gun rights may have been key part of this last election... post suggests

[paulsby]

www.volokh.com
(note: before the strawmen start being erected. i said SUGGESTS not proves, and am offering this as an interesting tidbit, not as an offer of proof hth)

NY-23: Winning Democrat Bill Owens was A-rated by NRA (as was Hoffman).

Virginia: Either Deeds (B rating) or McDonnell (A) were sure to be a big improvement over outgoing Governor Kaine. Deeds lost the NRA endorsement by supporting closing of the (non-existent) “gun show loophole.” In the Attorney General race, Republican Ken Cuccinelli (A+) handily defeated a D-rated Democrat who advertised very aggressively on the gun show issue. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (A+) trounced an F-rated challenger.

In the Virginia House of Delegates, five Republican challengers with A ratings ousted Democratic incumbents rated F,F,B,B,B. A C-rated Republican also unseated an F Democrat incumbent. The House of Delegates already had a fairly solid pro-Second Amendment majority, so the major change in Virginia is a new Governor who, like former Governor and current Senator Mark Warner (Dem.), will sign rights-enhancing legislation passed by the legislature.

By far the most prominent gun control advocate on the ballot this year was Jon Corzine (F). This summer, Corzine twisted lots of legislative arms to win enactment of gun rationing (“one-handgun-a-month”), a silly law that is even sillier in New Jersey, where every handgun purchase requires advance permission from the local police chief. With Christie replacing Corzine, New Jersey gun owners can hope for benign neglect rather than active hostility. The New Jersey Assembly appears to be unchanged.

In sum: A bad night for advocates of gun show restrictions. Another fine night (as were election nights 2006 and 2008) for Democrats with A ratings from NRA. And good news for Second Amendment advocates in blue New Jersey and purple Virginia.

[Jennicut]

1. What is up with the letter grades for gun rights support?

"I get an A for supporting gun rights! Yippee!"

[paulsby]

2. several groups do this - including reproductive rights groups, environment groups

and 2nd amendment rights groups. it's fairly common.

iirc, the ABA also does it.

[Jennicut]

4. Seems weird for them all to do it.

I am not really against gun rights, but gun shows can get dangerous. A kid accidentally killed himself at one in CT last year.

[paulsby]

5. it offers voters an easy way

to get a benchmark.

you can check a candidates rating in regards to various rights.

as for kids accidentally killing themselves with guns ANYWHERE, it is extremely rare. kids are more likely to drown, or die from a fall, than by an accidental shooting.

ban bathtubs and home swimming pools, and you would save far more kids lives from accidents, than even if you could ban guns and have the ban be effective

[friendly_iconoclast]

6. That was at a range day, not a show. And was run by a cop...

A chief of police, no less.

Guns shows are usually only dangerous to your discretionary income...

[Jennicut]

12. Thanks for the info.

I just remember the kid dying at a gun show.
I am not really against gun rights, it is a losing issue for Dems to advocate for more gun control that does not really work.
I don't really want to own a gun but if other people want to, fine with me.

[Craftsman]

3. Gun control is still a loser to both parties

[Statistical]

7. The progun Democrat wins against odds and the anti-gun Democrats loses to new comers.

Someday (likely in 2309830948390434 years) Democrats will learn anti-gun policies cost them votes.

[redqueen]

8. Does getting votes matter

as much as being a "real" dem/leftist/whatever?

[Statistical]

10. What is "real Democrat" about gun control?

Gun control doesn't work. Pretending rights (like 2nd) don't exist isn't exactly pogressive.

Gun control as a left/right issue is relatively new concept.

[joeybee12]

9. And yet a day doesn't go by at GD when the gunnuts come out and lie and distort...

....this crappy post is par for the course.

[paulsby]

11. please point out the "distortions" then

or are you all hot air?

let's see em...

(not expecting intellectual honesty, but holding out hope...)

[GreenStormCloud]

13. What lies?

The OP noted who the victors were in certain races. Did somebody else win thoe races?

FACT: In the Virgina House of Delegates, the NRA endorsed 59 candidates. 58 of them won.