Desertdog
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Groups For and Against Guns Put Best Possible Spin on Election
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200611/NAT20061109b.html
(CNSNews.com) - The midterm election may have been a referendum on the president, war, corruption, and scandal, but "it does not translate into greater support for gun control at the grass roots level," says a gun lobby group.
"If anything, gun control was notable as a non-issue in this election," said Gun Owners of America in a news release.
A leading gun control group, however, says quite the contrary: "In this election, the gun issue was in play, gun violence prevention groups won while the gun pushers lost, and there is now a shift in momentum on the issue of common-sense gun restrictions," said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Looking on the bright side, Gun Owners of America insisted that on a race-by-race basis, the pro-gun movement suffered a net loss of "only a small handful of seats." And while many newly elected Democrats may support the anti-gun agenda, they also realize that open support for gun control may cost them at the polls, GOA said.
But higher up, it's a different story: Gun Owners of America warned that the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate "will unquestionably put gun owners on the defensive by seeking to renew the so-called assault weapons ban, close down gun shows, and drastically expand the Brady gun control law."
The group noted that House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi will control what bills reach the House floor, and she's expected to use that power to advance gun control bills.
Most of those bills will pass through the House Judiciary Committee - about to be headed by gun control advocate Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). GOA described Conyers as "an extremist who advocates a total handgun ban."
The situation in the Senate may be worse, GOA warned, given the likelihood of a Democratic majority in that chamber as well.
Both Harry Reid of Nevada (who would become Senate Majority leader) and Pat Leahy of Vermont (the likely head of the Judiciary Committee) have received "F" grades from GOA based on their votes on gun legislation.
"From there it really goes downhill," GOA said, adding that other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee comprise a "who's who of the anti-gun movement."
Democrats on the committee include Sens. Ted Kennedy ("mouthpiece for Sarah Brady in the Senate, GOA said), Joe Biden (chaired the Judiciary Committee in 1993 when the Brady Bill passed); Herb Kohl (author of the gun free zones ban); Dianne Feinstein (author of the so-called "assault weapons" ban); Russ Feingold (lead sponsor of so-called campaign finance reform); Charles Schumer (lead sponsor of 1993 Brady law); and Dick Durbin (outspoken gun control advocate).
"Gun owners should look twice at the above list," GOA said.
"Most or all of these members will remain on the Judiciary Committee when the new Congress convenes in January, and will help shape American gun laws for at least the next two years."
Bright spots
Gun Owners of America said there were several "bright spots" for gun owners in the midterm election.
It noted that eight "A-rated" Republicans, most with "strong, proven pro-gun records" in their respective state legislatures, won House seats on Tuesday, and four of them are "a vast improvement over the Republicans they are replacing."
GOA also said some of the defeated incumbent Republicans were not strong gun-rights supporters -- including Nancy Johnson of Connecticut, Jim Leach of Iowa, Clay Shaw of Florida, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania and Charlie Bass of New Hampshire.
In the Senate, ousted Republicans Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of R.I. were as anti-gun as many liberal Democrats, GOA noted.
But Democrat Senators-elect Jon Tester of Montana, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Jim Webb of Virginia claim to be pro-gun. "It remains to be seen if they vote that way," Gun Owners of America said.
Gun control advocates energized
The Brady Campaign insists that candidates supporting "a common sense approach to gun violence prevention" did very well on Tuesday.
"In races where the Brady Campaign endorsed candidates went head-to-head with competing candidates endorsed by the NRA, Brady won 5 of 5 governorships (Patrick in Massachusetts, O'Malley in Maryland, Rendell in Pennsylvania, Doyle in Wisconsin and Blagojevich in Illinois) and 4 of 4 U.S. Senate seats (Cardin in Maryland, Cantwell in Washington, Stabenow in Michigan, and Nelson in Florida).
Overall, candidates endorsed by the Brady Campaign won over 95 percent of their races, the group said on its website.
According to the gun control group, "The results should have a profound impact on the ability to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the coming years."
