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Gun-control supporters must use their opponents' own tactics against them
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/06/gun-control-supporters-tactics
Gun-control advocates know that their opponents are more adept at using existing political weapons to get a reaction from politicians – and this strength stems from not just from the leadership of gun groups like the National Rifle Association, or the deep pockets of the industry, but from the grassroots supporters.
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Gun control supporters may do well to take a page from their opponents in proving their strength on the electoral battlefield, and the tools of direct democracy may be a good way to start the battles. It is unlikely that the gun right supporters’ recall efforts in New Jersey and Oregon will be of much a model; thanks to the basic principles of redistricting, elected officials are probably as protected from recall efforts as legislators in favor of tighter restrictions in New Jersey and Oregon.
However, gun control supporters have another powerful weapon at their disposal in many states – the ballot initiative process. Initiatives are relatively easy to get on the ballot and, while they involve significant outlays of cash, groups like Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety have shown a strong willingness to open their wallets to such a fight. There has already been one prominent instance of using initiatives as the new way to fight gun-control issues: in 2014, Washington State voters passed an initiative that would require background checks, and at the same time defeated an initiative by gun rights groups that would have prevented them.
Gun-control advocates know that their opponents are more adept at using existing political weapons to get a reaction from politicians – and this strength stems from not just from the leadership of gun groups like the National Rifle Association, or the deep pockets of the industry, but from the grassroots supporters.
====
Gun control supporters may do well to take a page from their opponents in proving their strength on the electoral battlefield, and the tools of direct democracy may be a good way to start the battles. It is unlikely that the gun right supporters’ recall efforts in New Jersey and Oregon will be of much a model; thanks to the basic principles of redistricting, elected officials are probably as protected from recall efforts as legislators in favor of tighter restrictions in New Jersey and Oregon.
However, gun control supporters have another powerful weapon at their disposal in many states – the ballot initiative process. Initiatives are relatively easy to get on the ballot and, while they involve significant outlays of cash, groups like Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety have shown a strong willingness to open their wallets to such a fight. There has already been one prominent instance of using initiatives as the new way to fight gun-control issues: in 2014, Washington State voters passed an initiative that would require background checks, and at the same time defeated an initiative by gun rights groups that would have prevented them.
This is working. With the help of money from Everytown and other gun control groups local initiatives are making progress. A policy of no tolerance for politicians who oppose gun control and campaigning against them is shaking the grip of the NRA/ILA on state houses. Email and social media to get phone calls to legislators and GOTV is becoming more effective.
We're also picking our battles. Domestic violence legislation that confiscates guns from wife beaters is passing in more and more states. It's hard to defend letting convicted wife beaters have guns.
