2 Dems could be best allies for gun advocates

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"For the times they are a'changin"...

HELENA, Mont. (AP) Two Montana Democrats are leading the charge against gun control even helping force the military to continue selling surplus brass to gun aficionados who want cheaper ammunition.

U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester are not simply placating gun advocates with a vague promise to vote against gun control in Congress. They are forcing former political foes to recognize that Democrats could be their strongest allies while the party controls Washington D.C.

It's creating uncertain bedfellows on an issue that wins or loses races in places like Montana.

The pair have been taking the lead on issues that only the most ardent gun rights advocates were talking about. Just last week they joined Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana to pressure the Defense Department in a move that is credited with overturning a short-lived brass ban.

''The letter sent by the Montana delegation had a major impact on the reversal of that decision, and for that gun owners all over the country are grateful,'' said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist.

The issue had created a firestorm on the Internet forums frequented by assault rifle fans and others, but was largely unknown outside those circles. The brass is important to gun aficionados who reload their own bullets or seek to buy cheaper ammunition from companies that purchase the surplus brass.

It was also Tester and Baucus who were among the first taking shots at an Obama administration statement in favor of renewing the assault rifle ban, telling their fellow Democrats to expect strong opposition.

The strong pro-gun moves are forand limited our right to assemble.''

:applause:

More...

And in other news... it looks as if the honeymoon between the new Congress and Obama could be over...

Washington, DC - Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement on behalf of the Brady Campaign and the North Carolina Million Mom March chapters on the nursing home tragedy in Carthage, North Carolina:

“To the families of the innocent victims in Carthage, we offer our sorrow and condolences.

“We are having too many incidents like the one at the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center in this country. In Oakland, in Alabama, on the Mexican border, even in churches like one in Southern Illinois, our weak gun laws are costing innocent people their lives.

“If, in the month of March, tainted peanut butter or spinach had led to the deaths of ten people in Alabama, eight in North Carolina and four in California, Congress would be calling for investigations and legislative reform. But 22 die in mass shootings in less than a month, and Congress and the White House do nothing. With 30,000 Americans dying every year from gun violence in America, we owe it to our citizens to exercise a similar diligence in addressing gun violence.”

:smoke:

http://www.bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=1124

[OHdem10]

1. It is simple Math: Tester and Baucus had at least 65signatures

on a letter to A.G. Holder. They will not support, in fact,
they will fight him on Gun Bans.

Constantly bringing up the Gun Issue only gives the GOP an
opportunity to start their "Democrats will take your Guns"
campaign. The Pro-Gun Side have the enormous numbers.

Timing is everything in politics. Right now is not the
time for Gun Law discussion.

[aikoaiko]

2. Here is that letter just in case others want to read it.

[Tim01]

3. Everybody knows *real*democrats are conservative on the 2nd amendment.

They are liberal on most rights, but not all of them.:sarcasm:

I guess sarcasm. Maybe not so much.