Wall Street Journal: Gun-Control Groups Reignite Debate by Crossing the Aisle in Senate Races

It appears from this Wall Street Journal blog post that some in the gun ban lobby community don't like Gabby Giffords' group endorsing two Republicans, Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey and Illinois' Mark Kirk, both of which are in tight re-election races this year:

“You can’t blame some of these groups for trying to show some bipartisanship by supporting Republicans, but I’m not convinced it’s ever worked,” said Jim Manley, a former top aide to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) “It doesn’t change the fundamental dynamic: Republicans are still in control.”

But others argue that these groups are helping neutralize blowback Republicans could face when they buck powerful interest groups like the National Rifle Association.

Some pundits look at the move as the group playing "long ball" thinking if supporting candidates that crossed gun owners help them win, it may encourage others to do the same and show there is no price to be paid for crossing gun owners.

While Giffords and Bloomberg are rewarding Toomey for betraying gun owners who worked hard for him six years ago, it looks like a local PA gun ban group is stabbing him in the back based on this report from Bitter at the blog Shall Not Be Questioned:

Back in March, Sebastian called it when he noted that while Pat Toomey was touting support from CeasefirePA leadership, these are not people who would ever actually cast a vote for him. Granted, we thought that was more of a “won’t vote for you in the privacy of the voting booth” type of prediction, not a “will actively campaign against you despite doing what they wanted” kind of way.

But, it seems that’s how loyalty to gun controllers is rewarded. Toomey’s opponent has been endorsed by the very same group whose leaders were kissing his rear back in March, likely knowing all along that they would throw him under the bus come the run up to November’s general election.

It remains to be seen whether Toomey can convince gun owners in Pennsylvania that his opponent Katie McGinty will be more dangerous to their gun rights than he is given he has already double crossed them.  In a close election, gun owners sitting out his election could make the difference between winning and losing.

Gun Ban Lobby Retooling Messaging, Again

Politico had this article earlier in the week titled Dems urged to retool their guns message that details how the group Americans for Responsible Solutions, led by former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, is pushing to rebrand their messaging.  While they may be trying to change their PR, it is still all about enacting more restrictions on our rights.  Politico reported this is all based on poll and focus-group data with the hope that it will take hold among a public that has long accepted gun ownership:

For example, groups seeking tighter gun laws have been trying to get away from the “gun control” label since well before ARS started testing for a new messaging strategy last year. Better options, they say, are “gun violence prevention” and “preventing gun tragedies.”

"We've stepped away from a debate about guns that was sort of postured pro-gun or against-gun,” said Peter Ambler, the PAC’s executive director, “into one that’s centered around data-tested ideas like the background checks that we know increased public safety and save lives, but don't sort of disapprove of the individual gun owner and don't disapprove of the responsible use of firearms in society.”

And while Hillary Clinton promised to “keep taking on the NRA” in October, she should maybe stop, according to ARS’ findings, and instead take on the “gun lobby.”

“The NRA has great favorabilities in a lot of places,” said Global Strategy Group Jeff Pollock, pointing to the 144-year-old organization’s popular — and apolitical — hunting and safety training programs.

They have a new playbook too:

ARS invested heavily in developing the new message, hiring Greenberg Quinlan Rosner to run several polls, Global Strategy Group to host online discussion boards and Anzalone Liszt Grove to hold five focus groups around the country with gun-owning women, millennials and minority voters.

The strongest message in favor of stronger gun laws, Walker said, is “with freedom comes responsibility.”

That language mirrors that of gun rights groups, by design. The NRA calls itself “freedom’s safest place,” for example.

“Essentially, we co-opted their language,” Walker said. Similarly, another point stresses that “as adults, we have a responsibility to make our country a safer place to live.”

ARS’ strategy also subtly suggests that its allies are overplaying some strategies. “Relying on victims’ and survivors’ stories alone can amplify feelings of hopelessness,” its strategy booklet cautions.  

“Mothers have also been powerful advocates for stronger gun laws, but we need to show through our messengers that they are not the only ones who want to reduce gun violence,” it advises, before suggesting bringing in more men, gun owners, hunters and experts like ER doctors and police.

It appears from the article that they may have finally figured out that the power of the NRA is not money, but the activists who contact their legislators.  I especially liked this line:

“Their money isn’t that big,” Pollock said. “It’s not what they do. Their power rests in their stupid postcards and their ability to terrorize members on the Hill and have them panicked about their rating.”

Politico also pointed out that that what goes unsaid is the gun ban lobby far out spends the NRA.

The article finishes up with some interesting data that confirms previous reporting on the views of so-called "millennials" and the issue of gun ownership:

ARS also developed specific messages to turn out parts of the original Obama coalition of blacks, Hispanics, women and millennials. The latter might actually be the most difficult to persuade. ARS’ pollsters found that millennials' views on guns track more with the party ID than their age, and other studies have found that younger voters are especially open to gun rights, seeing them in the same vein of personal liberty as gay rights.

