McCarthy on redistricting

Carolyn McCarthy’s latest e-mail indicates she’s worried about being redistricted out during next year’s elections:

“Redistricting could mean I will face an incredibly tough reelection race. Because New York is losing two Congressional seats, I could be pitted head-to-head against another strong incumbent. We don’t know what will happen. But when it does, we need to be ready to hit the ground running. It’s the only way I can continue to be a strong voice on the issues we care about …”

Excellent.  She’s never had a creditable opponent before.  Let her try and justify her record against another professional politician who will have no problem attacking her for being little more than a single issue incumbent.

“… While other lawmakers are running scared and staying silent on issues like the ridiculous “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act,” I’ve already contacted every governor in the country, urging them to oppose the NRA’s brazen attempt to override important state guns laws …”

Yep, and all 50 of them have blown her off.  So much for her strong voice.

Bloomberg’s bucks

Mayor Mike is trying to buy some influence down in Virgina by donating to antigun Democrats.  The Washington Post reports:

“… Bloomberg (I) has donated $25,000 of his own money to six Senate Democratic candidates, who are involved in some of the closest races in the state … He plans to travel to Northern Virginia next week to appear with some of the candidates … Republicans are aggressively trying to take control of the state Senate, where Democrats hold a slim 22-18 majority.  Bloomberg is concerned that a Republican-controlled Senate will further loosen Virginia’s gun laws, including overturning the state’s one-gun-a-month restriction …”

This is pocket change for him.  He made larger campaign contributions to local reps. in support of gay marriage.

While the candidates probably appreciate the cash, I question whether his going down there to campaign with them is going to be viewed by the public as a positive for these incumbents.  It just looks like him meddling in other people’s affairs.  However, if Bloomberg wants to go and ruin other antigun politicians careers more power to him.

Schumer speaks on H.R. 822

Chuck Schumer finally address H.R. 822 in this NY1/YNN story:

“… There are 242 co-sponsors to the bill,” [Congressman Jerrold Nadler] said. “I hope we can stop it in the Senate.”  That will likely happen, according to New York’s senior senator, Charles Schumer.  “It’s come up in the past and the Senate’s defeated it,” he said.  Schumer also said the bill would allow gun owners into the state without permission from law enforcement officials, which he said was not wanted …”

That isn’t what happened.  When is came up last year it had 58 Yea votes, just short of the 60 needed to prevent Schumer’s promised filibuster.  The ’10 elections should have added 6 pro-gun votes meaning there should be enough support now to end debate on the bill and bring it to the floor for a vote.  Schumer isn’t saying this.

Antis increasingly alarmed by H.R. 822

Too funny:

“Democratic New York electeds are becoming increasingly alarmed by a bill in Congress that they say strip the rights of states to regulate conceal and carry laws … U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who is appearing on former Gov. David Paterson’ WOR radio show this afternoon at 5:10 p.m, previously sent a letter to all 50 U.S. governors alerting them to the bill … And Attorney General Eric Schneiderman also took the issue last week writing in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell …”

Two fringe politicians out of hundreds of elected local, state and federal representatives from all across the state are complaining about the bill.  McCarthy’s letter has accomplished nothing, which isn’t surprising considering the vast majority of governors represent states which view New York gun laws as far outside the mainstream, while both Reid & McConnell are blowing off Schneiderman.  If there was serious concern by our local elected officials about H.R. 822 there would be a lot more people complaining about it.

H.R. 822 advances

H.R. 822 has been voted out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 19-11.  Hilarity ensues on the Brady Campaign’s Twitter feed.

Bachmann has a CCW

Big media is trying to attack Michele Bachmann on the issues, but inside this syndicated column there is this useful tidbit:

“… after a supporter asked her position on the Second Amendment, Bachmann said she supported Americans’ rights to own guns and that she had a permit to carry a concealed weapon …”

So do millions of other Americans.  It’s a mainstream position largely unknown to the editors of rags like the LA Times and Boston Herald.  So they try and marginalize her with this:

“… then she added: “I don’t believe in the U.N. taking that right away from us, as well. There are international treaties that want to do that.”  The United Nations is drafting an arms treaty, but it is aimed at stemming illegal international gun sales. While many gun manufacturers are concerned that such a treaty could lead to broader gun registration, only a narrow fringe purports that Americans could see their guns taken away by the U.N., which has no authority over constitutional rights …”

By “narrow fringe” they mean the NRA which has covered this topic extensively and Wayne LaPierre even wrote a book about, “The Global War on Your Guns: Inside the UN Plan To Destroy the Bill of Rights.”  This lame shot won’t hurt her campaign at all.  In fact, this Rasmussen poll last month shows more Americans think being labeled “Pro-Gun” is a positive rather than a negative.  This explains why none of the candidates, including Obama, are rushing to the Brady Campaign for their endorsement.

Push back on H.R. 822

Our press release has generated some positive pro-gun push back on H.R. 822.

The Citizen article, “Buerkle, Hanna support new gun law,” reports both Ann Marie Buerkle and Richard Hanna are co-sponsors.  The Watertown Daily Times story, “Schneiderman, Owens on opposite sides of gun control measure,” cites incumbent Bill Owens and his probable  ’12 challenger Matt Doheny both support the bill as well.

H.R. 822 on Capital Tonight

Tom on yesterday’s Capital Tonight program talking about H.R. 822.

Here is the press release we sent out about the bill.

Elena Kagan goes hunting and shooting

I found this interesting story on Elena Kagan on CNN’s religion blog:

“… She recalled paying a courtesy call on Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) shortly after her nomination to the court by President Obama in May 2010.  Risch asked her about gun rights, and remarked she may not realize how important the issue was to some Americans, especially in his home state.  She admitted never having owned or fired a gun before.  “But I told the senator if I was fortunate enough to be confirmed, I would go hunting with Justice Scalia.”  And she has, joining her conservative colleague on an excursion to a Washington-area shooting range and on several hunting trips, until now never reported.  Her host at the synagogue event was surprised.  “You’re Jewish,” deadpanned Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg.  “Yeah, but it turns out, it’s kind of fun,” said Kagan, laughing.”