08 February 2016

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Gun Rights Movement. And It's Winning.

Excerpt:

 Over the last few months, an important drama has played out in the state of Virginia. As leaders of the gun-control movement looked to prove to Democrats that their issue can move voters, they settled on Virginia as their guinea pig. After a failed election and a relatively inconsequential executive action on guns from Clintonite governor Terry McAuliffe, their experiments culminated in a bold move: unilateral action from the Democratic attorney general that broke the state’s concealed-carry reciprocity agreement (in this agreement, Virginia’s concealed-carry permits were honored by 25 other states).Then, on Friday, that action was undone by a deal between McAuliffe and Republicans. 

More embarrassingly for the gun-control advocates, new details Friday revealed that the McAuliffe–Republican deal was more expansive than was first reported. Not only did the deal reverse the Democrats’ unilateral action and restore all 25 of the reciprocity deals; it also mandated that Virginia recognize permits from all states and create reciprocity agreements with every state that wants one.

The deal is a leap forward for gun-rights activists. It also undermines Democrats’ effort to present gun control as a winning issue in the state and nationally. As a movement, gun control never made much sense — it has faced one setback after another over many decades. But it nonetheless carried on full-steam ahead, and gun-control activists believed that 2016 would be the year they finally turned things around.

Their belief is proving misplaced, as polls are showing a sharp turnaround in Americans’ attitudes on guns. Up to this point, most Americans believed that guns were “too easy” to get. Up to this point, most Americans wanted to ban so-called assault weapons. The opposite is true now, and even a historic front-page New York Times anti-gun editorial hasn’t changed that. Today, most Americans are on board with concealed carry. If that’s not enough, we’re also seeing record levels of gun sales across the country.
 
Read the rest here.


9 comments:

Ed Bonderenka said...

Click. Click.
Here that?
That's the sound of freedom.

On a Wing and a Whim said...

Woohoo! That's great news! Thanks for cluing me in!

Rev. Paul said...

Ed, anything I could add would be a cliche'. You said it, brother.

Wing, you're welcome. :)

Matt said...

Living here in said state, i can say it's a better deal than losing reciprocity, but on a level that I can't really explain, this deal has a stink to it...

The phrase, "don't play with snakes" comes to mind.

Rev. Paul said...

Matt, I'd go ahead & read the whole article, if you have not. But if you can articulate what's wrong with the "new" arrangement, I think a lot of us would like to read it.

Matt said...

I've thought about it awhile. Here goes.

Why did Terry McAuliffe cave? He's a big Clinton supporter and rumored to be in the pool for VP pick if she gets the nomination. Unless he's got something up his sleeve, then he most likely lost his chance there.

He can't be reelected here as this state is a one term deal, but he loses a big ally in Bloomberg who was his mega donor during his election. It's never wise to bite the hand that feeds you. Around here, governors usually go on to be US Senators. He needs money for that election.

He's angered his minority democrats in Richmond in the House and Senate.
He might need them later.

He's rabid on gun control. Just like Obama has done at every gun event where several are killed (unless it's Chicago), the governor loves to dance in the blood of the slain.

So, unless (once again) he's got an "ace up his sleeve" and thus setting up a trap, none of this makes any political sense. He's just castrated himself.

On a minor point, this "voluntary" background check is the ol' "one nose under the tent" business.

Back when I lived in TN years ago in the early 90's, the Republicans fell for Gov. McWhorter's temporary raise of a 5 cent extra gas tax to fund roads and highways. When the time limit was up, amazingly (NOT) it suddenly became permanent because it "worked so well" as a temporary tax.

In a year or 2, this voluntary background check on private gun sales will suddenly become mandatory because it created a few false positives thus stopping a few sales.

Some argue that the legislature could suddenly do this at anytime anyway, so therefore they are willing to "negotiate" with the governor. But I've seen this trick before. Democrats always play from a stacked deck..... always.

If we play stupid games, we will win stupid prizes.

I simply didn't send people to Richmond to negotiate my rights away.

Well, even if no one sees it as I do, I at least hope they understand where I'm coming from.

Ed Bonderenka said...

Let's just be wary as you are Matt and pray you are wrong.

Matt said...

Ed, I honestly hope I am wrong.

Guffaw in AZ said...

BRAVO to all involved!

gfa