{"id":6626,"date":"2012-09-04T09:47:33","date_gmt":"2012-09-04T13:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gunpoliticsny.com\/?p=6626"},"modified":"2012-09-04T09:47:33","modified_gmt":"2012-09-04T13:47:33","slug":"guns-in-the-democrat-platform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gunpoliticsny.com\/?p=6626","title":{"rendered":"Guns in the Democrat platform"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hill reports<\/a> on gun control in the Democrat Party<\/a> platform:<\/p>\n

“… The draft language of the Democrats’ 2012 platform … argues that current safeguards protecting the public against gun violence are insufficient and urges “an honest and open conversation about firearms.” \u00a0The document also calls for “reasonable regulation” governing guns, including laws banning assault weapons and requiring all gun sellers \u2014 not just licensed dealers \u2014 to perform background checks on potential buyers …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Like the GOP platform<\/a>, the platform is written by party functionaries and is completely unenforceable. \u00a0It does show a mindset of what the Democrats consider their voter base.<\/p>\n

“… Most of the gun language in the Democrats’ draft platform mirrors what was in the 2008 document, but the call for an “open conversation” about gun control \u2014 something that’s been all but absent for years on Capitol Hill \u2014 is a new addition. \u00a0The provision marks a subtle shift in messaging for Democratic leaders who have been reluctant to press for tighter gun control \u2014 or even hold hearings on the subject \u2014 for fear of a political backlash …”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, guess what? \u00a0This is going to cause some political backlash.<\/p>\n

No matter how you cut it, the American public is in no mood<\/a> for more gun control. \u00a0What point is there in antagonizing an organized constituency (NRA<\/a>, etc.) when the general public already thinks the President has done a lousy job<\/a> at running the country? \u00a0It’s not as if Obama<\/a>\u00a0can afford to turn more voters against him.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, what point is there in pandering to the kook fringe<\/a> which have no ability to generate any sort of money\/votes around their issue? \u00a0They don’t even talk about organizing a GOTV<\/a> effort; it’s just lots of whining<\/a> about neither party<\/a> adopting their issues.<\/p>\n