Did the report “Winning the Gun Vote” for DLC influence our 2008 Democratic Party Platform?

[jody]

Our platform says:

Firearms

We recognize that the right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation, but we know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact and enforce commonsense laws and improvements – like closing the gun show loophole, improving our background check system, and reinstating the assault weapons ban, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals. Acting responsibly and with respect for differing views on this issue, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe.

The DLC study“Winning the Gun Vote” recommends on slide 2:

By becoming both pro safety and pro gun rights, Democrats can do right on both the politics and policy and make a realignment of a sizeable portion of gun owners possible.

These gains can occur without losing either Democratic base voters and while gaining among swing voters who reject the traditional GOP-backed alternative positioning.

On slide 27 the report says 70% of gun-owners would likely vote for a Democratic candidate who says “I agree with President Bush that we need to renew the ban on assault weapons.“

Slide 27 also says 83% of gun-owners would likely vote for a Democratic candidate who says “I take a back seat to no one in support of second amendment rights but I also support requiring criminal background checks at gun shows and continuing the ban on assault weapons.”

Slide 29 says 61% of all respondents reject the message “I am opposed to renewing the ban on assault weapons because criminals rarely use these guns and the ban infringes on the gun rights of law abiding gun owners.

Slide 29 also says 60% of all respondents reject the message “I believe that Second Amendment rights are absolute and do not allow for restrictive gun laws like the ban on assault weapons or background checks at gun shows.”

On the surface, one might conclude Dem candidates could run on a “pro safety and pro gun right” platform and call for reinstating the assault weapons ban but the study for DLC did not insure each respondent knew the meaning of "assault weapon".

Given the recent communication I’ve observed on DU regarding the meaning of “assault weapon”, I don’t see how a random sample of 802 people could possibly understand that term.

Current bill S.2237 specifically excludes such popular firearms as the Remington model 1100 shotgun as an “assault weapon” but H.R. 1022 allows the Attorney General to ban that same firearm as an “assault weapon”.

The part of our 2008 platform on “Firearms” looks suspiciously like it was based on the DLC study but IMO the study is fundamentally flawed because respondents did not understanding the meaning of the term “assault weapon”.

[Redneck Socialist]

1. I'd say it's a pretty safe bet

It's a never ending source of of bafflement for me that our top Dems can't/won't find someone who actually knows something about guns advise them.

[iverglas]

2. and the point is?

On the surface, one might conclude Dem candidates could run on a “pro safety and pro gun right” platform and call for reinstating the assault weapons ban but the study for DLC did not insure each respondent knew the meaning of "assault weapon".

-- what?

What are you proposing -- that all these people be sent to re-education camps and taught all about "assault weapons" ... so that they will VOTE AGAINST DEMOCRATS?

You don't seem to like the results of the survey -- which pretty plainly indicate that the respondents do NOT disagree with Democratic Party policy, whether they "understand" it to your taste, and whether you like that policy or not.

So?

What?

[Hangingon]

3. We should restrict our gun control efforts until...

we learn not to shot ourselves in the foot.

[SteveM]

4. Well said. The AWB has become the gun-controllers' golden fleece ...

The DNC's obsession with "assault weapons" has become nothing more than a golden fleece up for capture in a never-ending culture war. When we win in November, our task as pro-2A Democrats, is to aggressively challenge the Democratic Party leadership to either drop this damned loser or take off. The ONLY reason these people are in power is that MSM has kept up a steady drum beat of agit-prop for gun control/confiscation, allowing little if any fair reporting or even a response. This is changing as MSM loses its influence, but the old guard is still in power within the Party.

This has got to change.

[jody]

5. "golden fleece"! My reaction was the color is correct but it's from uric acid from gun-grabbers.

:hi:

[SteveM]

9. I can now see and smell your logic (nt)

[benEzra]

6. Undoubtedly. And note the date (2003).

This was the script for the Kerry/Edwards message on guns, i.e. that "we support hunting, but we'll fight hard to outlaw AR-15's and over-10-round pistols." Problem was, far more people own "assault weapons" and pistols than hunt, and many hunters also own guns covered by S.1438.

Thing is, MANY people have been trying to point this out to the party leadership since at LEAST 2003. Party leaders ignored it in 2004, and they are ignoring it now.

The ironic thing is, that report was authored by the group (AGS) that John McCain was a spokesperson for years ago, and the "assault weapon" fraud was originally a repub talking point (under Bush the Elder and arch-right-winger William J. Bennett). Irony of ironies...

[jody]

7. Thanks. I grow more disgusted every day and I'm approaching being Royally Pissed Off !!! n/t

[jody]

8. IMO it's possible that some Dem leaders believe voters support an AWB because of the DLC study that

is fatally flawed since assault weapons were not defined.

I doubt that the person conducting the interview understood the term. :shrug:

I know at least some of the respondents thought an assault weapon was an AK47 with its distinctive shape, large magazine, and full automatic capability.

If the question had been asked, do you support banning shotguns like the Remington model 1100 or pistols like the Model 1911, then IMO most gun-owners would reply "HELL NO!"