Pro-gun Democrat recruited to primary Colorado state Senator

[guardian]

I don't think this will be the last challenge.


http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/lobby-group-warns-giron/article_ae0398e6-87b3-11e2-870d-001a4bcf887a.html

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners claims it has recruited an unnamed local Democrat to challenge state Sen. Angela Giron for re-election next year if the Pueblo Democrat supports any of the gun-control bills being considered in the Senate today.

"Most of the pro-gun legislators in the Legislature were recruited by us," said Dudley Brown, executive director of the Windsor-based gun-rights organization. "We have found a pro-gun Democrat that our (political action committee) will fund against Sen. Giron in next year's primary if she votes against her constituents."

[rdharma]

1. Meh! nt

[Eleanors38]

2. I hope critical mass is achieved so pro-2A progressive groups can recruit Democrats.

[rdharma]

3. "pro-2A progressive groups"

Do you really think that Rocky Mountain Gun Owners is trying to get a progressive Democratic candidate elected? REALLY?!!!!

[gejohnston]

4. centrist, slightly left of center, progressive

the important thing is that he or she is a Democrat that wants to keep big government out of my bedroom and my daughter's body, keep Wall Street's grubby paws off of Social Security, and fight for Trumancare.

[Eleanors38]

5. No. i'm hoping pro-2A prog. groups can run pro-2A candidates.

Really.

[rdharma]

6. No. You're hoping you can get a Republican rightie elected!

You're fooling nobody.

[spin]

7. Why is it that some in our party view support of another assault weapons ban ...

as a litmus test for a good Democrat? Perhaps because I am now an elderly citizen and not just eligible to join AARP, I can remember days when many Democrats owned firearms. Recent polls show that firearm ownership among Democrats is decreasing.

December 18, 2012, 12:39 am
Party Identity in a Gun Cabinet
By NATE SILVER

***snip***

In 1973, about 55 percent of Republicans reported having a gun in their household against 45 percent of Democrats, according to the General Social Survey, a biennial poll of American adults.

Gun ownership has declined over the past 40 years — but almost all of the decrease has come from Democrats. By 2010, according to the General Social Survey, the gun ownership rate among adults that identified as Democrats had fallen to 22 percent. It remained at about 50 percent among Republican adults.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/in-gun-ownership-statistics-partisan-divide-is-sharp/

While I feel the results of this poll might be effected by a reluctance of some gun owners to admit to a stranger conducting a survey that they own firearms, I will agree that gun ownership has decreased in the ranks of the Democratic Party.

But is this actually a positive development?

I have enjoyed target shooting for over 40 years and often when I go to the range I talk politics with other gun owners. Surprisingly a good percentage often agree with me on many subjects important to Democrats. However they often tell me that they absolutely refuse to vote for any Democrat as the Democratic Party is the gun control party. They also mention that they always show up at the polls to vote.

The regular target shooters that I have known are not the stereotype illiterate rednecks that many liberal people feel they are but often well educated professionals. Most are not extremely religious. ALL are strong supporters of the Second Amendment and most own pistols with magazines that hold more than ten rounds or rifles that resemble assault rifles commonly used by the military. Since I live in Florida a high percentage of the regular shooters I know have a concealed weapons permit.

While gun violence is an important issue in our nation it is far from the only priority.

I feel by pushing for another Assault Weapons Ban and limits on the number of rounds a magazine can hold, we are basically driving many gun owners to vote for Republicans. Many political experts
feel that this has hurt the Democratic Party in the past and history may repeat itself in the midterm election as well as the next Presidential election. These experts may or may not be right and time will tell.

Many of the shooters I know are no longer NRA members largely because when they were members they found the amount of solicitations they received for donations was irritatingly and that often the NRA was using scare tactics that exaggerated the threat to gun rights by gun control advocates. Most also believe that our nation can reduce gun violence if we stop discussing bans and instead work to improve existing laws and their enforcement.

I don't want to see another Republican in the White House or Republicans gaining control of the Senate. I fear this might happen if we continue to drive gun owners away from our party.

[rdharma]

8. Why is it that some in our party align with rightie gun nutters against sensible laws?

[sylvi]

9. We already have sensible laws out the yingyang

There's room for a couple more having to do with background checks, but most of what I've heard from the grabnuts are dumbass feel good measures that won't affect anyone but honest citizens.

[rdharma]

10. Yes. Universal background checks for ALL firearms transfers! nt

[Lizzie Poppet]

11. I support such a measure wholeheartedly (and yes, I've told my congressfolk).

And FWIW, I'm a staunchly pro-RKBA far-left activist, some of whose viewpoints on the limits of such activism are probably sufficiently radical TOS violations (and thus remain unvoiced here)...

I should also point out that many of my "shooting friends" (that is, people I've come to know well largely on the basis of interacting with them at the range, etc.), many of whom are variably conservative, support such reasonable measures, too. Some definitely don't, please don't mistake me...but I guess the point I'm trying to make is that people are all over the map on gun control, and it' snot always that easy to predict on the basis of their overall political positioning.

