Gun control: a winning electoral issue for Democrats, because of motivated young people

[sharedvalues]

An important issue that's come out of discussion around mass shootings is this:

If gun control energizes young people, then gun control is a winning electoral issue for Democrats.

First, supporting gun bans is the right thing to do. Americans are getting killed daily -- in mass shootings with assault rifles and in smaller daily shootings with handguns, often in American cities. Our country is flooded with guns. No other developed country in the world -- only America -- is flooded with unregulated guns. And we have terrible gun laws because GOP billionaire donors have used guns as a wedge identity issue to motivate their base to vote for pro-billionaire policies. A good way to get votes for tax cuts on billionaires is to get Americans worked up about guns. That's why GOP billionaires donate to the GOP, it's why Fox and Limbaugh talk about guns, and it's why the Koch network donates to the NRA and to pro-gun politicians.

But even if it were not the right thing to do, gun control is a winning issue for Democrats. Why? Because this is a democratic-majority country, and the GOP has been winning elections only because voter suppression methods have increased GOP turnout and suppressed Democratic turnout. The biggest Democratic demographic is young people. And young people also vote in the smallest numbers. If young people turn out, the GOP is doomed.

I'll say that again: If young people turn out to vote in big numbers, the GOP is doomed. Motivated young voters are kryptonite to the modern GOP. Just look at the recent VA governor's race. Both bases were motivated. Turnout for Gillespie (R) was up. But Northam (D) won in a landslide because Democratic turnout was WAY up.

We're going to win on gun control. Young people are pissed. And they should be. They're going to vote. Don't let anyone tell you to stop talking about gun control because it will motivate Republicans. We're beyond that. Saying gun control helps Republicans is a good strategy for trolls and GOP media messaging that is aimed at depressing Democratic enthusiasm. But it's wrong. We're going to win on gun control. And that will be good for America.

[Lunabell]

1. I don't know

Too soon.

[Skittles]

7. it's always too soon, isn't it?

*always*

[Downtown Hound]

9. They said the same thing about gay marriage

Always too soon, not now, not in this climate, yadda yadda ya. Well, we all know how that one turned out.

[Skittles]

10. CORRECT

[Kingofalldems]

2. Agreed. A new voting bloc.

[sharedvalues]

3. And a hugely important bloc.

I'd even say THE hugely important bloc. If Dems can increase youth turnout, the 2018 election will be a tsunami. The key then is keeping turnout high in 2020 and 2022.

[meadowlander]

6. As long as they actually turn up.

[kimbutgar]

4. These young kids have grown up seeing these horrible gun massacres

They don’t want to live in fear of some insane gun humper.

[american_ideals]

5. Insane gun humper, who was created by GOP billionaires in pursuit of votes

GOP billionaire donors have pushed the NRA, and pushed gun identity politics, because it gets votes for their agenda: destroying government to cut taxes on the rich. Ugh.

Nothing about that is what America stands for.

[Skittles]

8. also, the insane amount of debt created just to get an education

that needs to stop too

[flamin lib]

11. Well according to the people over in the tiny penis discussion group

Any mention of guns by a Democrat will not only cost them the race but result in all other manner of doom for the party as a whole.

Seems that they believe that 40% of 35% of American households is actually a majority.

[friendly_iconoclast]

12. Wow, *somebody* sure has an obsession with phallic imagery:

Last edited Tue Feb 20, 2018, 02:01 PM - Edit history (1)

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