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Gun Owners of America: Impact Of The 2006 Election On Gun Rights
Gun Owners of America ^ | 11/8/06

Posted on 11/09/2006 3:56:43 PM PST by Mr. Mojo

What impact, if any, will the transformational 2006 Congressional Election have on Second Amendment rights?

While election 2006 may have been a referendum on many things (the President, war in Iraq, Jack Abramoff, Mark Foley for example), it does not translate into greater support for gun control at the grass roots level.

If anything, gun control was notable as a non-issue in this election. In compiling the GOA rating (House / Senate), researchers could hardly find a congressional candidate with any stated position on gun control on campaign websites.

That's not to say many of the newly elected will not support the anti-gun agenda; just that they recognize open support for gun control will cost them at the polls.

Unlike the newly elected members, however, the Democrat Congressional leadership is completely beholden to the far left anti-gun extreme of its party.

House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (F- rated by GOA) is a charter member of the most extreme wing of the party she now leads. As the person who controls what bills come to the floor, Pelosi will be unable to say "No" to the appeals for more gun control by the likes of Sarah Brady and her congressional allies.

The Speaker's strongest House ally in the push for more gun control is long-time Democrat anti-gun activist John Conyers, the likely Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Almost all bills related to the Second Amendment will pass through Conyers' committee. The new Chairman, an extremist who advocates a total handgun ban, will control the schedule of the committee as well as which bills come up for committee vote.

The situation in the Senate may be worse (pending the outcome of the Virginia senate race). Should Democrat Jim Webb hang on to win, the expected new Senate Majority will be F- rated Harry Reid (NV) and the probable incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee would be GOA F- rated Pat Leahy of Vermont.

From there it really goes downhill.

The rest of the Democrats currently on the committee make up the Who's Who of the anti-gun movement:

* Ted Kennedy (MA), the mouthpiece for Sarah Brady in the Senate

* Joe Biden (DE), who chaired the Judiciary Committee when the Brady bill passed in 1993, and who said at that time, famously, "The public and the Congress have spoken unequivocally, and I don't care what a minority wants"

* Herb Kohl (WI), author of the "Gun Free Zones Ban"

* Dianne Feinstein (CA), author of the so-called "Assault Weapons" ban

* Russ Feingold (WI), democrat lead sponsor of so-called campaign finance reform

* Charlie Schumer (NY), lead sponsor of the 1993 Brady law

* Dick Durbin (IL), one of the most outspoken gun control zealots in the Senate.

Gun owners should look twice at the above list. Most or all of these members will remain on the Judiciary Committee when the new Congress convenes in January, and will help shape American gun laws for at least the next two years.

Gun Owner Victories

There were several bright spots for gun owners this election. The 210th Congress will include the following "A rated" members who had the support of Gun Owners of America's Political Action Committee: Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Bill Sali (R-ID), Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Peter Roskam (R-IL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Adrian Smith (R-NE), and Jim Jordan (R-OH).

With the exception of Buchanan, who has not held elected office, each of these new representatives have strong, proven pro-gun records in their respective state legislatures. In addition, Reps. Roskam, Walberg, Smith and Jordan are a vast improvement over the Republicans they are replacing.

Further, many of the incumbent Republicans who were defeated were not pro-gun. For example, Nancy Johnson (CT), Jim Leach (IA), Clay Shaw (FL), Curt Weldon (PA), and Charlie Bass (NH) were not strong gun rights supporters.

In the Senate, ousted Republican Mike DeWine of Ohio was as anti-gun as Charlie Schumer. The same can be said for Lincoln Chafee (R-RI).

Democrat Senators-elect Jon Tester (MT), and Bob Casey (PA), as well as Jim Webb, claim to be pro-gun. It remains to be seen if they vote that way.

The bottom line: On a race-by-race basis, the pro-gun movement suffered a net loss of only a small handful of seats.

However, notwithstanding widespread calls for moderation within their ranks, the Democrat leadership in the House and Senate will unquestionably put gun owners on the defensive by seeking to renew the so-called assault weapons ban, close down gun shows, and drastically expand the Brady gun control law.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: banglist; democrats; election; election2006; elections
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1 posted on 11/09/2006 3:56:44 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Mr. Mojo

My thoughts are that it is going to be a booming 2 years for firearms sales, ammunition and accessories....


2 posted on 11/09/2006 4:00:34 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I was just thirteen, you might say I was a musical proverbial knee-high...)
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To: Mr. Mojo

I'm going to a gun show Saturday. Should I buy a new AR-15 or stock up on ammo and mags for the guns I already have?


