Posted on 07/03/2013 9:49:35 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
BISMARCK, N.D. - A level playing field on the state and national level is needed in the country's conversation on gun laws, said a leader of a new group advocating for stricter firearms laws.
Mark Kelly, husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., visited Bismarck on Wednesday promoting additional regulations to curb gun violence.
"We can make our society safer without infringing on our Second Amendment rights," Kelly said.
Kelly and Giffords launched Americans for Responsible Solutions on Jan. 8 . It was formed on the second anniversary of a mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., where Giffords was shot in the head. Six people died and 12 people were injured.
The two were in North Dakota as part of a weeklong tour of several states to organize supporters on a state level. Kelly and Giffords also stopped in Fargo on Wednesday.
Kelly said during a Tribune editorial board meeting that the two had spent the morning meeting with supporters and local law enforcement officials.
The group is pushing for legislative support of bills to expand background checks for firearms purchases. Other regulations the group supports are a ban on assault weapons, high-capacity bullet magazines and reining in gun trafficking.
A poll of 600 North Dakota voters conducted by Americans for Responsible Solutions puts 79 percent in favor of background checks for firearms. When split by political party, 93 percent who identified as Democrats favored background checks compared to 75 percent for both Republicans and Independents.
So why there is there such difficulty in accomplishing legislative results? Kelly was asked. He said gun groups such as the National Rifle Association have driven the national discussion largely without opposition.
"The NRA has done an outstanding job on this issue. They've got quite an influence," Kelly said.
On a state level, despite the 79 percent majority of North Dakotans polled, "that 21 percent is incredibly vocal and will vote on the issue," Kelly said.
Americans for Responsible Solutions has signed up roughly 500,000 members since forming and raised more than $11 million from approximately 80,000 donors, Kelly said.
In the 2012 election cycle, the NRA spent $1.5 million in contributions, $5.9 million in lobbying and $19.8 million in outside expenditures.
"I think there needs to be some long-term balance," Kelly said.
He said the group plans to be involved in the 2014 elections and will support like-minded candidates of all political stripes.
"We will support and oppose candidates in the next election ... to effect the change we're after," Kelly said.
In April, the U.S. Senate killed bills that would have expanded background checks, banned assault weapons and put limits on bullet magazines. Both of North Dakota's senators, Democrat Heidi Heitkamp and Republican John Hoeven, voted against the legislation.
Kelly admitted that Heitkamp, who won a very close Senate election in 2012, probably is in a tougher position than Hoeven.
"It's a complicated issue for her," Kelly said. He added that if the issue comes back to Congress before the end of the year as expected, "she's got five years to explain it."
Kelly said he understands the process to impact changes on the state and federal level will be long term. He said a large portion of the public is upset and in favor of change.
Kelly pointed to the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting in July 2012, where 12 died and 70 were injured. He also pointed to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., last December, which prompted the failed gun legislation.
"You can't have 20 second-graders killed in a classroom in less than five minutes and not do anything about it," Kelly said.
Defund the BATFE now!
Where did this myth come from that background checks aren’t done?
Art 1, Section 1.
All individuals are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation; pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness; and to keep and bear arms for the defense of their person, family, property, and the state, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes, which shall not be infringed.
Art 1, Section 20.
To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate.
I hope the traveling circus comes to Reno. These asshats need to keep their noses out other peoples business. Gabby and mx. mark kelley-giffords need to high tail it back to AZ. Actually, they should probably be run out of AZ and settle in dc next door to jim and sarah anti gun offices. Didiots.
Given AZ, they could move next door to Juan or The Flake.
And stay there.
The Gabby's are second amendment gun lovers, they just want common sense gun safety..
Do it for Gabby and the little ones.
Keep an eye on these folks. They’re up to no good.
Nuh UH! I just moved here and am enjoying it very much, thank you!
Send 'em to DC.
Ex-spaceman. A newer post says they’re doing something in Ohio as well. Too bad I didn’t get the memo when he was here in NV down in Carson City. A good time would have been had by some. Mainly me.
I find the history of the 2a to be fascinating. A number of states had constitutions prior to the US constitution, and I assume that language was leveraged to the bill of rights. I particularly like the language in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Constitution. It uses the words, "shall not be questioned". That, I think, is stronger than, "shall not be infringed."
Since January.
Nice gig.
Oh, the irony.
Glad you’re enjoying AZ. A little further north it’s been in the 100’s for the past few days. Not as consistent as AZ with the 100+ temp days though. Glad of that.
Art II, Sec. 6. [Right to bear arms.]The first underlined portion, in theory, prevents things like
No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms.
disturbing the peaceor
brandishingfrom being used as excuses to disarm you.
Where do they get their ammo?
They’re “special”. If you watch the video, it appears to me that when mx. mark kelley-giffords “takes” the pistol away from gabby and places it down at the station he places it so that the muzzle is pointed to their left towards the other stations. Even though there is nobody else there. HUH? Anyway, I ain’t no expert but anytime I go to the range and place a weapon down at the station the muzzle is ALWAYS pointed down range. Not at the adjacent stations. I think these folks should be denied ownership of firearms. Especially since gabby now has diminished mental capacity.
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