Ignoring All Evidence, NRA Decides Gun Policy Determined The 2016 Presidential Election

[billh58]

The National Rifle Association is claiming in a post-election message that the gun issue decided the election in favor of President-elect Donald Trump. But all available evidence indicates that voters actually showed a strong preference for gun safety measures and that the election was decided on other grounds. In a November 14 video released on NRATV, NRA executive vice president and CEO Wayne LaPierre claimed “Hillary Clinton made her hatred for the Second Amendment a central issue of this campaign and as a result of that fatal mistake, she’s on permanent political vacation”:

But the NRA’s framing of the election outcome doesn’t make sense, even assuming the election was decided on policy grounds (which it apparently wasn’t). The pro-gun safety presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, received substantially more votes than NRA-endorsed President-elect Donald Trump.

Setting that aside, all available data indicates Democrat, Republican, and Independent voters overwhelmingly supported the types of gun safety measures that Clinton advocated for.

According to polling released just before Election Day, measures including “expanding background checks on gun purchases; barring those convicted of a hate crime from buying a gun; and prohibiting those convicted of stalking or domestic abuse from buying guns” received widespread support among voters polled by Public Policy Polling in Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Center for American Progress noted that the polling shows “anywhere from 80 percent to 93 percent of Democrats in these states support them, along with 58 percent to 86 percent of critical independent voters, and even 64 percent to 80 percent of Republicans.”

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/11/17/ignoring-all-evidence-nra-decides-gun-policy-determined-2016-presidential-election/214517

But of course the right-wing, NRA-supporting, gun nut crowd among us steadfastly claims that if it weren't for that damned "grabber" part of the Democratic Party platform, Democrats would have won by a landslide. Not true, and remains untrue even after the election.

The entire country (except for the old red necked white men who hoard guns) is in favor of more stringent gun control measures. Yes Wayne and Ted, the tide has turned and there is very little that can change that momentum. And yes, Trump and the Tea Party gundamentalists can take a heavy toll on the progress that has already been made -- but not at the local level, and that is where we are gaining the most ground.

[SunSeeker]

1. Guns did not determine this election, James Comey did.

BTW, Prop 63 here in CA passed, finally regulating ammo!

[billh58]

2. The NRA apologists are

convinced that gun control has doomed the Democratic Party for decades while they parrot right-wing talking points and propaganda at every opportunity.

You are entirely correct, the right-wing, criminal MIC conspiracy from both sides of the aisle is what costs Democrats elections, and the Joe Sixpack crowd believes their lies and false news plants.

[billh58]

3. Demographics mean trouble for the NRA

Gun safety advocates sponsored ballot initiatives in four states, and won three, barely losing the fourth. Nevada passed universal background checks, California banned possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and Washington state allowed judges to “issue orders enabling authorities to temporarily seize guns from people who are deemed a threat to themselves or others.” Maine voters narrowly declined to approve universal background checks.

The gun safety movement has suffered so many gut-wrenching setbacks in recent years, it was high time for a new approach. And, evidently, it’s working. When voters are asked directly about gun safety measures, they will check the box.

It was not long ago that the gun lobby enjoyed support from both sides of the political aisle. No more. Now the NRA is a fixture of the right — and increasingly, the right wing of the right — as it insists on an uncompromising agenda that alienates more and more Americans. In short, the gun lobby is marginalizing itself.

While the NRA was victorious with this last election, it is busy writing its own political obituary. Soon enough, the influence and power of the gun rights movement will match the dwindling share of gun owners.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/ap/demographics-mean-trouble-for-the-nra/article_f32171ca-a1e1-5c82-b888-009f5d7f6e96.html

Despite the rhetoric from right-wing NRA apologists, gun control is here to stay, and the younger generation is not buying into the gun nut hype. Old, red necked white men with guns are fading into oblivion.

[flamin lib]

4. The gunners remind me of the first grade kid who constantly

blew a whistle in class. The teacher asked why he did it and he said it keeps tigers away. The teacher said,'But there aren't any tigers here.' The kid said, 'See, it works.'

[billh58]

5. Yep.

That's the same mentality that keeps screaming, "self-defense!" and sleeps with a .357 under their pillow, and then takes it with them in the car, to work, to the store, and to the airport.

Paranoid gun humpers with a vigilante complex are a menace to themselves, and to society.