I read several other gun forums, and here's how it's looking for Bush.
About 25% are going to vote against him (not for Kerry, but third party).
25% are going to vote for him.
And 50% are going to base their vote on what happens with the AWB.
Keep in mind that in 2000, nearly 100% of these guys voted for Bush. Many supported him financially and volunteered for his campaign.
The fact that he's already lost 25% of them doesn't bode well for his re-election effort.
If he loses another 50%, he will lose big time in November.
Keep in mind that I don't want to do this: he's done a great job in the War on Terror (though I'm not at all thrilled with the Patriot Act's dramatic reduction of our liberties), and I certainly don't want Kerry naming federal judges, submitting very underfunded defense budgets, gutting the intelligence agencies and pushing for higher taxes. BUT. I. WILL. NOT. STAND. BY. WHILE. MY. MOST. BASIC. RIGHTS. ARE. GUTTED. BY. A. PRESIDENT. WHO. SWORE. AN. OATH. TO. "PRESERVE AND PROTECT." SAID. RIGHTS.
Is my message clear, Mr. Rove? Understand that betraying gun owners will result in your boss having to spend a tremendous amount of time and money in the upcoming campaign in supposedly safe Republican states, just to be sure of taking them, time and money that will not be available for trying to win states that are now projected to be close. Mess with gun owners - who put you and your boss in your present jobs - and your job will become VERY much more difficult, and may possibly be "outsourced" as of 1/20/05.