Meet The Five Cowardly Senate Democrats Who Killed the Assault Weapons Ban

[babylonsister]

Meet The Five Cowardly Senate Democrats Who Killed the Assault Weapons Ban

By: Jason Easley
Mar. 19th, 2013


It wasn’t cowardice that killed the assault weapons ban. It was five Democratic senators who opposed the measure that forced it to be dropped from the Senate guns bill.

The assault weapons ban will be given an up or down vote as an amendment, but not included in the final Senate bill designed to limit gun violence. Many on the left will direct their rage at Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) or the entire Democratic caucus, but the reality is that the assault weapons ban is not in the final bill because five Senate Democrats opposed it.

snip//

The word skepticism is inaccurate. In reality, these five opposed a ban. The Democratic opposition all hailed from states that Mitt Romney carried in 2012, and all five are terrified of what running against the NRA would mean for their future reelection chances. None of his should be any kind of surprise. All five of them had publicly stated months ago that weren’t interested in an assault weapons ban.

Their opposition, along with that of Independent Sen. Angus King who caucuses with the Democrats, meant that Reid had no choice. He had to remove the ban from the final bill, or the entire legislative effort would have been doomed to failure.

Sen. Reid made the practical decision. Given what these members of his caucus decided, he chose to drop the assault weapons ban in order to have the best chance of getting a meaningful piece of legislation passed.

The disappointment of the left should not be directed at Reid. The blame belongs squarely on the shoulders Baucus, Tester, Begich, Heitkamp, and Manchin.

more...

http://www.politicususa.com/meet-cowardly-senate-democrats-killed-assault-weapons-ban.html

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Montana, Alaska, N Dakota and W Virginia

and this surprised you?

Although, I am very disappointed to see Heidi Heitcamp on that list. I had more hopes for her.

[sadbear]

3. I have a feeling she might be the DINOest of them all.

Just a feeling.

[DanTex]

2. This is also an illustration of the undemocratic nature of the senate.

The states where these five senators come from have a combined population of about 5.5 million. Whereas California, with 38 million people only gets two votes in the senate. It's unfortunate that the senate gives so much power to conservative states with small populations.

And with the redistricting favoring Republicans in the House, both houses of Congress are significantly more conservative than the American electorate as a whole. This is a major reason why things like the Assault Weapons Ban, which polls well over 50%, can't get through, and why all the talk is about cutting spending, Social Security and Medicare even though the American people actually want more taxes on the wealthy.

[Kurska]

6. At least it is better than the house with rampant gerrymandering.

You can't gerrymander state lines.

[madamesilverspurs]

4. Assumed Baucus immediately.

He showed his colors when he killed the public option. Would love to see him replaced by a real democrat.

[Crepuscular]

5. According

According to Reid, there were only 40 votes to support the AWB in the Dem caucus, which would seem to indicate more than 5 being responsible.......

[mwrguy]

7. Primary their asses.

This isn't an all-inclusive list, but tossing these five out would set an example.