[Eleanors38]

16. Of course, you are lying. Are gun-controllers adding

Punky stuff like your's to the stigmatization strategy?

You have nothing but smear and attack. And it doesn't work, but have yourself a diddlin' good time.

[rdharma]

17. Your "divide and conquer/cave" advice is what doesn't work.

I would suggest that you talk to folks like Rep. Mike Coffman (R -Aurora) and ask them how resisting all common sense gun laws is working for them.

Nope. No Democrats working for sensible gun laws are going to be "primaried" on behalf of "Rocky Mountain Gun Nuts"!

But nice attempt at subversive trolling!

[Eleanors38]

18. Clearly, you care more about your culture war than...

all those people getting killed. And you will use any tactics to satisfy your desires. Even out-right lying.

Right?

[rdharma]

19. I'm clearly not lying.

However, you, my friend, would probably feel more at home on the Freeper site or one of the gun nut sites. You know....... where you can call people names, issue death threats, and generally share your fear and hatred!

[Eleanors38]

20. You lied. And you continue your personal attacks, bud.

[rdharma]

21. What personal attacks?

You called me a liar. You need to take a chill pill.

It sure is easy to spot the rightie trolls here.

[Eleanors38]

22. You are so used to disingenuous, you do it even as you deny it.

Very little authenticity. I'd suggest you get drunk, but you would probably be worse.

[rdharma]

23. "Very little authenticity"

Riiiiight!

With troll "friends" like you....... who needs rightie enemies?

[Eleanors38]

24. I think you've run dry. "poof"

[rdharma]

25. I think you're smarting from being exposed.......

as a rightie troll........poof!

[beevul]

27. You've barely been here thirty days, and you're accusing others of being a troll?

Physician, heal thy self.

[rdharma]

28. Or look just look at the posts in question. nt

[beevul]

37. Oh I did. Yours. N/T

[upaloopa]

26. You know any Democrats that are campaigning to eliminate the 2nd Amendment?

You think the people Of Aurora are all for unlimited availability of guns? That's what you mean by pro 2A? Colorado whats tougher gun laws not weaker.

[Eleanors38]

29. Fair questions. I speak of groups who have formed around 2A...

Who are as progressive as any other organization, but recruit candidates who are themselves pro-2A and progressives. I don't know of anyone in this forum who wants "unlimited access" to guns, though that myth is aggressively promoted by some. Actually, I have no objection to some of the measures proposed in CO, though the mag cap is meaningless.

There are a lot of folks who claim to be pro-2A, but I don't buy it, and a lot if them -- including outright banners -- reside right here on DU.

[upaloopa]

33. No one at DU can ban your guns or get rid of the 2A.

The pro gun people have been blowing this all out of proportion for ages,

[Eleanors38]

34. Even if what you say is true, why would some groups, MSM, etc. keep...

poking at the beast when some progress can be made on meaningful measures?

Keep in mind, there are columnists, politicians who continue to push for drastic or complete bans (Pelosi & Holder, for example). And there are some on DU who push for this. In a day where any Tom, Dick or Harry can post something and have it "take off" on social media, I should think it wise to move away from the usual culture attacks, and move toward effect measures:

1) universal NICS or FOIDs;

2) increased penalties for illegal possession of firearms;

3) increased mandatory penalties for felons possessing firearms;

4) grants-in-aide for local school districts (thereby avoiding increased local taxes) to be used to "harden" structures, increase security, and provide trained, armed security as those districts see fit;

5) increased fed. funding for more thorough and faster reporting of disqualified would-be arms purchasers;

6) increased penalties for "straw" purchasers.

[rdharma]

12. Common sense gun control will not hurt Democrats!

No matter how much the gun nutters claim it will.

[gejohnston]

13. problem is

your definition of common sense may not match anyone else's. The phrase is a glittering generality at best.

[rdharma]

14. "problem is"

Problem is ........ that folks KNOW what common sense gun laws are....... and they are very popular!

Ask Rep. Mike Coffman (R - Aurora)! A Republican Teabagger doing backflips to try to seem like he's reasonable when it comes to gun gun laws.

Well, Mike...... a bit too little too late. Andrew Romanov will have your seat come 2014!

[gejohnston]

15. Let's see, no mass shootings in Vermont or Wyoming

but one in CT with an AWB.

[rdharma]

30. Yet! nt

[DonP]

31. Try to sound a little less hopeful, it might help what little credibility you have.

[rdharma]

32. Not hopeful.......

........pessimistic.

It's sad ......when the BEST you have to offer is to point out that two states in the US haven't had mass murders yet.

[derby378]

35. "Common-sense gun law" is a dog-whistle for "Whatever Dianne Feinstein wants"

That's one reason why folks on my side of the aisle tend to be a little suspicious of any use of the term.

I want rational gun laws that are based on reason and dignity, not some "what everybody knows" mob-rule approach.

[rdharma]

36. "rational gun laws"

RPGs and heavy MGs for everybody?