Just as liberals like Nancy Pelosi tried to diminish the Tea Party in its early days as a corporate astroturf movement, the Left is at it once again trying to write off the anti-gun control backlash as somehow a big political ploy by Republican operatives.
Trust us — if it were this easy to draw massive crowds to Democrats’ town hall meetings, Republican operatives would be doing it a whole hell of a lot more often.
The anti-gun control uprising is grassroots at its most organic. Just ask any staffer receiving letters to the editor at newspapers across the state. Or legislators. Gun rights supporters are legitimately pissed at the Democrat-controlled Legislature’s attempt to infringe on their Second Amendment right.
Signs have been popping up across the state, town halls have been packed, and the company leading the charge against the magazine ban, Magpul Industries, has seen a nearly 1900% growth in its Facebook fans from around 10,000 to 185,000 as of this post.
The response from Democrats, and gun control activists, has been nearly uniform in pointing out polling that shows that the broader public supports taking away guns and limiting magazines. Regardless of the veracity of that polling, it simply doesn’t much matter because most voters don’t consider guns an issue that moves their support.
As Bill Clinton pointed out, gun rights supporters do. Per Politico:
Clinton recalled Al Gore’s 2000 campaign against George W. Bush in Colorado, where a referendum designed to close the so-called gun show loophole shared the ballot with the presidential ticket. Gore publicly backed the proposal, while Bush opposed it.
Though the referendum passed with 70 percent of the vote, Gore lost the state. Clinton said that the reason was because a good chunk of the referendum’s opponents were single-issue voters who automatically rejected Gore as anti-gun.
And Clinton said that passing the 1994 federal assault weapons ban “devastated” more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers in the 1994 midterms — and cost then-Speaker of the House Tom Foley (D-Wash.) his job and his seat in Congress.
Some legislative Democrats, like Senator Tochtrop (D-Thornton), understand this. She warned her fellow Democrats to vote their district and “be moderate” on gun control issues.
As some of the most controversial legislation reaches the Senate the question now becomes which Senate Democrats — like Angela Giron (D-Pueblo) — will heed Clinton and Tochtrop’s warnings.
Do they listen to their party’s leadership who assures them the public supports their gun grab, or do they pay attention to the grassroots wave sweeping across Colorado that speaks to the massive political boondoggle they could be wrapping themselves up in?
Calling for a complete and total boycott of all co sport activities
The agenda is the most important thing ever! Elections have consequences!
And who is this 'vast majority'? Where are you getting this info? From polls? You mean a biased organization that calls a biased individual's home and wants a specific answer to a non-specific question? I'm sure that's what you're referring to.
Shawn, for once in your lives, can one of you idiot lefties make something other than an emotional argument or an argument that starts off with 'the vast majority….' It's like you all go to some school where you learn how to parrot every canned response without learning how to think for yourselves. Ever hear of a fact based argument? So you say you don't want another SH, correct? Did you know that CT already had an AWB? That obviously worked. Can you define 'stricter gun control laws' and 'saner gun laws' with examples or are you just going to pontificate? I've never heard anything resembling a factual argument or anything specific regarding laws that you'd like to see from any of you 'liberals.' So here's your chance. You're up. Can't wait to hear this.
This from Shawn…. that political powerhouse with all of 11 followers….
You must be proposing ideas that are virtually "universal"…. LOLOL
Shawn, if you don't want another Newtown or Aurora, why are you wanting to make all of Colorado "gun free" like those places were? How did that work out for them?
please explain how any of the current proposals will prevent future tragedies. .
Richard M. Shirley Sorry, you're wrong. The vast majority – I'll say it again – the VAST majority of Americans support stricter gun controls and saner gun laws. Nobody said anything about taking away the second amendment except you. And who cares if the NRA really is a few points more popular than President Obama, although I doubt that. What we don't want is another Newtown or Aurora. I wish I could say that about the rest of the commenters on this lame site.
Sorry Shawn, a whopping 65% of Americans view the 2nd Amendment as necessary for freedom, and the NRA polled 54% positive compared to the Presidents 48% . http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/01/22/gun-control-obama-nra/1851643/
Most people want EFFECTIVE gun control, not "stricter". And the bills running frantically in the panicked State Legislature will not be effective.
"Vast majority" (lol) support some undefined gun control that will reduce crime. Hell, I support sometihng that will reduce crime. However the legislation being passed has already been proven over a 10 year span to be completely ineffective. For that reason, these ignorant people are going to be voted out.
Kevin – See ya at the polls!
My apologies on all the missing letters on my previous post. I have been writting so many emails and letter lately regarding this subject I see some of my keys have begun to wear out. LOL I'll have to be more careful. 😉
Well stated! Its high time we make it a point to fight back with tactics the Dem's have used for years, GRASSROOTS. They are exceptional at it. I hav eheard so many people say, when asked "are you going o the rally at the capitol" they respond with, "I work for a living". Well, you better forget that arrogance and get on oard before there is no more freedom of choice, for anything, least our gun rights. Monday is our last chance and with Bill Clinton unwittingly I'm sure helping point politions to the perils of this vote, lets seal it with a huge turnout at Colfax and 15th!
Keep saying that to your self. Repeat it over and over until 2014 comes. Americans hate freedom, they welcome our iron fist. ….etc etc over and over.
You're still a small minority. Get used to it. The vast majority of Americans want stricter gun controls and saner gun laws.
Power hungry tyrants. They will not understand until they are driven from the public square in shame. We must hold Democrats (all Democrats) responsible. Pro-gun Democrats have been quite as church mice while their leaders attack our most basic civil liberties. Speaking of church mice: What ever happened to Joe Salazar?
Don't forget the money from Bloomberg….
They won't listen to reason, they are blinded by their "Glorious Agenda" and seeing an unreality through their Liberal Utopian colored glasses. Once they ensure a way to strip criminals of ALL the tools they posess illegally, then I will be open to a discussion of what they may think is next. Until they understand and respect that LAWS AFFECT THE LAW ABIDING, and that criminals do NOT obey the law, nor gun free zone signs…..discussion is futile as reason and logic are not present in the equation. Feel Good legislation only restricts options for the law abiding while eroding their Rights and providing criminals with more safe work environments to exploit at a time of their chosing.
Protests, townhalls, letters from constituents , these thing interest not the Dem legislature, Phone calls from Biden, promises of Washington money to back their re-election campaigns these are what they listen to.