Gun fight in Colorado: the NRA rides in, as children duck-and-cover

[Robb]

The pro-gun lobby is funding an ugly backlash campaign after Colorado lawmakers passed tough gun control measures

(snip)

In Colorado, at least, we are lucky. We have a state legislature that defied prevailing political perception and demonstrated courage in the face of the National Rifle Association (NRA), whose grassroots facade is in reality funded by millions from the gun industry. This summer, with the overwhelming support of most Coloradoans, our state enacted a number of measures – including background checks, high-capacity magazine limits, and restricting domestic violence offenders from purchasing guns – all designed to quell gun violence.

Even with the back of a majority of public support, the legislation was remarkable because gun control laws have long been considered political impossibles in the face of the pervasive big money power of the NRA.

Unfortunately, this kind of political nerve has not been without adverse consequence. My local senator, Angela Giron, and the state senate president, John Morse, are embroiled in ugly recall attempts, as pro-gun advocates attempt to make examples of legislators who mess with the gun rights lobby.

When you combine our state history of Columbine and Aurora with our rural roots and generational hunting traditions, Colorado offers a microcosm through which to view the larger gun control battle. Despite the NRA's ability to shut down federal gun measures, Colorado legislation demonstrates that the gun lobby can be beaten. And as Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has pointed out after the Sandy Hook shootings, the NRA's invincibility is more mythology than fact. He has highlighted the fact that 13 out of 16 NRA-funded US Senate candidates lost their races in 2012.

Read More: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/26/gun-fight-colorado-nra

[wild bird]

1. As a personal rule, I don't generally follow the guns thingy,

but I have to ask, what the hell is going on in CO? These laws seem very reasonable, why would anyone have problems with them?

[Warpy]

3. The problem is suburban daddyrabbits with arsenals

Sensible people in rural areas are being whipped into a frenzy by the slippery slope fallacy the NRA has been using for years: sensible laws today mean confiscation tomorrow. This is utter hooey in rural states, especially rural states out west where there are still large animals to cope with. Just last week a bear charged a homeowner here who shot it in self defense. It was that one bear in a thousand who had a bad attitude and didn't run away when the man yelled at it first.

The bottom line is that guns are necessary out in the boonies and even in our suburbs and on the edge of town. Banning them is just not going to happen.

The laws in CO are reasonable, which is why the NRA hates them. Reasonable gun laws might affect sales and the NRA's main purpose is making sure sales stay high. That's the reason they try their best to whip up a lot of unreasonable fear and why suburbanites with arsenals and some rural folks with long guns for bears always buy it.

[wild bird]

4. Thanks, I get it now.

Let's hope that these recalls fail and that CO keeps these reasonable laws.

[lastlib]

5. Hope, hell--go to work and MAKE them fail!!

If you can't work, at the very least donate!

[wild bird]

6. I don't live in Colorado, but I can donate.

Who do I donate to? Have any links?

[lastlib]

7. try this:

https://coloradodems.ngpvanhost.com/crmapi/contribute

and thank you!!

[wild bird]

9. Done.

On a side note, what a beautiful picture of a bald eagle they included.

[madamesilverspurs]

2. The fight against common sense is beyond bizarre.

Colorado Pols has a good piece on how the pro-recall bunch is using a deliberate misquote to sell their effort:

http://coloradopols.com/diary/48250/were-sick-of-debunking-the-sickness-on-our-souls#more-48250

[blkmusclmachine]

8. .

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