Serious Question about Louisiana and Gun Control

[Michael_Bush]

Louisiana has a Democrat for a Governor and yet went to Bush. I am curious about fringe issues that might create margins for a Democratic candidate.

On the issue of gun control, do you know of single issue Democrats who would vote for a pro-gun Democratic presidential nominee?

Also, do you know of Republicans who are sick of bush and would consider voting for a Democratic presidential nominee but can't bring themselves to do it because of our anti-gun stance?

Please do not hijack the thread and turn it into a debate on the relative merits of gun control, I would simply like to hear responses to the above to questions, either here or in private.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

[billbuckhead]

1. I would vote for a sensible gun reg Republican over an RBKA extremist Dem

This fictious race will never happen. Republicans almost never get to the left of Dems on weapons regs.

[funkybutt]

2. In response to your second question

YES, and I also know some pro gun Republicans from Shreveport who voted for Kerry b/c they saw beyond that and realized what they had to do.

[Michael_Bush]

3. Thanks

I have written an editorial discussing gun control and I know what my personal experience is but I wanted to see how badly I was preaching to the choir or if others had seen similar things!

I hope a few more people respond to get a nice cross section of thoughts on this.

[AnnInLa]

4. IMHO

"Louisiana has a Democrat for a Governor and yet went to Bush. I am curious about fringe issues that might create margins for a Democratic candidate."

I think an examination of your statement above is in order first...it is my personal opinion that Jindal did not get as much of the vote the repukes were hoping for because he is "foreign-looking." Believe it or not, there is still so much racial bias here. That factor and the "Cajun" factor....Cajuns voted for Blanco, one of their own. Local Catholic girl makes good. I'm not sure that the "gun" issue had alot to do with the Gov race at all.

A terrific wedge issue would be the environmental issue....Bush opened up nat'l forests for logging, Vitter wants to open up the wetlands for logging....so many hunters and fishers in LA who don't think of themselves as environmentalists, but certainly are not in favor of losing their hunting and fishing areas. CAFTA (sugar cane farmers) is another good wedge issue here in S. La.

I am of 2 minds about the gun control issue as an issue for Dems. On one hand, I am a staunch supporter of stringent gun control laws. On the other hand, many of my acquaintences actually believe that "Dems want to take away our guns." The NRA has done such a psychological number on the men...the guns represent their maleness, etc, ad nauseum. I think women are much likely to support the Dem position on gun control, because they are afraid of gun violence against themselves and their children. So, I can't decide if it would be better to support a Dem who was a strong anti-gun-control person or not. Better to reframe the argument as pro-hunting, and anti-crime, if you know what I mean.

[Michael_Bush]

5. Thanks

I am looking at the issue and how it would work on a national level and so it would have to be an issue that transcends state borders.

But I picked this state because you ARE more considerate about the issue. If I tried to discuss this in my state's forum, California, I would be lyched for not supporting imprisoning NRA members and mandatory executions of gun owners.

As for who brainwashes who, both sides distort the debate to serve their own ends. However, those that fear groups like Handgun Control want to take away all guns are only basing it on statements made by them. However, those that think Bush is pro-gun are dreaming as well, he plays lip service but they sure as heck don't want an armed populace either.

[AnnInLa]

6. OH, sorry, I thought you were looking at this from a Louisiana

perspective! I thought you were here in LA, thinking about approaching our "gun" crowd for the Dems.

I still think to frame the gun-control issue as anti-crime, pro-police would be a good counter to the NRA mindset.

[Michael_Bush]

7. I agree, I wasn't aiming it at pro white supremist militias!

[Hippo_Tron]

8. Blanco also did a great job with the negative ads

She promised not to play dirty but then did so in the last week, which didn't give Jindal enough time to respond. It's a Republican tactic for sure, but maybe you have to think like a Republican to beat one.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. Louisiana went for Clinton twice, guns aren't the problem

Although dropping gun control could help dems here and in some other states, it's not necessary to win Louisiana. I think the bottom line was the Taxachusetts eliteist crap and also that Kerry didn't run here. There's the media, aslo.