Jenn Jacques who writes at BearingArms.com appeared on NRANews.com's Cam and Company yesterday and said that the gun ban groups may try to change their messaging to talk about freedom and safety, it's really still just about control.

Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly To Announce "Virginia Coalition for Common Sense"

The Washington Post reports that former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly will be in Virginia today to introduce the creation of a group called Virginia Coalition for Common Sense made up of law enforcement, the faith community, domestic violence prevention, and mental health communities to push for mandatory background checks at gun shows.  Just last month, Governor Terry McAuliffe signed into law a bill that expands recognition and reciprocity for Virginia's concealed handgun permits, creates the ability for private sellers to use the State Police to run voluntary background checks on perspective buyers at gun shows, and tightened restrictions on gun ownership for those under a court ordered domestic violence protective order.

The couple were in Delaware yesterday announcing the "Delaware Coalition for Common Sense" where according to WDEL News Talk Radio, they pushed for "processes for relatives and law enforcement to temporarily prevent people suffering a 'mental health crisis' from accessing guns" and "closing what Kelly deemed the 'Charleston Loophole,' a provision in federal law that automatically allows a gun dealer to complete a firearm sale if a background check takes longer than three business days without a ruling."  Look for similar measures to be pushed when they announce their Virginia Coalition.

The Post noted while Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety "strongly rebuked" McAuliffe for making the concealed carry deal with GOP legislators, Giffords group stayed mum.  It was not mentioned whether McAuliffe or any in his administration would be at the unveiling today but former Obama U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Tim Heaphy along with a former staffer for former U.S. Senator Jim Webb will be part of the coalition.

Washington Post: Giffords Group to Invest Heavily in Virginia Elections

The Washington Post reports that the gun-control group founded by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, plans to focus the Virginia State Senate races this year, planning to dump $600,000 in three races that could decide control of the State Senate.  They are targeting the 13th District (State Senator Richard (Dick) Black) as well as two open seats, one in the 10th District, and the 29th District in Northern Virginia.

Democrats have said that the races­ are among those that will give them the best chance to wrest control of the upper chamber from Republicans, who have a two-seat majority. One vote separates the parties because Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) is the tiebreaker.

This year’s expenditure matches­ the amount the group spent in 2013 to help elect Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark R. Herring, who were embroiled in two of the most contentious political contests in the country that year.

Virginia gun owners living in the 10th, 13th and 29th districts need to contact the NRA-PVF endorsed candidates in their district to see how they can help those candidates between now and election day.

Click your candidate below to find out how to contact them.
10th District: Glen Sturdevant
13th District: State Senator Dick Black
29th District: Hal Parrish

Giffords Back on Capitol Hill Pushing Background Checks

Former Representative Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly were back on Capitol Hill yesterday pushing for expanded background checks for private sales.  But, as the Washington Post notes, the chances of getting a bill through congress is not so good.

The new House bill, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015, has bipartisan support. Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.) appeared Wednesday with the Democratic authors of the bill, and three other Republicans -- Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Peter T. King (N.Y.) and Pat Meehan (Pa.) -- are also authors.

But Dold and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), the bill's lead author and chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, offered little besides blind hope that the bill would make it through committee and through House leadership to the floor.

This appears to be slightly different than the 2013 proposal that was defeated in the Senate.  That bill applied to all private transfers.  But as Dave Kopel has testified, expanded background checks on private sales are unenforceable without gun registration.  Further, while such checks are promoted as allowing transfers among family members, it would have prevented transfers without background checks between friends, "significant others", roommates, gun club members, or extended family members (i.e. cousins, uncles, etc).  The bill unveiled yesterday would impact private transfers at gun shows and those posted on the Internet by a private individual seeking to sell from their private collection.  Background checks are already required for sales on the Internet from popular sights like AuctionArms.com, and Gallery of Guns.

As the Washington Post accurately predicts, don't look for this bill to go very far.

Gabby Giffords Struggles to Gain Traction for Gun Control in Mid-term Election

Breitbart has the story here.  It seems while the former congresswoman is doing her best to make her push for gun control a central issue in the mid-term elections, she is having trouble getting candidates in tight races to join her:

In part by design, but also in recognition of the country's political landscape, not a single candidate in this year's midterm elections for statewide or federal office appeared with Giffords as she made her way from Maine to Washington state over 10 days.

Giffords has focused her activity on nine states, including Washington which has an initiative on the ballot that would make the act of an instructor handing a firearm to a student a crime without a background check. All you need to know about just how uphill her challenge is, is this quote:

"If this happened in March or December or any other time, we'd have asked other politicians to join," said Marti Anderson, an Iowa state lawmaker who helped organize a Giffords event in Des Moines. "But it's risky 15 days before an election."

