Posted on 06/13/2016 3:32:14 PM PDT by jazusamo
A former Republican senator is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president after the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., citing her support for gun control.
Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) called for universal background checks on all gun sales and an assault weapons ban Monday in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
“I can’t believe I’m endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, but I am,” said Pressler, who spoke with The Hill on Monday after endorsing Clinton in a statement issued over the weekend.
“This morning, I woke up and told my wife, ‘Did I really do that?’” he said. "But I did.”
“If someone had told me 10 years ago I would do this, I wouldn’t have believed them."
Pressler, a moderate Republican who served three terms in the Senate before losing his seat to Democrat Tim Johnson in 1997, said he believes voting for Clinton is the “responsible thing to do.”
He said he feels disenfranchised by Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, and modern-day congressional Republicans who have opposed efforts to expand background checks for gun sales.
“We need to go the route of more gun control as a result of Orlando and all the other shootings that have occurred,” Pressler said. “But it’s almost as though Republicans are saying gun control shouldn’t be part of the conversation at all."
But gun control isn’t the only reason why Pressler is ready to join “Republicans for Clinton” — he’s also concerned about Trump’s rhetoric on Muslims.
“This election is starting to sound like the German elections in [1933],” Pressler said. “This is a very dangerous national conversation we’re slipping into.”
Pressler, a Mormon Sunday school teacher, said he understands all too well the dangers of signaling out a particular religious group.
In 1838, Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs ordered Mormons to be killed, which forced many to leave the state before eventually resettling in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Trump makes “Mormons very nervous,” Pressler said.
"Mormons are the only religious group besides the Jews who have been ordered by the government to be extinguished, killed,” he said.
“The worst thing is for Republicans to be silent,” Pressler added. “A lot of Republicans are just saying, ‘I’ll sit it out, I won’t vote.’ Or, ‘I’ll vote for a third-party candidate.’ But if they don’t vote, they are giving more power to dark forces.”
Another former ‘rat’ bites the dust....
Because someone who wants to kill 100+ Americans and willing to die himself will stop if we pass another law.
He wouldn’t think of getting around a background check - that would be illegal.
Or killing someone who passed the check and has the weapon he wants - also illegal.
Or using explosives instead of bullets - illegal again.
That would be a socialist progressive, then. As opposed to an outright communist.
Did he have a wide stance?
Another mask drops.
Now we know why he is a "Former Senator" , he was in the wrong party !.
Time to use your big head , rather than thinking with the little head.
" A mind is a terrible thing to waste ",.. despite congestive stupidity !
Never liked him. He can endorse whomever he wants, won’t make a rat’s arse difference. Surprised it even got a headline, much less my click. Ugh.
Uh oh...... Larry Pressler another Mormon wacko RINO. I am seeing a pattern. And Mormons used to be super conservative and full of common sense.
I am guessing this Pressler toad is a connected DC lobbyist.
SD hasn’t had anyone good since Karl Mundt, and he strayed on occasion too.
every endorsement she gets is exactly 1 vote (if that)
As mentioned in related threads, it shouldn't surprise anybody that a former, post-17th Amendment ratification, low-information senator doesn’t seem to understand that the states have never delegated to the feds, expressly via the Constitution, the specific power to regulate civilian arms.
It is disturbing that federal laws regulating civilian arms seem to have started appearing in the books during the FDR Administration, FDR and the Congress at the time infamous for making laws that it could not justify under its constitutional Article I, Section 8-limited powers.
Franklin Roosevelt: The Father of Gun Control
Corrections, insights welcome.
But the media keep helping him with his "I'm a Republican" shtick.
That would be Larry Craig, former senator from Idaho.
Moron is the name of a location and a king in the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. They are both connected with the Jaredite people.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moron_%28Book_of_Mormon%29
Ya can’t make this stuff up. Well, Joseph Smith can.
This terrorist would have passed a “universal background check” and did pass the background check just a week ago. The politician is just exploiting death for political gain.
As for an assault weapons ban, the democrat would simply have murdered people with a semi-automatic rifle that had a wood stock instead of a scary black stock on the same semiautomatic rifle.
There are no reasonable restrictions that have not already been passed. The only fight is whether they will pass laws to disarm us or not. My vote is not.
Primaried by Tim Johnson.
Mormon Sunday school teacher? Lib from Day One.
Where are all the GOPers on the shooting. Not a one has a statement except for Trump and Sessions. Cowards all of them!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.