President Thomas Jefferson

"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed -- unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
James Madison

"To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them."
George Mason

[quapawsix]

We see how they are they only vote for or against when it looks like it might cost them their job. These people we have in Washington are the most two faced liars we have ever seen.

[thusspokezara]

Let us pray that we will never need arms to defend our fundamental rights. Let us pray too that if the time ever comes to defend our fundamental rights we will not be in need of arms.

[Aldymac]

And how will you defend our fundamental rights if the opposition comes at you armed with guns?

[hakori]

WHat the F are you moaning, whinning, irrational, childish right-wingers talking agout: "if the opposition comes at you armed with guns". Listen to yourselves! This is how democracy works! You win some elections and you loose some. If we've been reduced to calling for revolution when things don't go well for our party--which is putting your party above country, Limboobians--we don't have much left to be proud of. Would you people get a grip and stop being so reactionary over NOTHING! You all sound like the woman in Delaware waving her birth certificate while claiming Obama isn't one of us! My GOD! GROW UP!

[ohgun]

The guys at my Rod & Gun Club here in Ohio think the sun rises and sets on George Vonovich. What a laugh George being one of two Republican to defeat the bill. When I bring this up on the rifle range they wont even know what I am talking about, they will go off and huddle and tell each other what a jerk I am for bad mouthing George wile they wollow in their own stupidity. I recieved negitived replyes from both Senators on this issue.

[excoachken]

Guns....Guns....Guns.... The dumbing down of America. Keep whatever guns you want in your house (putting your family in greater danger of being shot) but why should I and my family be put into the line of fire because of your paranoia? You all have been watching too many Clint Eastwood flicks.

[gunownerdan]

Nothing can dumb down America like convincing large numbers of people that they should not protect themselves, but should rely on the government for protection.

[oneofmanyvets]

panielsen, I agree with Sirman. You ruin any chance responsible gun owners have for getting a fair hearing. Worse, since you imply you don't follow the rules, you must be a felon. A racist at the very least. Hitler could have used you.

[Slrman-21001573651763300012869]

panielsen You are an idiot. If you had even bothered to read the article, you would have seen that it was the "liberals" that made this measure popular. It was two Republicans that defeated it. But you are such an narrow-minded neo-con (a redundancy, I know) that you cannot recognize facts even when they are in your favor. Instead, you would rather moan and groan about Obama rather that constructively work to promote your views. You're a disgrace as an American. I hope you draw on me some day, it'll be a pleasure dropping you like a fly.

[cowboy357]

And all the people who say cars are licensed so why not guns? Well hey I can drive my car in any state and yes I do have to follow the speed laws etc of that state. But my License is good across the Nation and Canada.

My concealed carry permit is my "gun license" So the states rights crap is their attempt to justify yet another breach of the Constitution.

Under their reasoning abortion should be up to the states....

[IdahoCowgirl]

THOMAS JEFFERSON: Laws that forbid the carrying of arms?disarm only those who are neither inclined or determined to commit crimes. Such laws only make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assassins; they serve to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

[gunownerdan]

hey banned, want to see what Jefferson REALLY said?
"A strong body makes the mind strong. [But] As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks."
President Thomas Jefferson