65 House DEMOCRATS send "no ban" letter to Holder

[Greybeard]

This should send a few of 'em a strong message. And maybe settle some of the "uncertainty" - for a while anyway. The best news I've seen all week: http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/AWBLet ... der309.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AEA]

WOW!

That is great news! That there are at least some Dem's that have a little bit of sense!

[Mike1951]

Best news I've heard!!

With that many pro Second Amendment Democrats, there is little chance, in the current political climate, that any severe gun control bills could be passed.

[Aggie_engr]

Surprised there were so many dems to readily sign this. Especially some from kalifornia. Glad to see there is some opposition, maybe they will drop it for awhile. Even though I didn't vote for our current president as long they don't go after our guns and the economy gets back on track I could care less who's in office.

[nitrogen]

Surprised there were so many dems to readily sign this. Especially some from kalifornia. Glad to see there is some opposition, maybe they will drop it for awhile. Even though I didn't vote for our current president as long they don't go after our guns and the economy gets back on track I could care less who's in office.

I've been saying this for ages: Many folks understand now what a loser this issue is. Sure, you have some "true believers" in the democratic party (i.e. McCarthy, Schumer, Pelosi) but most will bend whichever way the wind blows, and I think it's very obvious which way it's blowing.

Also, remember many of the newer Democrats in congress are a lot more conservative than your typical leftist democrat. The two senators from MT are a good example from what I know of them.

I'm not saying we don't need to keep an eye on our administration; we do. Theres still plenty of damage OBama and Eric Holder can do via strokes of the pen; but I think movements like this will keep reminding the administration that the issue is a loser for them, and to concentrate on other things.

[Biga9999]

Good news.

Any chance the hording/buying sprees will slow down and ammo/Firearms will become readily available again? (probably not, but a guy can dream right?)

[Oldgringo]

Surprised there were so many dems to readily sign this. Especially some from kalifornia. Glad to see there is some opposition, maybe they will drop it for awhile. Even though I didn't vote for our current president as long they don't go after our guns and the economy gets back on track I could care less who's in office.

I've been saying this for ages: Many folks understand now what a loser this issue is. Sure, you have some "true believers" in the democratic party (i.e. McCarthy, Schumer, Pelosi) but most will bend whichever way the wind blows, and I think it's very obvious which way it's blowing.

Also, remember many of the newer Democrats in congress are a lot more conservative than your typical leftist democrat. The two senators from MT are a good example from what I know of them.

I'm not saying we don't need to keep an eye on our administration; we do. Theres still plenty of damage OBama and Eric Holder can do via strokes of the pen; but I think movements like this will keep reminding the administration that the issue is a loser for them, and to concentrate on other things.

: however, we must remain ever alert and suspicious. These people have shown that they will prostitute themselves for a vote.

[Purplehood]

I wonder if this letter will even make a blip on the news networks?

[AEA]

I sent it to WFAA to help them understand that Anti is not as prevalent as they like to make it appear!

[Liberty]

I sent it to WFAA to help them understand that Anti is not as prevalent as they like to make it appear!

You have it right. They are loud they are over represented, but there aren't as many of them as many would believe.

[anygunanywhere]

If there are so many "conservative" democrats then why is the most merciful one having his way? HMMMMMM? If they tack the anti-2A legislation onto a spending/welfare/bailout/entitlement/pork bill it will pass.

Anygunanywhere

[nitrogen]

If there are so many "conservative" democrats then why is the most merciful one having his way? HMMMMMM? If they tack the anti-2A legislation onto a spending/welfare/bailout/entitlement/pork bill it will pass.

Anygunanywhere

Why didn't they amend it on to the current porkulus bill then? Why wait?

Obama is getting his way because, while they are conservative Democrats, they are still Democrats, and believe in health care reform and other policies many here would disagree with, that have nothing to do with 2A issues.

[anygunanywhere]

If there are so many "conservative" democrats then why is the most merciful one having his way? HMMMMMM? If they tack the anti-2A legislation onto a spending/welfare/bailout/entitlement/pork bill it will pass.

Anygunanywhere

Why didn't they amend it on to the current porkulus bill then? Why wait?

Obama is getting his way because, while they are conservative Democrats, they are still Democrats, and believe in health care reform and other policies many here would disagree with, that have nothing to do with 2A issues.

So if they have a more warm fuzzy feeling towards health care reform and other policies than they do the 2A we are screwed.

Anygunanywhere

[The Annoyed Man]

The last time Democrats passed an AWB, they got creamed in the next election cycle, and the beating lasted a long time - not that Republicans in recent years haven't acted just as poorly in a lot of respects. But at least the Republican party has more or less consistently tried to uphold gun rights, while the Democrat party has consistently been where the suppression of gun rights has come from.

Those 65 Democrats aren't going to vote for a spending bill that will include an AWB. Why? Because their votes are a matter of public record, and where they come from, their actions on gun rights will count against them, and they will face exactly the same fate as did the last batch of Democrats in the House who passed the last AWB.

This letter is pretty good news. It is not an excuse to let down our guard, but it IS a reason for being cautiously optimistic for the remainder of this Congress. Of the 435 members of the House, the current balance of Democrats to Republicans is 254 to 178. Take away those 65 Democrats and add them to the 178 Republicans, and you have roughly 243 votes against reinstating the AWB, versus 189 votes for it (assuming that all 189 are rabidly against "assault" weapons... not all of them may be). A lot of those dems may be wrong about a lot of things, but they are not stupid. Since the last time their party tried this stunt they got whipped, these 65 Democrats know that it could easily happened again, and they will likely be strongly resistant to voting for any kind of bill that includes an AWB.

[UpTheIrons]

Of course, MY rep didn't sign on. I get fewer and fewer warm fuzzies about him every day.

Henry Cuellar: wrong for the 28th District, wrong for America.

(Is that how you write a successful attack ad?)

EDIT: I just faxed this off to him. Let's see if it does any good:


Dear Representative Cuellar,

I read a news story from the Associated Press today that included a letter (dated March 17, 2009) from sixty-five House Democrats to Attorney General Holder urging him to not pursue an ill-advised “assault weapons” ban as he has recently stated he would.

After reading the letter from your colleagues, which I believe is well reasoned and factual, I was disappointed that I did not see your name among those attached.

Is there a reason you did not join your fellow representatives (including our neighbor, Rep. Ciro Rodriguez) in agreeing with this sensible statement? I don’t believe you are opposed to the individual rights of Americans to bear arms as enumerated in the Second Amendment, but it was distressing to not see your name on the letter.

I am sure that if both federal and state governments would strictly enforce the firearms laws already on the books, much of the gun crime that happens today would be either stopped before it happens or punished to the point that any misguided “gun bans” would be moot.

Thank you for your service on behalf of the people of Texas, and please remember that even though we may disagree on many policies, I remember you in prayer regularly in our Sunday services.

Sincerely,

Rev. UpTheIrons