Bernie & Guns ~

[TBF]

It's very interesting to me that Bernie is not big on gun control, and likely reflects living in a rural state where hunting is a popular past time. I would like to see a little more control (perhaps stronger background checks in order to identify the types of people who might attack a school for example), but this is not a deal-breaker issue for me. And it quite possibly gives Bernie some room with moderates who may initially scare at the word "socialism" but then look deeper and realize he just wants to repair the very broken safety net in this country.

What do you all think regarding this issue?

[Snotcicles]

1. I thing you make some good points. I think if he moves to a more national position

he will compromise more, and will consider urban and rural view points.

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. He does support gun control, Sanders Votes for Background Checks, Assault Weapons Ban

He does support gun control. But his record isn't 100% pure enough for the most strident anti-gun people.

On top of that, I think his position did evolve over time, which is also fine.

Sanders Votes for Background Checks, Assault Weapons Ban

Wednesday, April 17, 2013
WASHINGTON, April 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today voted for expanded background checks on gun buyers and for a ban on assault weapons but the Senate rejected those central planks of legislation inspired by the shootings of 20 first-grade students and six teachers in Newtown, Conn.

“Nobody believes that gun control by itself is going to end the horrors we have seen in Newtown, Conn., Aurora, Colo., Blacksburg, Va., Tucson, Ariz. and other American communities,” Sanders said. “There is a growing consensus, however, in Vermont and across America that we have got to do as much as we can to end the cold-blooded, mass murders of innocent people. I believe very strongly that we also have got to address the mental health crisis in our country and make certain that help is available for people who may be a danger to themselves and others,” Sanders added.

The amendment on expanded background checks needed 60 votes to pass but only 54 senators voted for it. “To my mind it makes common sense to keep these weapons out of the hands of people with criminal records or mental health histories,” Sanders said.

Under current federal law, background checks are not performed for tens of thousands of sales – up to 40 percent of all gun transfers – at gun shows or over the Internet. The amendment would have required background checks for all gun sales in commercial settings regardless of whether the seller is a licensed dealer. The compromise proposal would have exempted sales between “family, friends, and neighbors.”

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-votes-for-background-checks-assault-weapons-ban

[TBF]

3. Good fact-check and the votes for

background checks and assault weapon bans are going to resonate with folks who are moderate. Only extremes on either side would find fault I would think. I was happy to see the article as I think it shows he really does look at each issue (as you would hope with someone who calls themselves independent).

[Cheese Sandwich]

10. He also voted to ban high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets.

To me that's a key vote that anyone would look for if they are truly interested in preventing mass shootings.
( Evidence )

Truly his record is moderate on the issue. But I think maybe sometimes the good people of DU forget that the American people don't want to ban all guns. Most people want guns regulated and limited, with strong background checks.

Bernie's record is pretty much in sync with the American people on the issue.

The main point being that his record is moderate on the issue. Some people would paint him as someone that is against gun control but it simply is not accurate.

[madfloridian]

11. You should put this in GD

It's important info.

[Gregorian]

4. An intelligent society, and one that isn't frantic about survival, doesn't need gun control.

I don't think we solve the gun problem by censoring guns just like I think censoring words is absurd.

I don't know if this is a bs argument or not, but I have guns, and I've never been tempted to use them on anything but clay pigeons. But then my life is comfortable, and I have a degree of intelligence combined with morals.

Having said that, I feel that it's a problem that Bernie didn't sign the Brady bill. There are people out there who shouldn't have guns. And I am not a fan of guns. I wouldn't mind it if we could wish them into the corn field. But again, the way towards a healthy society is through numerous avenues, the minority of which actually deal with guns.

[L0oniX]

5. The only point IMO to make is that the NRA gives him an "F".

http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Bernie_Sanders_Gun_Control.htm

<snip>Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record.

Sanders scores F by NRA on pro-gun rights policies

While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs.

The following ratings are based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).

[TBF]

9. That's interesting ~

"F" from the NRA yet others give him "gun nut" status. Probably somewhere in the middle then like many folks.

[octoberlib]

6. Bernie was on Chris Hayes last night and Hayes asked him about

the gun nut accusations. Bernie said he was the Senator of a rural state with a lot of hunters and a low crime rate so that influenced his vote on some gun issues. He said he was going to have to revise some of his stances after Ferguson and Baltimore.

[vive la commune]

7. I'm from a heavily rural state

With lots of hunters and gun owners. I'm generally pro-second-amendment. And I'm also very left-wing. I consider myself in good company with Marx and Orwell on the matter. I do wish our gun culture looked more like Switzerland's instead of a first-person shooter game, though. I'm glad Bernie isn't knee-jerk anti-gun. Or knee-jerk pro-gun, for that matter. He seems to make up his own mind on individual pieces of legislation. And he is also taking his rural constituency into consideration. I think people will respect that. I get really tired of both sides of the gun argument. For me, gun issues aren't a deal-breaker. I want to get the Koch brothers out of the fucking goverment, that's what I care about.

[TBF]

8. I agree with your points -

it's just not a major issue for me for the same reasons. Interesting that the NRA doesn't like him yet others view him as a "gun nut". I guess we'll see how it shakes out.

[eridani]

13. Wikipedia on guns in Switzerland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland

Ammunition control

Prior to 2007 members of the Swiss Militia were supplied with 50 rounds of ammunition for their military weapon in a sealed ammo box that was regularly audited by the government. This was so that, in the case of an emergency, the militia could respond quickly. However, since 2007 this practice has been discontinued. Only 2,000 specialist militia members (who protect airports and other sites of particular sensitivity) are permitted to keep their military-issued ammunition at home. The rest of the militia get their ammunition from their military armory in the event of an emergency.[13]

To carry a loaded firearm in public or outdoors (and for an individual who is a member of the militia carrying a firearm other than his Army-issue personal weapons off-duty), a person must have a Waffentragbewilligung (gun carrying permit), which in most cases is issued only to private citizens working in occupations such as security.[14] It is, however, quite common to see a person serving military service to be en route with his rifle, albeit unloaded.[15]

Conditions for getting a Carrying Permit

There are three conditions:

fulfilling the conditions for buying a permit (see section above)
stating plausibly the need to carry firearms to protect oneself, other people, or real property from a specified danger
passing an examination proving both weapon handling skills and knowledge regarding lawful use of the weapon

The carrying permit remains valid for a term of five years (unless otherwise surrendered or revoked), and applies only to the type of firearm for which the permit was issued. Additional constraints may be invoked to modify any specific permit. Neither hunters nor game wardens require a carrying permit.

[CharlotteVale]

12. I'm not happy about it. But it's not a dealbreaker.

[Enthusiast]

14. The Democratic Party and the rank and file have no idea how badly

gun control advocacy hurts us in rural areas. I wish the party would just abandon gun control efforts.

Rural voters often say, "Yeah, I like a lot of their ideas but they're gonna take away my guns."

Millions of NRA dollars spent on propaganda have had a tremendous impact.