From CBSNews.com:
A decade ago the calculus was simple: Those who wanted greater gun control aligned with the Democrats. And those who wanted fewer restrictions on guns turned to the Republicans.
No longer.
Though an amendment to mandate that states recognize concealed weapons permits issued by other states, effectively allowing people to carry concealed weapons across state lines, narrowly failed on Wednesday, it garnered 58 votes in the Democrat-dominated Senate. (It needed 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.)
On Tuesday, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg called the amendment, sponsored by South Dakota Republican John Thune, "about as anti-police, pro-gun trafficker piece of legislation that has ever come before the United States Senate."
Among those who backed the amendment was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who was joined by Southern and Midwestern Democrats in voting yes. Other Democrats who backed the amendment included Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner, Montana Sens. Jon Tester and Max Baucus and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. The New York Times has a full breakdown here.
In fact, it fell to two Republicans, George Voinovich of Ohio and Dick Lugar of Indiana, to effectively prevent the amendment from passing.
Despite the fact that Democrats control both the executive branch and Congress, supporters of gun control have had few opportunities to celebrate this year. The Senate moved to weaken the District of Columbia's strong gun laws (though the House stalled the legislation, which was attached to the D.C. Voting Rights bill) and Congress voted to allow individuals to carry guns in national parks.
"It's been a very difficult period," Peter Hamm, of the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence, told Hotsheet. "It's been frustrating that in the first six months of a Democratic administration with a Democratic Congress, that Congress hasn't seen fit to go in the right direction on the gun issue."
Hamm said there was "an awful lot of political gamesmanship" going on around Wednesday's vote. He said the amendment was put forth in part "to force Democrats from certain states to register what they consider a difficult vote" and called its defeat the first major victory of the year from the perspective of gun control advocates.
Indeed, for many Democrats a vote for gun control is a losing proposition. Reid, who is facing a potentially difficult 2010 reelection campaign in Nevada, knew his decision to vote for the amendment would help insulate him from charges that he is insufficiently committed to the second amendment. As Glenn Thrush notes, Arkansas Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor initially voted no on the amendment but changed that vote to yes when it became clear that it would be defeated, presumably to protect himself against similar charges.
Voters have generally moved away from pro-gun control positions in recent years, despite high-profile shootings at Columbine, Virginia Tech and elsewhere. In April, a NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll found that just 53 percent of Americans favored a law to ban the sale of assault weapons and semiautomatic rifles. In 1991, that figure was 75 percent.
An ABC News/Washington Post Poll found that same month that 51 percent of Americans favor tougher gun control laws, down from 61 percent in 2007 and 67 percent in 1999.
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What about you? Do you favor tougher gun control laws?
People have the right to protect themselves. People are dying everyday from illegal guns. We should be allowed to legally own a weapon to protect ourselves from the ILLEGAL ones. I know the government likes to play the overbearing parent role but they can't protect everyone.
I think that guns don't kill people.Stupid people with guns kill people.I also think that they should have some form of gun control in every state.That way a gun,if registered,could be tracked down for forensic purposes.To solve a crime.To keep less guns on the street in the hands of idiots that use them to solve their issues.It dose say in the Constitution that we have the right to bare arms.Ladies.That doesn't mean to wear a tank top either.Lol!Joking...
Quoting forsythia_18:People have the right to protect themselves. People are dying everyday from illegal guns. We should be allowed to legally own a weapon to protect ourselves from the ILLEGAL ones. I know the government likes to play the overbearing parent role but they can't protect everyone.
But innocent ppl die every day from LEGAL guns.
Domestic violence, disputes, stolen guns, suicides. Legal guns kill way many more innocent lives than they do save innocent lives by their mere presence, or employ.
Quoting Goodwoman614:
Quoting forsythia_18:People have the right to protect themselves. People are dying everyday from illegal guns. We should be allowed to legally own a weapon to protect ourselves from the ILLEGAL ones. I know the government likes to play the overbearing parent role but they can't protect everyone.
But innocent ppl die every day from LEGAL guns.
Domestic violence, disputes, stolen guns, suicides. Legal guns kill way many more innocent lives than they do save innocent lives by their mere presence, or employ.
Innocent people die from cars, knives, baseball bats, pokers, alcohol, prescription meds, ropes, water, and the list could go on. It does not mean theses items should be banned.
And I am sorry but saying there should be tougher gun control because people use them to commit suicide it rediculous. Telling someone they can not own a gun because someone else might kill someone with it or kill themselves with it is CRAZY!
Here is a thought. Instead of coming up with more laws to restrict our rights, how about we enforce the ones we already have. Just a thought.
I work in CJIS-Firearms for my state's police.
You all would be amazed at the number of guns (both legal and illegal) floating around and the persons who are actually trying to obtain said guns.
Before a gun can become an "illegal" gun... it was first legal somewhere. Gun control is more than necessary. I don't mean take away your amendment rights, but control the flow of guns and who carries what guns and where.
I DO understand there are those who hunt for their food; however, this is not a large portion of gun owners.
I DO understand the enthusiasm of many gun owners (Hell I talk to them daily!)
There is a big difference between responsible ownership and everyone just 'using their right'.
I believe that every person with the right to own a gun should also have a mandatory course (like Driver's Education) to own a weapon.
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT GUNS ACROSS STATE LINES UNLESS THAT STATE HAS RECIPROCITY WITH THE OTHER STATE AS IT IS NOW!
Example:
A man gets a Concealed Weapon Permit/Handgun Permit. A few months later that man is indicted with a charger of domestic abuse. The wife moves away to another state for fear of her life.
HE HAS NOT BEEN TRIED IN COURT OFFICIALLY AND DOES NOT SURRENDER HIS PERMIT. THE NEW STATE HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING HE SHOULD HAVE SURRENDERED HIS PERMIT.
He then drives to another state with his permit in tow and is able to cross state lines. He is on his way to harm his wife.
He gets pulled over for speeding, but still has his gun permit and is ALLOWED to carry his concealed weapon into the state. The new state doesn't know of the impending charges because he has not be deemed GUILTY.
He then goes on to find his wife and kills her.
OR
Say you have an individual (non-felon, non-domestic abuser, non-mental health issues) who purchases guns. He then drives to another state to sell the gun. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A GUN DEALER TO SELL A GUN. It is now in the hands of a non-law abiding citizen. Maybe had it not been permissible to carry this gun across state lines the criminal wouldn't have received it.
We own guns...don't even ask how many. It is our right to bear arms...my husband has concealed handgun permit and is trying to talk me into getting mine. I am all for it but waiting time is long right now. It is extremely hard just to purchase certain amo at this time. This is one right that should not be taken away from the people..own personal choice to own guns.
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on Jul. 24, 2009 at 1:49 AM