Posted on 01/24/2013 7:11:43 AM PST by pabianice
BECKLEY, W.Va. Talk of stricter gun control has stirred up a lot of unease here, a place where hunters vie for top prize (a 26-inch LED television) in the Big Buck Photo Contest, and ads for a gun-simulator game ask, Feel like shooting something today?
Businessmen and community leaders in Beckley, W.Va., met with Senator Joe Manchin III last week to discuss gun control.
But before Senator Joe Manchin III invited a group of 15 businessmen and community leaders to lunch last week to discuss the topic, he had only a vague idea of how anxious many of his supporters were.
How many of you all believe that there is a movement to take away the Second Amendment? he asked.
About half the hands in the room went up.
Despite his best attempts to reassure them I see no movement, no talk, no bills, no nothing they remained skeptical. We give up our rights one piece at a time, a banker named Charlie Houck told the senator.
If there is a path to new gun laws, it has to come through West Virginia and a dozen other states with Democratic senators like Mr. Manchin who are confronting galvanized constituencies that view any effort to tighten gun laws as an infringement.
As Congress considers what, if any, laws to change, Mr. Manchin has become a barometer among his colleagues, testing just how far they might be able to go without angering voters.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Time to stop the ‘rats from using incrementalism to take all our rights.
Don’t allow ANY infringement.
The GOP should be taking offensive action like many states are.
No matter what positions or facade a Democrat presents to the voters, the people will have to learn that no Democrat can be trusted on any issue at any time. Until this is well understood by a majority America’s decline will continue.
Rockefeller’s seat in WV, Landrieu (LA), Pryor (AR), Begich (AK), Hagen (NC), Shaheen (NH) and Warner (VA).
Also, republicans McConnell and Cornyn, the leader and whip.
Moderates: Cochrane (MS), Alexander (TN), Graham (SC), Collins (ME), Enzi (WY) and Chambliss (GA).
All up for re-election in 2014. And all should be looking over their shoulders.
House Republicans are playing this just right, unlike the last two years of failures.
They are saying nothing on this and refusing to answer direct questions from reporters on what the House will do on it.
Instead they are letting Reid and Obama try to get Dem Senators to pass something, even though a number are in states when voting for gun control might just get them booted (they have High NRA ratings), knowing it wont make it into law anyway.
The House Rs have decided to get the Reid Senate go out on limbs for a change, and watch the show. Hell, Harry, how about gay marriage next?
The GOP should be taking action, period. Leadership has been MIA on this.
Forgot Johnson in SD. Him too!
Not one step backwards. Forward attack. Scorched earth should we fail.
The states are the only ones stepping up.
Senator Munchkin is a Democrat above all else and will do what Hairy Reid tells him to do. If Hairy has the votes, he’ll grant Munchkin an “out” to vote against bills that attack the 2nd Amendment. ... That said, it suggests the people of the great state of West Virginia are beginning to wake up to what they’ve done to themselves by electing Munchkin to the U.S. Senate.
> The GOP should be taking offensive action like many states are.
I surmise that there are many in the GOP who think, “Something HAS to be done,” and at least a few others that are perfectly okay with weapons and ammo bans.
Just look at New York’s “Republican” dominated legislature.
“Out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak.”
Manchin is a quintessential politician and with the longing heart of a liberal. There can be little doubt that if he had more political freedom he would be right there with Obama and Schummer.
Just wonder when the GOP and GOP Media starts caving on 2d Amendment issues to give cover for Obama and the Dems....like they have on taxes, budget, spending, illegal alien amnesty, Obama Eligibility, etc...
When do the PhonyCons sell Americans out on 2d Amendment/Right to Self Defense issues?
I lived in WV for two years. At that time, the national YWCA came out against guns (1973). Contributions to United Way went to 50% overnight where I worked (HUGE supporter of United Way). Local chapter had to refute national stance and even then, most people designated therir contributions away from YWCA.
NY Fishwrap DESPISES my home town.
Democrats can't sleep at night knowing there is some aspect of our lives they don't control.
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Baucus in Montana too. But he’ll vote against whatever comes up on this one.
He always runs a conservative, then spends the next five years voting left.
