Democrats Push Gun Control, Recruit Pro-Gun Candidates

The Hill reports this morning that the National Senate Republican Campaign Committee is pointing out the hypocrisy of Democrat leaders who are pushing gun control at the national level while recruiting pro-rights candidates in states like Montana and South Dakota in the hope of retaining their senate majority:

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) posted a message on its online action center Friday calling for people to sign up to support Obama’s agenda of immigration reform, commonsense gun control and equal rights. But it’s eyeing candidates in Montana and South Dakota who are not likely to support Obama’s gun control initiatives.

Two of those being recruited are former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) and former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT).  Both have "A" ratings from the NRA as past office holders and were popular in their states.  Herseth Sandlin lost a close race for re-election in the wave election of 2010 and is considered the strongest candidate among Democrats to hold on to the seat.  It is unclear whether either candidate would vote with their party to criminalize private sales but a political science professor at Montana State University said it is unlikely that Schweitzer would go along with that proposal.  Max Baucus, the individual that Schweitzer would be running to replace, also voted against the Schumer, Manchin, Toomey amendment and it turned out he was not planning to run for re-election.

Contrast what Baucus did with Virginia's own Mark Warner, who likes to portray himself as a  "bipartisan moderate" Democrat that is above party allegiance.  Warner has never bucked the administration on any important vote from Obamacare to the budget.  And he did not disappoint Obama on "expanded background checks."  I'm not counting the vote on the ban on sporting rifles or standard capacity magazines because even Obama did not push either of those other than giving lip service.  The line in the sand was drawn on background checks and on that test, Mark Warner failed.

Gun owners need to question candidates in 2014 on the issue of where they stand on private transfers.  Don't let them weasel word the issue.  Make them be specific.