3 posted on 11/09/2006 4:00:43 PM PST by aomagrat (I'm not as young as I usedtocould.)
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To: aomagrat

Buy a new gun and stock up on ammo too.


4 posted on 11/09/2006 4:01:37 PM PST by unkus
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To: Mr. Mojo

And we have to count on President Bush to veto gun grabbing legislation. Hide your guns.


5 posted on 11/09/2006 4:02:21 PM PST by arthurus (Better to fight them over THERE than over HERE)
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To: unkus

Been loadin' ammo like a bandit since 1994.


6 posted on 11/09/2006 4:02:56 PM PST by Lancer_N3502A
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To: Lancer_N3502A

I like your Home Page. Have you heard of, or read the book "Term Limits"? We need it today.


7 posted on 11/09/2006 4:05:18 PM PST by unkus
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To: unkus

Yep, first things will be impeachment, gun confiscation (under a feel-good title) and supression of religious expression, much more so than now. Bank on it.

Oh, and find some creative ways to hide that stuff.


8 posted on 11/09/2006 4:07:43 PM PST by brushcop (Men of B-Co 2/69 3ID, do you now feel betrayed after all your efforts & sacrifices in Iraq?)
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To: arthurus

From MY COLD DEAD HANDS


9 posted on 11/09/2006 4:22:03 PM PST by Yorlik803 ( When are we going to draw a line a say"this far and no farther")
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To: Yorlik803
From MY COLD DEAD HANDS

That's the way it will be, unless you and your neighbors get organized.

10 posted on 11/09/2006 4:33:00 PM PST by JoeFromSidney (My book is out. Read excerpts at www.thejusticecooperative.com)
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To: Mr. Mojo
What impact, if any, will the transformational 2006 Congressional Election have on Second Amendment rights?

It will have no affect on the RIGHT. It may have impact on unlawful infringement upon that right, however.

11 posted on 11/09/2006 4:33:30 PM PST by GingisK
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To: Mr. Mojo

Those of us who can should buy our firearms through private sales, without the involvement of a dealer so there is no record of the transaction. I just bought a Romanian AK-47 today with 10 mags (265 round total capacity) and 1100 rounds of ammunition to add to my stockpile, all done legally with no dealer involvement and no papers filed. If there are no records they won't know where to look. Private sales (between residents of the same state) can be performed this way according to federal law. It's the state laws that control them further.


12 posted on 11/09/2006 4:37:43 PM PST by P8riot ("You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone." - Al Capone)
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To: aomagrat
If there are budget constraints, go with ammo. Especially .223 & 7.62x 39. If I have any spare change for new firearms I would opt for a civilian caliber like .308 and 30/06. I intend to stock up on also on 9mm and .45 ACP. Hand guns are certain to be the first target for the gun grabbers.Maybe a revolver?
I would avoid any firearm with the term "automatic" in the description. Does this posting reflect my faith in a Bush veto? Yes! Dont forget his dove hunting trip, where he shot a killdeer.
barbra ann
13 posted on 11/09/2006 4:38:37 PM PST by barb-tex (Why replace the IRS with anything?)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Expect a renewal of the 1994 Crime Bill's "Assault Weapons" Ban. Bush promised he would renew it if it came to his desk.

Buy guns and ammo. But don't forget training. You may need it.

14 posted on 11/09/2006 4:44:06 PM PST by nonsporting
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To: unkus

Romanian term limits suits the our new Democrat 'leadership' to a T.


15 posted on 11/09/2006 5:04:16 PM PST by Noumenon (Liberals: America's domestic enemies. Treat them as such. With extreme predjudice.)
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To: Noumenon

This is the difficulty with the newly elected Blue dog dems. It is not they who will be the chairmen and women in DC, it will be the extreme left of the party


16 posted on 11/09/2006 5:07:26 PM PST by sachem longrifle (proud member of the fond Du lac band of the Ojibwa people)
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To: Noumenon

Right on!


17 posted on 11/09/2006 5:11:49 PM PST by unkus
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To: aomagrat
Image hosted by Photobucket.com you can ALWAYS turn gunz into money... you CAN'T always turn money into gunz!!!
18 posted on 11/09/2006 5:19:41 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Makes me glad I already purchased my personal protection.

For those in Georgia, see here for gun information.
19 posted on 11/09/2006 6:02:49 PM PST by HighlyOpinionated (Mohammed Lied; Jesus Died (For Your Sins) and Rose Again.)
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To: Mr. Mojo
Take heart everyone. We survived Comrade Clinton and we will survive this. I give the 'Rats two years in charge before the nation sees them for who they really are, and we come back.
20 posted on 11/09/2006 6:32:36 PM PST by martywake (Carpe Jugulum... Seize the throat.)
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