While gun control ranks near the bottom of concerns for most voters this election, there are a few exceptions.  Colorado and Connecticut, where major restrictions on the rights of gun owners were rammed through each legislature in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, have pro-rights activists energized to defeat both governors.

Groups like the one Giffords heads, and the multiple organizations Bloomberg funds have gobs of money but they don't have what the pro-rights community have; grassroots.  Money is important but people vote.  We are less than a week out for the election.  Now is the time to double down on efforts to help those candidates who support us.

NRANews Finds What Media Can't About the Negative Impact I-594 Will Have on Washington Gun Owners

Opponents of Washington state's Initiative 594 (I-594) have been pointing out that the simplest of transfers among gun owners would be impacted by the 18 page law if it is approved by voters.  Most recently San Juan Island Sheriff Sgt. Scott Brennan wrote about how residents on the island off Washington's coast would be negatively impacted if the initiative passes:

This means if you want to sell your long time neighbor John that shotgun he has always admired, you, John and the shotgun have catch the ferry to the mainland and drive to a licensed gun dealer in Anacortes or Mt. Vernon.

You have to register the gun. John has to fill out background check papers. You have to pay a ‘reasonable fee’ (whatever the gun dealer wants) You then both go home and wait.

Then 10 days later, you, John and the shotgun again catch the ferry back to the mainland and go back to the dealer, where John finally pays you and you get to hand him the shotgun. That’s SALES.

Now, we get into TRANSFERS. Sooo, the deputies want to surprise a retiring officer with a gun as a gift. The gun owner, the gun and the retiring officer again have to catch the ferry and go the mainland gun dealer. We have to register the gun and the ‘surprised officer’ has to do the background check paperwork. We again pay the ‘reasonable fee’.

Then we all get to go home again and wait ten days. Then we again catch the ferry to the mainland, go back to the gun store and finally ‘surprise’ our coworker with his gift (TRANSFER).

Here is one better. I want to loan my friend Gary my break down shotgun for his motorcycle trip to Alaska. We, once again, have to go to the mainland, drive to Anacortes or Mt. Vernon, register the gun, Gary does the background check and we pay the ‘reasonable fee’.

Ten days later we’re back and I get to ‘loan’ him the gun in front of the dealer. Gary has a great trip and comes back three weeks later. After he comes back, we all have to go back to the mainland, go back to the dealer and now I have to fill out the paperwork and pay the fee to be approved to get my own gun back.

What has been the response of proponents to folks that point out these facts? They simply deny it and move on and the media in Washington have been happy to leave it at that.  So, it has been left to the new media, in this case, Cam Edwards of NRANews, to go to the 18 page document and confirm what Sgt. Brennan and others have been saying.

These arguments appear to be gaining traction as polls have shown support for the initiative has begun to drop even though supporters have spent millions and still have millions more to spend in the closing weeks.  And, gun ban proponent Gabby Giffords will be closing out her "Protect All Women" tour in Washington just before the election.  Pro-rights forces have their work cut out for them.

Anti-Rights Side Mounts Offensive Strike

CQ Roll Call Daily Briefing reports that in the hope of keeping the public's attention squaring on their goal of massive restrictions on our rights, the gun ban crowd launched a two prong offensive today.  First, for the first time since resigning her seat in Congress, former Representative Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly took to USA Today to announce the creation of Americans for Responsible Solutions, with the goal of raising gobs of money to try and counter the pro-rights side.  Second, Mayor Bloomberg and his band of merry mayors took to the airwaves with an appeal from the mother of a 9-year-old daughter child who was killed in the Tucson shooting. 

The same report notes that Biden's group of gun ban proponents has meetings planned for tomorrow with gun ban organizations and groups representing victims of gun violence; on Thursday with gun ownership advocates and sportsmens’ groups; and on Friday with Hollywood and video-game lobbyists. To give the appearance that this is all about more than gun control, CQ also mentions that Education Secretary Arne Duncan is meeting with parent and teacher groups, and HHS chief Kathleen Sebelius is meeting with mental health experts.

Regarding that supposed Thursday meeting of "gun ownership advocates and sportsmen groups, a call came in to the VSSA office a producer at CNN's Washington Bureau.  He said that he, and everyone else at CNN are trying to find out exactly who are the "gun rights" groups invited to the meeting.  According to this producer, their sources cannot identify any such groups, and that NRA, GOA, etc have told them they have not been invited, and can't get an answer from the people hosting the meeting.

Folks, we need to make sure our representatives who are our friends do not get weak kneed.  This past Sunday, Gun Talk's Tom Gresham announced Operation Gun Rights, where he asked everyone to call and email your two senators and representative in Congress every week for the next eight weeks and politely let them know we're the good guys, we don't commit crimes, and gun control does not stop criminals, so I am opposed to any and all gun control.  We all need to make calls, send emails, and write letters (understanding that it takes three weeks for a letter to get through the system).

Update: The Hill reports that NRA and a variety of other groups  will meet with Biden on Thursday.