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Dial H For Hero

(2,971 posts)
Sat Dec 12, 2020, 10:40 AM Dec 2020

Gun restrictions face uphill battle even under Biden

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gun-restrictions-face-uphill-battle-biden-74653133

The gun debate in America will soon enter a new chapter with a Democrat in the White House after four years under President Donald Trump in which gun control advocates developed a long wish list for reform amid a spate of large-scale mass killings in places like Las Vegas, El Paso and Parkland, Florida.

But any hope that Joe Biden will usher in a new era of restrictions on firearms is highly unlikely because of the same polarization in Washington that has tripped up similar efforts under past administrations.

The items on the agenda — largely relegated to the political shelf in recent years — include renewing a ban on AR-style rifles, universal background checks, restrictions on high-capacity magazines and a federal red flag law designed to prevent people at risk of harming themselves or others from purchasing a firearm.

But virtually all of those will require Congress to act. And regardless the outcome in two Senate races in Georgia that will determine which party holds the majority in that chamber, it will be a tall order to get a majority of lawmakers on board.

(excerpt)
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Thunderbeast

(3,400 posts)
1. Even if the Georgia Senate seats turn blue...
Sat Dec 12, 2020, 10:48 AM
Dec 2020

Dems will have Joe Manchin to deal with.

If that should happen, I would not be surprised if Manchin is offered great power by McConnell to caucus with the GOP.

trc

(823 posts)
2. Manchin recently said as much
Sat Dec 12, 2020, 10:59 AM
Dec 2020

Winning the presidency is not nearly enough to get the sweeping changes done that need to be done. Mitch will just say no and Manchin will help.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
4. I see we're really trying to lose the midterms again
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 10:35 AM
Dec 2020

Sometimes I think the DNC likes doing that because it gives them an excuse to not be progressive

 

Dial H For Hero

(2,971 posts)
5. Quite so. Oh, gun control sells well in solidly blue states, granted. But pushing it at the
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 10:55 AM
Dec 2020

national level in swing states is a recipe for losing seats in Congress, on the whole.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
6. If they're already blue, then they don't need gun-control advocacy to win elections
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 01:17 PM
Dec 2020

The problem fundamentally is that it discredits the Democratic Party in the minds of gun owners, simply because most of the PR about gun control is bullshit to people that know guns. It sounds good to people that don't know guns, but how can a gun-owner believe the Democratic Party about anything else when the public faces of the party are on TV and social media saying things that are bullshit?

"Pistol grips make rifles into assault weapons" is the kind of statement that's in the DNC party platform, and also bullshit. And "we have to ban AR-15s"... which for the last 25 years has probably been the best-selling type of rifle in the country. It's like saying "we have to ban 4-door CUVs" because reasons and such, and then being surprised when owners of Ford Escapes and Honda CR-Vs don't vote for us. Yeah, maybe the people that don't drive will buy it, but car owners will be like "WTF? You're an idiot!"

*sigh* I don't know. Nearly all homicides are gang-related or domestic violence, 95% of murders are single-victim incidents, and rifles are used for only 5% of gun-related murders a year, but the DNC keeps making this the spotlight gun-control issue.


I truly think that the DNC pursues the gun-control agenda in lieu of having to address the structural problems with wealth, health-care, labor versus management, etc.

 

Dial H For Hero

(2,971 posts)
7. Bingo. When the talking point goes from "No one's talking about taking any of your guns" to:
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 02:11 PM
Dec 2020

"No one's talking about taking all your guns", no one should be surprised when gun owners react negatively.

sarisataka

(18,483 posts)
10. Are you saying the combination of slogans
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 03:58 PM
Dec 2020

Defund the Police and Ban Guns will not lead us to sweeping midterm victory?

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
11. I'm thinking not
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 07:05 PM
Dec 2020

They're going to spend the next two years screaming about a stolen election and how they HAVE to take the Senate and House so Biden and Harris can be impeached.

In fact, I'll bet after they win Congress in 2022, they'll make Dolt45 Speaker of the House so he can be "returned" to his rightful place after the Biden/Harris double impeachment.

Then he can run again in 2024 and be president for just under 10 years total.

Sound crazy? Yup.

Will it sound crazy in 20 months? I have no clue, and that scares me!

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