Local gun owners consider Dean

[Feanorcurufinwe]

"What's wrong with Democrats? They're not all bad," says Jim Mcloud as guns shots go off in his firing range. "There are Democrats who own guns and they come in here all the time." Whether Mcloud, owner of Manchester Firing Line Range, and many other gun owners will vote for a Democrat, particularly Howard Dean, is another story. Democratic frontrunner Dean received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association for his stances on gun control as governor of Vermont. But Dean's strong rating may not translate into votes from New Hampshire gun owners.

<snip>

Mcloud says there's a "strong Republican slant" among his firing range clients, and that he usually votes Republican himself, though he'll "take a look at all the candidates."

<snip>

Earl Durand, owner of Durand's Gun Shop in Auburn, says, "Just the issue with guns for Dean is not enough. His ideas on the war don't interest me, so I'll probably go with Bush."

"I wish they would split themselves from some of the issues," says Mcloud, who also owns Belmont Firearms and Range. "If you're pro-gun, why do you have to be pro-choice or pro-whatever? I don't believe in all of what the Republican say. But this is a passion of mine, this is a big part of my life. You also have to vote with your wallet. You have to understand that most firearms owners and dealers are very conservative," says Bill St. Onge, owner of Guns N Stuff in Bedford. "The Democratic Party has probably gone way too far to the left. We also think the Republican Party has gone too far to the left."
http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2004/january/1_17guns.shtml

[maxanne]

1. not everyone

in NH is a gun totin redneck, though there are plenty of them. I love the comments from the guy in Belmont. Charles Manson could get elected in NH if he had enough money and an R next to his name.

At least in Dean's case, they can't use the argument they used in 2000 about Al Gore. There were thousands of morans who "knew" Al Gore wanted to take their guns away, and that was all that mattered to them.

[KaraokeKarlton]

2. There are a lot of gun owners in NH

Although some would fit the "redneck" stereotype, most wouldn't. I know a lot of hunters who also play golf, or would be considered "yuppies".

[maxanne]

3. you're right, Karlton

There are 2 bleeding heart liberal gun toters in my family.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. Here's one gun-toting liberal for Kerry!

[Redneck Socialist]

10. I'm a gun totin' redneck!

Well, I'm not really all that redneck, but you are definitely right about the Manson thing.

[babzilla]

5. my favorite quote from Bill St. Onge, owner of Guns N Stuff

that article is a hilarious collection of quotes. It is hard to pick a favorite, but I've got to go with this one:

"You have to understand that most firearms owners and dealers are very conservative," says Bill St. Onge, owner of Guns N Stuff in Bedford. "The Democratic Party has probably gone way too far to the left. We also think the Republican Party has gone too far to the left."

I guess I'm just not like the most Bill, this firearms owner supports Dean and has no earthly idea what you are talking about regarding Republicans going too far to the left.

[wholeworld]

6. guns

theres more to this election than guns, guys.

[maxanne]

8. thanks!

We hadn't noticed. :hi:

[Kat45]

9. Unfortunately, a lot of gun folks are one-issue voters.

My ex, who voted for Gore last time, has acquired 4 guns, joined a range, as well as the NRA, and considers the gun issue the only issue that matters to him. He's an intelligent man, who agrees with me on a number of issues, but if the candidate is for gun control, he won't vote for him. I told him that if that's the case, he won't have anyone to vote for. At least many of the gun folks, including him, are fed up with bush and don't want to vote for him either.

[Padraig18]

7. Gun owner for Dean.

:hi:

[Upfront]

11. Gun Owner For Dean Here

Would have been for him anyway because he has led the attack on B###, and has the plan to take back the party and the Whitehouse. Go Dean!!!!

[billbuckhead]

12. I won't vote for Dean in the general over this issue and will vigorously

campaign in a battle ground state (Pa.) against Dean and for a 3rd party candidate over this issue. I never thought the Democratic party would stab in the back such a loyal constituentcy as those for sensible gun regulation. I predicted Dean would start to lose women voters in particular over this issue and it seems to be happening. I notice real patriotic heros such as John Kerry and Wes Clark have no fear criticizing the NRA crowd and Dean won't admit the NRA even exists. Very telling character moment.

[adamrsilva]

14. Then you will ensure we lose

Thanks, buddy.

[adamrsilva]

15. And just for the record, Dean isn't any more lax on gun control

thank Clark or Kerry. They support the same things. It's just the Dean has figured out that if you talk about gun control you lose millions of votes, so he doesn't ram it down everyone's throats.

[babzilla]

13. I'm a guns n' stuff owner for Dean

I don't like to limit myself to merely guns, I also want n' stuff.
:hi: