Minnick sees no chance for gun control measures

[ccharles000]

Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick says gun owners don't need to worry about their gun rights being eroded in the current U.S. Congress.

"There is no possibility there is going to be any gun control in this Congress," Minnick told the Lewiston Tribune.

Minnick said he's one of 52 conservative "blue dog" Democrats in the House who oppose further gun control.

"Nothing can pass in the House without some blue dog support," he said. "The support (for Second Amendment rights) goes far beyond the blue dogs. It's not just fiscally conservative Democrats. I would warrant it's a solid majority of the caucus."

Shooting enthusiasts say fears that the Obama administration might push gun control legislation has boosted gun sales and is driving gun owners to stockpile ammunition.

But Minnick said there are more pressing issues facing Congress than gun control.

"I think it would divert the Congress away from real problems," he said. "We have so many of them and of such severity, I think it would be shortchanging the nation to spend a week or two on a topic that divisive. It's like fiddling when Rome is burning. We have real problems _ energy, health care, immigration. We still have problems of national security, a war-and-a-half we are fighting. We don't have the luxury to spend time on issues like this. I think it's just a non-issue."

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2009/05/03/ap-state-id/d97uuqd01.txt

[virginia mountainman]

1. Thank goodness....

I am sick of the hypocrisy on this issue..



I believe in the Bill of Rights..... ALL of them....

[IDemo]

2. If Minnick hadn't been running against Idaho's Michelle Bachman equivalent-

Bill Sali, he would have lost. It's pretty sad when an admitted blue dog is the best we can do here.

edit -- meant to reply to OP

[quiller4]

3. The last thing we need is a repeat of 1994.

My Bill of Rights has 10 amendments and I support them all.

[tularetom]

4. I've been saying this for years

And pretty much for the same reasons Rep. Minnick gives.

We have a lot more important issues facing us than bans on firerams.

All bans suck - on guns, booze, marijuana, abortion, gay marriage you name it.

But the hysteria that this topic generates is unreal.

People who ought to know better get themselves into a snit over it.

[Hoopla Phil]

5. What about the CIFTA treaty? Will they not ratify IT?