Gun Control

How Pro-Gun Laws Swept The Nation Since 2009: A Guide

Sahil Kapur | April 16, 2012, 5:01AM

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R)

Trayvon Martin's death may have opened a nationwide dialogue about the wisdom of lax gun laws. But that hasn't slowed down the National Rifle Association. The absolutist Second Amendment group remains firmly on offense, representing a movement that has crushed its political adversaries so thoroughly that even tragic tales can't slow its juggernaut.

At its annual convention in St. Louis, Mo. this weekend, NRA's executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, decried the "sensational reporting from Florida," referring to stories about Martin, an unarmed teenager recently who was shot to death in late February. NRA Executive Director Chris Cox defended the state's "stand your ground" law that may ultimately let shooter George Zimmerman off the hook, declaring, "Castle doctrine can literally save your life."

These are the words of an aggressive, well-funded lobby that is turning gun lovers' wildest dreams into reality. Indeed, recent high-profile shootings made possible by lax guns laws -- including one that almost killed former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords -- have failed to arrest the two-decade-long trend, boosted by a pliant Republican Party, a solid Supreme Court majority and a Democratic Party that has mostly abandoned the gun-control cause.

Despite four years of the NRA crowing about the dangers Barack Obama presents to the Second Amendment, his presidency has been remarkably friendly to the pro-gun cause, and persisting fears to the contrary have inspired a golden era of gun rights in the states.

Here are highlights of pro-gun victories since 2009:

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NY-26

Major Party Candidates Debate In NY-26 -- While Tea Partier Releases Most Depressing Ad Ever

Benjy Sarlin | May 19, 2011, 8:38AM

NY-26 Congressional Candidates Jane Corwin (R) and Kathy Hochul (D).

Republican Jane Corwin and Democrat Kathy Hochul met Wednesday night for their final debate before the May 24 vote to replace Republican Rep. Chris Lee in New York's 26th district. As it has for weeks, the conversation focused overwhelmingly on the budget passed by House Republicans that would, among other things, abolish Medicare.

Hochul has ran almost her entire campaign on defeating a Republican proposal to cut Medicare benefits and turn it into a voucher program while Corwin has dinged her for supporting higher taxes on the wealthy. The debate fell mostly into these predictable lines.

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Ron Johnson

Mailer Supporting Johnson Warns Government Will Ban Hunting Ammunition

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2010, 11:16AM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Ron Johnson (R-WI)

A political mailer sent to voters in support of Wisconsin Senate candidate Ron Johnson (R) plays on unfounded conservative fears that Democrats will outlaw hunting ammunition.

"It will be hard to hunt when ammo is banned," the mailer reads.

An image of the flier was sent along by a reader, who found it disingenuous. And indeed, groups that support gun bans don't exactly count the Obama administration as an ally.

"Anti-hunting extremists groups are trying to force the federal government to ban traditional hunting ammunition," it reads. "And they just may succeed.... Choose Ron Johnson on November 2. Ron Johnson will lead the fight against the anti-hunting extremists to protect your right to hunt."

The mailer was paid for by Safari Club International's PAC, based in Tucson, AZ.

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WV-SEN

Joe Manchin Promises To 'Take On' Obama, Shoots Climate Bill (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 11, 2010, 1:39PM

Campaign ad from West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D), "Dead Aim"

Gov. Joe Manchin literally takes aim and fires upon Democrats' climate legislation in a new television ad, promising voters if they elect him to the U.S. Senate next month he'll "take dead aim at the cap-and-trade bill, because it's bad for West Virginia."

In a remarkable ad for a Democrat, Manchin is seen wearing sportsman-style clothes and touting his NRA endorsement as he loads a rifle.

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Gun rights

Friendly Fire: Gun Rights Advocates In Shootout Over Campaign Finance Bill

Christina Bellantoni | June 17, 2010, 11:16AM

Gun rights supporters gather in Washington, D.C.

Gun rights activists are accusing the National Rifle Association of "selling out" to Congressional Democrats over a new measure aimed at requiring more disclosure from corporations getting involved in political races. The NRA was granted an exemption from legislation that would require other groups to disclose top donors, prompting one Virginia group to accuse them of being "bought off" and 45 groups to lodge a formal protest with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Democratic leaders cut a deal with the NRA, fearing that, if they didn't, the bill's passage this summer would be doomed by members spooked by the potential backlash from the group, an important source of support for gun-friendly lawmakers.

The NRA now supports the so-called DISCLOSE Act, which was written by Democrats in response to the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision loosening campaign finance regulations. The bill would require CEOs to stand by their ads and other transparency measures.

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