Author: Sebastian

From the Washington Post:

To sell such changes, the White House is developing strategies to work around the National Rifle Association that one source said could include rallying support from Wal-Mart and other gun retailers for measures that would benefit their businesses.

I would have no problem utterly boycotting Wal-Mart. I’m already more of a Target man these days anyway. And then there’s Amazon. Bloomberg is going to be running the public relations campaign once the effort is announced. Fingers on a chalkboard, if you ask me.

The vice president said the White House group would consider a variety of proposals — from requiring background checks for all gun buyers to creating a new database that would allow the ATF to track all gun sales, according to participants.

That’s code word for “registration” folks.

The administration is quietly talking with a diverse array of interest groups, including religious leaders, mental-health professionals and hunters, to build as broad a coalition as possible, those involved in the discussions said.

The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting. They are also not talking to the NRA. They are not talking to gun owners. We are going to be dictated to, apparently. That’s what “conversation” means to them.

Already, three weeks after the Newtown shooting, gun-control advocates are growing impatient with a legislative process that is just beginning.

You know, we’re just beginning too. I hope all you folks in Illinois are fighting hard still, because your performance so far has been stellar. In the end, if we get through this, we will owe a lot to you. We all will. The anti-gun strategy is to throw everything at the wall, and see what can stick. Then, they will come at us with those parts that look like they have some adhesion, after they have worn us down and broken us. But will we agree to be broken? I have already heard stories from readers who suggest they are running into people who believe the political process is no longer relevant, and are preparing for civil war. I think there is no better way than this to make civil war an inevitability. We must not let it get to that point, and we absolutely can still avert if we fight the political fight hard, and make ourselves heard. We all just have to follow the Illinoisans example.

According to Breitbart:

If past is prologue, the media is likely working with the Obama White House already in order to coordinate the roll-out of the legislation in a way powerful enough to either intimidate the GOP-controlled House to pass it or to make them pay a political price in 2014 if they don’t.

I have no doubt the media will be a willing participant in getting the President’s Gun Control agenda through Congress. This is going to be extremely difficult. No one can sit out this fight.

John Richardson has a list of bills that have been filed. Remember that not every bill filed in the Congress has a future, and some of these are introduced in Congress after Congress. Bobby Rush is particularly fond of introducing bad gun control bills that go no where each session. We don’t know which bills will get legs and start moving. The thing to watch for is committee hearing, and as we’ve noticed in Illinois, they can come fast and hard, and without much notice. Stay tuned to your friendly neighborhood gun blogs for updates. My days of taking weekends off from blogging completely are probably over for a while, but John Richardson is very good at keeping tabs on happenings as well, and SayUncle is our Aggregator-in-Chief.

I’m told that the Chicago machine is preparing a second round of fighting in lame duck session, this time in the Illinois House when it reconvenes Sunday at 5PM. Here we go again folks. Light em up!

UPDATE: Given that this will be a weekend, I’d strongly recommend driving to Springfield and meeting with lawmakers. A personal visit is the most impactful, and when you combine that with phones ringing off the hook, it sends a message.

Thirdpower is quite correct that the bills are not dead yet, and that another play could be made next until next Wednesday, while the Chicago machine twists arms to get votes. Reports from media sources and other gun blogs that this bill is defeated are just flat out wrong. A defeat only happens when a bill is voted down. This bill is still very much alive, and still very much a threat. Keep calling. Today just bought us time.

We’re seeing pretty significant poll shifts. Now, we’ve done OK during periods where the numbers were this bad. Interesting to note that 50% think it wouldn’t have helped, but we should do it anyway.

UPDATE: People are informing me this is a rather old poll in what is a very dynamic situation. We’ll see what happens over the long haul.

Via Uncle, in the NY Senate. Features?

• Very similar to the ban in Illinois. Broad ban on most modern firearms and pump actions. Vertical foregrips are also now an evil feature. Blanket authority for state police to ban guns not suitable for sporting purposes.
• Ends grandfathering for magazines. Turn them in.
• Makes possession of a modern firearm a first degree crime instead of a third degree crime. You’ll go away for a long time for possessing a modern firearm manufactured after the enactment of this bill.

The push continues.

This just in:

It is clear that we will need bipartisan support in order to take floor votes on gun safety and marriage equality this week. We will take some time to work on these important issues to advance them in the near future.

The executive committee has been delayed, but we still intend to hold a hearing on marriage equality shortly.

That is politician speak for “We don’t have the votes right now.” It’s not over by a long shot folks, but they wanted to ram this through. Keep the heat on. Like I said, if you have some time sometime soon, it wouldn’t hurt to schedule a visit to the Capitol with your lawmakers to talk about the issue. You’ll usually get a tour too, and most Capitol buildings are interesting buildings to visit. This is not victory, but it’s a positive development. Keep the heat on your lawmakers.

FYI, I’m totally for marriage equality. Just thought I’d make that clear :)

UPDATE: Don’t forget that your lawmakers also have district offices. If you live far away from the Capitol, be sure to visit or call the district office.