MSNBC’s Chris Matthews Urges Viewers To Call Congress On Gun Checks

[cal04]

Three months after the Newtown shooting, bipartisan talks aimed at expanding background checks are at a standstill in the Senate. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) quit discussion with Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) earlier this month, and Democrats remain wary of advancing legislation without sufficient Republican partners given the recent collapse of the assault weapons ban.

Chris Matthews, a liberal political commentator on MSNBC, apparently decided to take matters into his own hands on Wednesday when he took to the air and urged the viewers of his show "Hardball" to call their elected representatives and lobby for expanded gun background checks.

"I'm going to be saying by the end of the show, I think I'll mention it five times," Matthews said. "By the way, it's 202-224-3121. Call your Senator right now. Make some noise."

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/msnbcs-chris-matthews-urges-viewers-to-call-congress

[indepat]

1. Considering how far Matthew's nose was up junior's ass, metaphorically

speaking of course, would never have dreamed he were a liberal.

[kjackson227]

2. I contact my senator(s) every week regarding...

... gun checks, social security, medicare and medicaid. I'm sure a lot of us do because the polling tells us so each week. But, the Congress and Senate have gone ROGUE and are not listening to what the MAJORITY of this country's citizens want.

[badtoworse]

3. You are correct

They are listening to what the voters in their own states want. That's how it's supposed to work.

[liberal_at_heart]

4. the majority of states want some form of gun control therefore there should be a

majority of Senators willing to sign a bill that has some form of gun control.

[badtoworse]

5. How was that determined?

[SayWut]

10. Not according to this map.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/social-issues/newtown-divided/while-feds-debate-states-take-up-gun-fight/


*

Perhaps a more accurate statement might be that some of the more populous states want some form of gun control. Evene then, what the debate really boils down to is what level of gun control**.


Fortunately though, our system of government is set up so that all states get equal representation in the Senate.

* Yes, I know that map represents firearms legislation at the state level, but it stands to reason
that if that is the consensus of the voters in those states, their beliefs regarding gun control would also extend to their representatives in Congress.

**Looking at FL, NM and KY on that map, I'd wager the "pro-gun control" measures being submitted are minimal at most, with little to no likelihood of being passed.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, most of the light blue states already have, and have had for quite some time, some of the toughest, strictest gun control laws in the country (7 of them currently have an AWB and/or large capacity magazine ban on the books. What this says to me is either their laws aren't working and even more gun control legislation is needed (the "slippery slope" theory), or, more than likely it's a political game of "our gun control laws are tougher than your gun control laws".

[kjackson227]

6. This might be true in some instances...

but a lot of these so-called representatives are in the hip pockets of their lobbyist friends also.

[badtoworse]

7. So why don't they get voted out?

[kjackson227]

8. Okay, I'll bite...They don't get voted out...

because unfortunately their constituents with their extreme views keep voting them in. And I get your point so there's no need for the elementary lesson questions.

[badtoworse]

9. The point is not insignificant

I believe many on the gun control side greatly underestimate the opposition to more gun control in certain parts of the country. What amazes me is the assumption by many on DU that draconian gun control is a core Democratic value. It most assuredly is not. There many pro-gun Democrats.

[Eleanors38]

12. ^^^^^ For some reason many here refuse to acknowledge the popular sentiment

behind the Second. Not doing so reveals a fundamental ignorance of this country's political reality, or a willfull denial.

[Eleanors38]

11. I support BG checks. Do you have a copy of the proposal(s)?

Maybe there are reasons for this legislation stalling out which are legal/constitutional.

There is one big political reason alluded to in your post: "collapse of the assault weapons ban."

Perhaps we Democrats would do well to put our efforts into an expanded b.g. bill instead of another glittery, ineffective ban. At least enough to where we can see the proposals.