WASHINGTON — Despite the high-profile mass shootings in 2012 and the ongoing epidemic of gun violence that is less well-publicized, guns have been pushed to the sidelines by other pressing concerns of voters during this midterm election.
This doesn’t mean that the gun issue is ignored. There are hundreds upon hundreds of ads across the country, most of them by Republican candidates, which stress the importance to expand and protect gun rights.
Iowans will also vote on Nov. 8, a ballot initiative that would expand gun rights in the state’s constitution. To pass, the amendment must have a simple majority vote. Opponents claim it will make it harder to approve new gun control measures, and easier to repeal existing gun laws.
Multiple polls, including one conducted by MinnPost/Embold Research found strong support for expanding gun laws.
Last week, 1,585 Minnesotan voters were asked by MinnPost/Embold Research “which of these is closest to your overall opinion of gun laws in the United States?”
Respondents agreed with fifty percent that gun laws should be stricter than they are now. And 19% said that they should be stricter than they are currently.
Gender, age, and geography are all supported for stricter gun laws. Rural respondents also supported stricter gun laws (37%), while 26% stated they thought the law should be more restrictive.
Only those who identified themselves as Democrats or Republicans were divided. Only 9% of Republicans agreed with the statement about gun laws needing to be more strict. Half of them agreed that they were “about right”, and 37% said that they should be less strict than what they are now.
91% of the people who identified themselves as Democrats agreed that gun laws needed to be tightened.
Bryan Strawser is the chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. He said that the poll’s results are based on concerns about the high number of shootings in Minnesota this year.
Strawser stated, “Many people are aware that there have been many gun tragedies lately. They wonder what we should do about it.”
He said, however, that once people are aware of the consequences of new gun restrictions, they will stop supporting stricter gun laws.
Strawser stated that “no matter who controls Minnesota’s state legislature after November’s elections”, new gun control laws in Minnesota will be introduced. This includes a “Red Flag bill” which would allow authorities temporarily to remove weapons from people they consider to be a threat to themselves or others.
Strawser also predicted the introduction of another bill to expand background checks for gun buyers who purchase guns at gun shows or over the internet.
Strawser stated that if Republicans gain control of the state House Strawser believes those bills “will not have any chance of passing.” Governor. Tim Walz received an “F” grade from his political organization and is skeptical about Scott Jensen, the GOP’s gubernatorial candidate.
There have been three mass shootings in the last year: an elementary school shooting at Uvalde, Texas, a shooting at a Buffalo grocery store in Buffalo N.Y., a shooting at a Highland Park parade, Ill., and a quiet area in Raleigh, N.C. There have been 350 other mass shootings.
However, this year, fewer Democrats are speaking out on the issue. There are notable exceptions like Rep. Val Demings who is trying to unseat Senator Marco Rubio in Florida.
The issue may not be as important for Democrats because Congress passed a modest gun bill this fiscal year. It helps close the “boyfriend gaphole,” which bars convicted domestic abusers who are convicted of domestic violence from buying a firearm for five years. It also strengthens background checks for anyone under 21, and provides funding for crisis intervention services.
Omar v. McCarthy, and vice versa
In a digital advertisement, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-5 ) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) attacked Kevin McCarthy, R.Calif. on the hot-button crime issue.
Progressive Democrats are trying to counter Republican claims that they party is soft-on-crime and supports defunding police. McCarthy hopes that McCarthy will be elected Speaker of the House because the GOP is promoting itself as the party for law and order in the midterms.
Swalwell and Omar sponsored the ad. It cites a report from 2021 that ranks Bakersfield (Calif.), a town in McCarthy’s district, as No. The ad lists the 10 most dangerous cities in America. McCarthy is also criticised for not voting on the American Rescue Plan bill, which was backed by Democrats and included funds for local police forces to combat pandemics. It also accuses Republicans for ignoring “certain crime,” such as the Jan. 6 storming at the U.S. Capitol, and former President Trump’s mishandling classified documents.
Kevin McCarthy: “Everyone can see that you aren’t pro-cop. The voiceover in the ad says, “You’re pro-coup.”
McCarthy reiterated his promise to Omar to be kicked off the House Foreign Relations Committee, if he is elected to the U.S. House leadership. He said that Swalwell would not be allowed to sit on the House Intelligence Committee. Another California Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff, was also a prominent member on the panel that prosecuted Trump’s impeachment.
The House party leaders decide which members of their party sit on each of the chamber’s committees. If their party loses the midterm, Democratic leaders will have the power to remove certain members of those committees.
Democrats took an unprecedented step last Year to remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, out of her committee assignments. She was accused of supporting conspiracy theories and encouraging violence against Democratic legislators. Greene was removed from her committee assignments by a House vote that supported a resolution that was supported 11 Republicans.
After Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) posted an anime video in which he killed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D.N.Y., Democrats removed him from his committee assignments.
New York Times magazine reported, “Greene warned McCarthy that he must give her more power and leeway to please Republican voters” if his party is to win control of Congress in November’s election.
Greene stated, “I believe that to be the best Speaker in the House and to please base, he will give me a lot power and a lot more leeway.” “And if it doesn’t, they will be very unhappy about that.” That’s my opinion.
McCarthy stated that he would send Greene, Gosar and Gosar back to committees if McCarthy becomes the leader of House. He also said that Greene would have “better assignments” for Gosar and Greene.
Poll: Latinos think inflation and cost of living are top priorities
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials released the results of a poll that revealed both differences and similarities between the various groups of Latinos being surveyed.
Latino voters ranked inflation at 42% and the rising cost to live at 42% respectively, and women’s reproductive rights at 29% for the sixth consecutive week.
“Notably, Cuban origin voters expressed comparable levels of support for DACA recipients,” the poll stated. This refers to young, undocumented Latinos who were brought to this country as children by their parents and given temporary protection against deportation.
The 82% support for DACA protections being made permanent and the 76% support for passing legislation to guarantee abortion access were both among those of Cuban descent who were polled. This was despite them having the highest support for Republican candidates to Congress than those of other Latinos.
According to the tracking poll, President Biden still enjoys strong and steady favorability from Latino voters at 59%, and Latino voters in general continue to prefer Democrats to Republicans in congressional races by a margin 56% to 31%.
The sixth week of polling revealed that Democrats are still leading in outreach to Latino voters. However, half (50%) of Latino voters have not been contacted by any candidate. 60% of the respondents said someone from the Democratic Party had contacted them. 40% stated it was from the Republican Party.
“This week’s results have shown that there are many views among Latino voters of different origins. Arturo Vargas is the chief executive officer of NALEO Educational Fund. He stated that Latinos from Central America and Cuba show higher Republican support than other Latino groups and express greater interest in voting this November. “At the moment, we are not seeing much progress in outreach to Latino voter — half of whom have still not been contacted or contacted by any candidate. Both parties need to intensify their efforts to engage our communities, as Latinos are poised to play a crucial role in the US House and Senate elections.
helpdesk