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200611/NAT20061109b.html
(CNSNews.com) - The midterm election may have been a referendum on the president, war, corruption, and scandal, but "it does not translate into greater support for gun control at the grass roots level," says a gun lobby group.
"If anything, gun control was notable as a non-issue in this election," said Gun Owners of America in a news release.
A leading gun control group, however, says quite the contrary: "In this election, the gun issue was in play, gun violence prevention groups won while the gun pushers lost, and there is now a shift in momentum on the issue of common-sense gun restrictions," said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Looking on the bright side, Gun Owners of America insisted that on a race-by-race basis, the pro-gun movement suffered a net loss of "only a small handful of seats." And while many newly elected Democrats may support the anti-gun agenda, they also realize that open support for gun control may cost them at the polls, GOA said.
But higher up, it's a different story: Gun Owners of America warned that the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate "will unquestionably put gun owners on the defensive by seeking to renew the so-called assault weapons ban, close down gun shows, and drastically expand the Brady gun control law."
The group noted that House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi will control what bills reach the House floor, and she's expected to use that power to advance gun control bills.
Most of those bills will pass through the House Judiciary Committee - about to be headed by gun control advocate Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). GOA described Conyers as "an extremist who advocates a total handgun ban."
The situation in the Senate may be worse, GOA warned, given the likelihood of a Democratic majority in that chamber as well.
Both Harry Reid of Nevada (who would become Senate Majority leader) and Pat Leahy of Vermont (the likely head of the Judiciary Committee) have received "F" grades from GOA based on their votes on gun legislation.
"From there it really goes downhill," GOA said, adding that other Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee comprise a "who's who of the anti-gun movement."
Democrats on the committee include Sens. Ted Kennedy ("mouthpiece for Sarah Brady in the Senate, GOA said), Joe Biden (chaired the Judiciary Committee in 1993 when the Brady Bill passed); Herb Kohl (author of the gun free zones ban); Dianne Feinstein (author of the so-called "assault weapons" ban); Russ Feingold (lead sponsor of so-called campaign finance reform); Charles Schumer (lead sponsor of 1993 Brady law); and Dick Durbin (outspoken gun control advocate).
"Gun owners should look twice at the above list," GOA said.
"Most or all of these members will remain on the Judiciary Committee when the new Congress convenes in January, and will help shape American gun laws for at least the next two years."
Bright spots
Gun Owners of America said there were several "bright spots" for gun owners in the midterm election.
It noted that eight "A-rated" Republicans, most with "strong, proven pro-gun records" in their respective state legislatures, won House seats on Tuesday, and four of them are "a vast improvement over the Republicans they are replacing."
GOA also said some of the defeated incumbent Republicans were not strong gun-rights supporters -- including Nancy Johnson of Connecticut, Jim Leach of Iowa, Clay Shaw of Florida, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania and Charlie Bass of New Hampshire.
In the Senate, ousted Republicans Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lincoln Chafee of R.I. were as anti-gun as many liberal Democrats, GOA noted.
But Democrat Senators-elect Jon Tester of Montana, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Jim Webb of Virginia claim to be pro-gun. "It remains to be seen if they vote that way," Gun Owners of America said.
Gun control advocates energized
The Brady Campaign insists that candidates supporting "a common sense approach to gun violence prevention" did very well on Tuesday.
"In races where the Brady Campaign endorsed candidates went head-to-head with competing candidates endorsed by the NRA, Brady won 5 of 5 governorships (Patrick in Massachusetts, O'Malley in Maryland, Rendell in Pennsylvania, Doyle in Wisconsin and Blagojevich in Illinois) and 4 of 4 U.S. Senate seats (Cardin in Maryland, Cantwell in Washington, Stabenow in Michigan, and Nelson in Florida).
Overall, candidates endorsed by the Brady Campaign won over 95 percent of their races, the group said on its website.
According to the gun control group, "The results should have a profound impact on the ability to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the coming years."
