recon-1
Blue Dog" Democrat Walt Minnick sees no chance for gun control measures-May 3, 2009
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-may0309-minnick_guns.17ea89f7.html
LEWISTON, Idaho - 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."
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said not only is support for gun rights strong in both parties, but he sees a good chance of laws expanding gun rights.
He and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., are working on a bill to allow people to carry loaded concealed weapons in national parks.
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-may0309-minnick_guns.17ea89f7.html
LEWISTON, Idaho - 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."
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said not only is support for gun rights strong in both parties, but he sees a good chance of laws expanding gun rights.
He and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., are working on a bill to allow people to carry loaded concealed weapons in national parks.