Its dangerous ground for Levin and Stabenow in Michigan as well.
Democrats aren’t going to get their gun control passed in the senate let alone the house.
I don’t see Bauchus ever being removed. Especially after Montanans reelected Tester.
Thank you for sharing your feelings regarding the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. I was horrified by this attack that left twenty-eight dead. My thoughts and prayers are for the victims and those who now live with their loss.
As we learn more about the tragedy in Newtown, I think we must look closely at the behavior of isolated young men who develop an obsession with violence. We should ask the leaders of the entertainment industry whether they would want their children--or those who might harm their children--to watch the increasingly violent video games and movies that they pour into our culture. This is not the only cause of violence in our society but it is one important cause. Connecticut has strong gun laws. The problem is not with the gun but with the person pulling the trigger.(Emphasis added.)
This is a terrible event for our nation and we must find appropriate ways to respond. Im grateful youve shared your reactions with me and will keep them in mind as we move forward.
He should stay on our side as long as we keep up the pressure, which this artice implies is working on the DemonRats.
You underestimate the GOP’s ability(whether it is the House and Senate members) ability a to take a tailor-made issue opportunity to stick it to the Dems and yet piss it down the toilet.
You underestimate the GOPs ability(whether it is House or Senate members) to take a tailor-made issue opportunity to stick it to the Dems and yet piss it down the toilet.
I know not to bet money on GOP beating O at anything but
you and many others here don't seem to understand, or admit it anyway, that the dynamics of this fight are completely different than say when all taxes will got up on most everyone automatically if the House GOP passes nothing, and the House Speaker will get national blame for it..and Rs lost the election and a main issue was taxes. No Speaker would have done that.
All guns DONT get banned now if the House GOP does nothing, so they can do what they want.
A particularly disgusting event, that.
Rehberg made a terrible, blundering candidate against the fat slob Tester who ran against Obama the entire campaign.
Montana has turned blue in the university towns and in the rich scenic Californicator areas...plus like the Dakotas it has a tendency to elect tight-fisted Republicans at home but to vote for the pork in D.C.
Still the right candiate could whip Baucus. Former Governor Rascicot would beat him by 20 points but there’s no way he wants to be one of 50. The new attorney general (former Sec of State) Brad Johnson is good but he has to wait four years...
Wow ... that NRA endorsed, "A+" rated Joe Manchin sure is showing his true colors as an advocate fore freedom and a champion of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and a defender of the Constitution.
Not.
Hey Joe! Try REPEALING a few gun laws. You want to protect children? Quit hindering those who are charged with the care of those children. Quit disarming the good guys. Let parents, teachers, and administrators arm themselves for the protection of our children in school.
If it saves even one life, it's worth it.
Right?
Joe?
that is a fact...
BUT can the feckless bastards bring themselves to 'do nothing' in the face of a ginnned up *public outcry* for 'common sense', *for the chillun*, non-infringing [spit] new *laws* ???
color me skeptical...
How about the ‘children’??
The ones who posed with O said they wont be able to sleep at night until people can no longer buy guns.
You 2 hate kids or sumthin ???
“...You 2 hate kids or sumthin ???..”
Nope.
Just lib dems.
That would require the GOP leadership to actually believe in something & to have a spine.
They believe they want to be in the ruling/political class and they believe in protecting that class from losing power...
Bingo
Thanks, we both are glad to see them changing from a two year failed strategy and trying something new, (the failed) one that was demanded by many here even though they wont admit it.
Please see this 3 comment chain:
How to play immigration reform #79 and #84 and #85
I’d like to see Mitch McConnell publicly announce that he will not filibuster any gun control bill, and dare Reid to bring a bill to the floor for the vote.
Gun control is a winning issue for Republicans. They haven’t had many of those of late.
Agreed, That's what I been preaching here the past few days,
Even with some of these polls showing ~ 63% want a ban on those guns (Morning Joe has been showing these each day) it misses the point that those people are concentrated in Blue states and many of these Dem Senators are not in those states,
One Dem on MSMBC threated Senate (NRA states) Dems that vote against these with Dem primary challenges, sound familiar?
this FR post made me laugh : Gun ban said to include handguns, shotguns (see #57)
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