New Pro-Gun Democrat Senator

thallub · January 30, 2013, 10:30 AM

The senators name is Heidi Heitcamp and she represents North Dakota. Heitkamp will not support Obama's AWB scheme. Good on the lady.

Quote:

"...........,the president lost North Dakota by almost 22 percentage points and I was still elected the United States senator and I was elected because I promised people I was going to be their voice not the voice for a political party, not the voice for a president who happens to be in the same political party that I am but I am the voice for the people of North Dakota," Heitkamp says. "I'll make my decisions based on what I believe is in the best interest of the people of North Dakota, the people of this country. And if in six years people don't agree that I made the right choices, I'll find something else to do."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-pl...115938898.html

PawPaw · January 30, 2013, 10:45 AM

It's not surprising that a senator from a western state would be pro-gun. Here in the Deep South, lots of Democrats are pro-gun. In Louisiana, for example, our own Mary Landrieu is a staunch Democrat and has a "C" rating from the NRA, but I've never known her to hurt gun-owners. Yeah, she talks the party line, and I vote against her whenever I get the chance, but she hasn't really hurt us.

For that matter, the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, scores a "B". He's smart enough to know that what makes good sound-bites in Washington will get you fired in Nevada.

Freedom crosses party lines.

CharlieDeltaJuliet · January 30, 2013, 11:30 AM

Great to hear.

Technosavant · January 30, 2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

He's smart enough to know that what makes good sound-bites in Washington will get you fired in Nevada.

I really think a bunch of Senators have been realizing this.

Missouri's own Claire McCaskill had originally talked up support for a ban, but her most recent response omits any mention of a ban (be it support for or opposition to). IMO, she realized she prefers her job to toeing the party line.

Contacting legislators DOES work. It is working now.

Glenn E. Meyer · January 30, 2013, 12:50 PM

The news cant is now for more background checks and proper mental health reporting as first priority and then banning evil 'clips'. I've said before the former has a chance, the latter maybe but I don't think so. Feinstein bill - not going to happen.

The fallout of intense opposition to supposedly progun reps and senators in the next election will be telling.

SIGSHR · January 30, 2013, 05:45 PM

I have long maintained that gun owners must be an independent bloc of voters that the GOP cannot take for granted and the Liberals cannot cross except at their peril.

MrDontPlay · January 30, 2013, 08:47 PM

Good to hear that she's pro gun but...

Quote:

I'll make my decisions based on what I believe is in the best interest of the people of North Dakota

No, you vote the way you're told to vote by the people of north dakota. I'm not from there, just doesn't sound right to me.

Closing The Gap · January 31, 2013, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Good to hear that she's pro gun but...

Quote:
I'll make my decisions based on what I believe is in the best interest of the people of North Dakota

I think she means she isn't going to tow the Democratic party line.

Quote:

On the topic of gun control, Heitkamp does not hesitate when asked if she'll support an assault weapons ban; her answer is a definitive no.

Is a profoundly more telling statement in my opinion. Plus the fact that she makes for 6 Dems opposed is a really good thing.

MLeake · February 1, 2013, 07:09 AM

MrDontPlay, the idea behind a representative democracy / republic is not that your representatives will always parrot the polls back home, but that your representatives will educate themselves on matters on a full-time basis, and combine what they learn with the opinions of their constituents.

If the intent had simply been to have representatives vote however the polls had gone, back home, on every issue then the founders would have drafted a democracy, as opposed to what they did create.

Now, there are potential penalties when representatives go against the wishes of the masses - IE they may not get reelected. A "statesman" is one who is willing to run that risk, when they truly think it is the right thing to do.

mayosligo · February 1, 2013, 07:19 AM

Agreed MLeake. We lack statesmen today.

teeroux · February 1, 2013, 11:17 AM

Quote:

our own Mary Landrieu is a staunch Democrat and has a "C" rating from the NRA, but I've never known her to hurt gun-owners. Yeah, she talks the party line, and I vote against her whenever I get the chance, but she hasn't really hurt us

No she's a snake and has hurt us in the past in non firearm related issues. Landieu is a party voter. She just knows what will cost her a job and what won't.

mrbatchelor · February 2, 2013, 03:07 PM

Some democrats do look for birds of a feather in gun control issues.

http://www.facebook.com/dgocofmo
http://www.bluesteeldemocrats.org

The first link obviously isn't much help other than moral support if you don't live in MO.

And the number of states with Blue Steel Democrats organizations is small. But if one is a liberal Democrat looking for a home to roost, there's a link on their page about how to start a local chapter.

Every bit helps.

**Spats McGee** · February 3, 2013, 11:57 AM

I took a look at the Blue Steel Democrats site. "Democrats don't want your guns. We've got our own." I like that!

January 30, 2013, 10:45 AM	#2
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	It's not surprising that a senator from a western state would be pro-gun. Here in the Deep South, lots of Democrats are pro-gun. In Louisiana, for example, our own Mary Landrieu is a staunch Democrat and has a "C" rating from the NRA, but I've never known her to hurt gun-owners. Yeah, she talks the party line, and I vote against her whenever I get the chance, but she hasn't really hurt us. For that matter, the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, scores a "B". He's smart enough to know that what makes good sound-bites in Washington will get you fired in Nevada. Freedom crosses party lines. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

January 30, 2013, 11:30 AM	#3
CharlieDeltaJuliet Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2012 Posts: 755	Great to hear. __________________ " The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government...." - Thomas Jefferson

January 30, 2013, 12:50 PM	#5
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	The news cant is now for more background checks and proper mental health reporting as first priority and then banning evil 'clips'. I've said before the former has a chance, the latter maybe but I don't think so. Feinstein bill - not going to happen. The fallout of intense opposition to supposedly progun reps and senators in the next election will be telling. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

February 3, 2013, 11:57 AM	#13
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,821	I took a look at the Blue Steel Democrats site. "Democrats don't want your guns. We've got our own." I like that! __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

January 30, 2013, 05:45 PM	#6
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	I have long maintained that gun owners must be an independent bloc of voters that the GOP cannot take for granted and the Liberals cannot cross except at their peril.

February 1, 2013, 07:09 AM	#9
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	MrDontPlay, the idea behind a representative democracy / republic is not that your representatives will always parrot the polls back home, but that your representatives will educate themselves on matters on a full-time basis, and combine what they learn with the opinions of their constituents. If the intent had simply been to have representatives vote however the polls had gone, back home, on every issue then the founders would have drafted a democracy, as opposed to what they did create. Now, there are potential penalties when representatives go against the wishes of the masses - IE they may not get reelected. A "statesman" is one who is willing to run that risk, when they truly think it is the right thing to do.

February 1, 2013, 07:19 AM	#10
mayosligo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 301	Agreed MLeake. We lack statesmen today.

February 2, 2013, 03:07 PM	#12
mrbatchelor Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 237	Some democrats do look for birds of a feather in gun control issues. http://www.facebook.com/dgocofmo http://www.bluesteeldemocrats.org The first link obviously isn't much help other than moral support if you don't live in MO. And the number of states with Blue Steel Democrats organizations is small. But if one is a liberal Democrat looking for a home to roost, there's a link on their page about how to start a local chapter. Every bit helps.