High Country News: Lynch-Mob Politics

"Western voters, however, by temperament tend to lean toward moderate candidates, no matter the party. That's why Republicans with a green side and Democrats who shoot guns often win our general elections. On the same day that the Tea Partiers held a giant rally in Reid's hometown of Searchlight, Nev., Reid spent the day with National Rifle Association Vice President Wayne LaPierre, out shooting. You could say Reid is getting pretty Western in his race against Tea Partier/Sagebrush Rebel Sharron Angle.

Will that be enough to keep Reid and his colleagues in power? There are always exceptions to the general tendencies toward moderation, and this year feels pretty exceptional."

http://www.hcn.org/issues/42.18/lynch-mob-politics

Reid actually has a pretty good record on preserving the 2nd. but these close to election day appearances remind me of the time John Kerry went pheasant hunting before losing the presidential election. Didn't fool many people.

And if you look at Colorado history, the state is clearly purple, swinging back and forth with the political winds.

My favorite was the Bill Clinton "duck hunting" photo op

"Mr. Clinton joins a long line of Presidential hunters, including George Bush, Jimmy Carter, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Bush hunted quail during Christmastime trips to Beeville, Tex. Confronted on one occasion by animal rights advocates, Mr. Bush said: 'These aren't animals. These are wild quail.'"

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A965958260

I don't know about Carter but didn't these guys all hunt before they became president? Certainly the Bushes and Roosevelt did.
The only thing Clinton hunted was tail

Is it true that Dick Cheney once invited Barry to join him on a hunting trip?

Yes and Ted Kennedy was going to drive them.

Did LaPierre, have to show harry, which end the bullet came out of?

Harry Reid on Gun Control

Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. - Congressional Summary:AMENDMENT PURPOSE: To ensure that law abiding Amtrak passengers are allowed to securely transport firearms in their checked baggage. On page 37, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following: "Allowing Amtrak Passengers to Securely Transport Firearms on Passenger Trains.--None of amounts made available in the reserve fund authorized under this section may be used to provide financial assistance for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) unless Amtrak passengers are allowed to securely transport firearms in their checked baggage. Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Sen. ROGER WICKER (R, MS). This amendment aims to ensure that gun owners and sportsmen are able to transport securely firearms aboard Amtrak trains in checked baggage, a practice that is done thousands of times a day at airports across the country. I emphasize that this amendment deals with checked, secured baggage only. It would return Amtrak to a pre-9/11 practice. It does not deal with carry-on baggage. Unlike the airline industry, Amtrak does not allow the transport of firearms in checked bags. This means that sportsmen who wish to use Amtrak trains for hunting trips cannot do so because they are not allowed to check safely a firearm.
Opponent's argument to vote No:Sen. FRANK LAUTENBERG (D, NJ): I object to this disruptive amendment offered by the Senator from Mississippi. He wants to enable the carrying of weapons, guns, in checked baggage. One doesn't have to be very much concerned about what we are doing when they look at the history of attacks on railroads in Spain and the UK and such places. This amendment has no place here interrupting the budgetary procedure. The pending amendment is not germane and, therefore, I raise a point of order that the amendment violates section 305(b)(2) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Reference: Wicker Amendment; Bill S.Amdt.798 to S.Con.Res.13 ; vote number 2009-S145 on Apr 2, 2009

Voted YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership. Amendment SA 2774 to H.R. 2764, the Department of State's International Aid bill: To prohibit the use of funds by international organizations, agencies, and entities (including the United Nations) that require the registration of, or taxes guns owned by citizens of the United States.
Proponents support voting YES because: Sen. VITTER: This is a straight funding limitation amendment. Many folks who haven't followed the proceedings on this in the U.N. may ask: What is this all about? Unfortunately, it is about an effort in the United Nations to bring gun control to various countries through that international organization. Unfortunately, that has been an ongoing effort which poses a real threat, back to 1995. In 2001, the UN General Assembly adopted a program of action designed to infringe on second amendment rights. The Vitter amendment simply says we are not going to support any international organization that requires a registration of US citizens' guns or taxes US citizens' guns. If other folks in this Chamber think that is not happening, that it is never going to happen, my reply is simple and straightforward: Great, then this language has no effect. It is no harm to pass it as a failsafe. It has no impact. But, in fact, related efforts have been going on in the U.N. since at least 1995. I hope this can get very wide, bipartisan support, and I urge all my colleagues to support this very fundamental, straightforward amendment.
No opponents spoke against the bill.
Reference: Vitter Amendment to State Dept. Appropriations Bill; Bill S.Amdt. 2774 to H.R. 2764 ; vote number 2007-321 on Sep 6, 2007

Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. - A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:
Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime
Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect
Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought
Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations
Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005

Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. - Vote to pass a bill that would block certain civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms and ammunition, mainly those lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun violence. In this bill, trade groups would also be protected The bill would call for the dismissal of pending lawsuits against the gun industry. The exception would be lawsuits regarding a defect in a weapon or ammunition. It also would provide a 10-year reauthorization of the assault weapons ban which is set to expire in September 2004. The bill would increase the penalties for gun-related violent or drug trafficking crimes which have not resulted in death, to a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. The bill calls for criminal background checks on all firearm transactions at gun shows where at least 75 guns are sold. Exemptions would be made available for dealers selling guns from their homes as well as members-only gun swaps and meets carried out by nonprofit hunting clubs.
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S.1805/H.R.1036 ; vote number 2004-30 on Mar 2, 2004

Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. - Require background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)50; N)50; VP decided YES
Reference: Lautenberg Amdt #362; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-134 on May 20, 1999

Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. - The Hatch amdt would increase mandatory penalties for the illegal transfer or use of firearms, fund additional drug case prosecutors, and require background check on purchasers at gun shows. [A YES vote supports stricter penalties]. Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)48; N)47; NV)5 Reference: Hatch Amendment #344; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-118 on May 14, 1999

Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. - Vote to table or kill a motion to require that all gun sales at gun shows be completed by federally licensed gun dealers. Also requires background checks to be completed on buyers and requires gun show promoters to register with the Treasury.
Reference: Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-111 on May 11, 1999

Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. - Vote to table [kill] an amendment to make it unlawful for gun dealers to sell handguns without providing trigger locks. Violation of the law would result in civil penalties, such as suspension or revocation of the dealer's license, or a fine.
Reference: Bill S 2260 ; vote number 1998-216 on Jul 21, 1998

IMHO, I wouldn't say he's Anti-GUN Control

Another Good Site:
http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

Sharron Angle on Gun Control
• Supports second amendment rights. (Aug 2010)
• Individual constitutionally protected right to bear arms. (Jul 2010)
Q: Do you believe that the second amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right to own and bear arms?
Yes.
Source: Candidate questionnaire by "Government-is-not-God PAC" Aug 5, 2010
Individual constitutionally protected right to bear arms
Sharron Angle supports the individual constitutionally protected right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, property, as well as for other lawful purposes.
Sharron has been endorsed by the Gun Owners of America and has an "A" rating with the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Source: Campaign website, [url=http://www.sharronangle.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]www.sharronangle.com[/url], "Issues" Jul 19, 2010