As Martha Coakley's race tightens, gun control may be an issue.

[SteveM]

Recent polls indicate that the race in Mass. between Martha Coakley and the GOPer Brown has become tight. While gun-control as an issue may not be in the forefront of this race (given the economy and botched HCR), in a close race such an issue can loom large. Capecodtoday, a news-on-line site, definitely sees the issue as rather front-burner, touting her "gun control" stance as a major reason for its endorsement of her.


http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/01/05/we-endorse-martha-coakley-for-the-united?blog=69

[Name removed]

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[SteveM]

2. Don't know about knives, but the Boston Phoenix likes her anti-gun zealotry...

April 25, 2007:

"The good news is that Massachusetts has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country... the attorney general maintains an exhaustive list of banned high-power models (previous attorney general Thomas Reilly was an ANTI-GUN ZEALOT and his successor Martha Coakley shares his views)..." (emphasis mine)


http://thephoenix.com/boston/news/38674-death-by-handguns/?page=2#TOPCONTENT


The point here is that all politics are national. Something the Democrats need to learn instead of repeatedly parading around a loser issue which can trip you up in a close election.

BTW, in the OP's link you will find where Coakley is described as "middle-of-the-road." Except for guns. This seems to support the idea that gun-control is NOT a liberal/left/progressive issue, but one concocted by more centrist politicos/prohibitionists.

Note also that my sources are not NRA, RW memes, and all that other heifer dust.

[Name removed]

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[rd_kent]

5. Actually, it doesn't. Vermont has the most LIBERAL (as in relaxed) gun laws and they have the LOWES...

gun crime rate in the country. SO you see, your premise is completely wrong.

Do some research first then come on back and you will see your mistake.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

3. Give The NRA time to disseminate this info...

Mass. already has some shit gun laws, I'm sure the gun owners there don't want any more of it.
About 1 in 4 americans own guns.
Even if half of gun owners consider her stance "common-sense" there's still about 12% of voters to contend with.
If the race really is close this could kill her.

[-..__...]

6. "Those who forget the mistakes of the past...

are doomed to repeat them".

A little background music, please...

Scott Brown is currently serving as a State senator representing Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex counties...
a position that had been previously held by Sen.Cheryl Jacques.

To say that Jacques was/is a rabid gun grabber is a bit of an understatement... she makes Sarah Brady seem like Ted Nugent by comparison (Ok... so maybe I exaggerate somewhat, but you get the idea).

During her tenure, Jacques was responsible for the disgraceful and over bearing gun control laws currently existing in MA.

Her top aide at the time was one Angus McQuilken (whom helped coauthor MA's comprehensive 1998 gun control package).

When Jacques decided to leave office for greener pastures (:bounce:), her chosen heir was... (you guessed it), Angus McQuilken.

The Senate race between Brown and McQuilken in 2004 was a narrow one and tough to call (hmmmm... where have we been hearing that one lately).

McQuilken attacked Brown heavily on his 'lax' position on gun control, while tooting his own horn about how much he had done to make MA safer from gun owners (the Million Mom March endorsed him).

So... can anyone tell me who won?

Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

What about the final numbers?

Here... let me help

Brown %50.5

McQuilken %47.4

for a vote difference (drum roll please), of 2,638.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Senate_elections,_2004

Now, the way I see it, McQuilken may have won had he not taken such an extreme position on gun control.

I mean... given the nature of MA gun control laws it's not hard to imagine 2,638 very pissed off and frustrated gun owners voting for
change (even if it's futile).

So... should gun control be an issue in this election?

Maybe not this go around since on the national stage, the issue is pretty much dead (suck on it, Sarah).

However... should some hand-wringing brainiac in Congress that can't learn to STFU and sit down ever decide to push the gun control
issue to the floor, Coakley (if elected), would be wise to do the right thing and support our second amendment rights.



Edited to add...

Interesting that one of the reasons Cape Cod Today is opposed to Brown, is that Brown is against "Cape wind"... an issue Ted Kennedy
himself firmly opposed.