Toomey/Manchin

5 posts
Civil Rights

Beretta Snubs Manchin

Beretta recently announced they’re moving their manufacturing operations to Tennessee. Maryland’s gun laws were quoted as the main reason.

Several states courted their business, including West Virginia. Beretta explicitly rejected West Virginia because of Senator Manchin’s actions in furthering the “universal” background check law in 2013.

From their statement, courtesy of Sebastian:

Before considering any other location for expansion of any of our facilities we consider first the consistency with which a given state has supported Second Amendment rights. (…) Regrettable [sic], as a consequence of that analysis and especially due to Senator Manchin’s recent legislative choices we have decided not to consider your state for future plans of expansion.

I’ve said before that Manchin and Toomey need to feel the heat for buckling under pressure, and it looks like someone’s holding them to it. Let’s hope the voters follow suit.

Civil Rights

S. 649: Defeated for Now

First, the good news. The Manchin/Toomey amendment to S. 649 was defeated in the Senate by a 54-46 vote. The only way the bill was ever going to have a chance at passage was with that amendment, so it’s safe to say it’s dead.

John McCain voted “yea.” Harry Reid waited until the very end to cast a “nay” vote. Some lady shouted “shame on you” from the rafters, and the President is calling the NRA liars (epic meltdown here). So, business as usual.

A look at the votes for various amendments is interesting. Feinstein’s Assault Weapons Ban 2.0 failed, but only by a 60-40 margin. That means the issue isn’t quite dead yet. On the other hand, the Cornyn amendment to enact nationwide CCW reciprocity won by a 57-43 margin.

The margin on the Manchin amendment is better than I expected, but still short of what I’d have liked to see. 

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Civil Rights

S. 649: 11th Hour

Senate Democrats spent much of the last two days scrambling to rally the votes for their gun-control bill, but without much success. While there are still amendments to be debated, Majority Leader Harry Reid has called an end to the stalling, and it looks like a vote will be taken tomorrow at 4:00 PM.

Of course, Feinstein’s still trying to shoehorn her Assault Weapons Ban into the bill, and Lautenberg’s pushing his magazine ban. Neither of those help its chances.

On the Republican side, Senator Toomey seemed to be avoiding contact with the press, and the mood seemed dour. Dean Heller was expected to cross the aisle, but he issued a statement today saying he won’t be voting for the bill. Mike Johanns of Nebraska has also refused to support it, and despite (or perhaps because of) some pretty manipulative comments by Mark Kelly, Jeff Flake appears disinclined as well.

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Civil Rights

Wavering Optimism

Today, the Supreme Court declined to hear Kachalsky v. Cacase, a challenge to New York’s arbitrary restrictions on issuing carry permits. I had high hopes for this one, but there are other potential candidates.

First is the Woollard case. We had a favorable ruling in the District Court, but it was overruled by the 4th Circuit last month. A rehearing is still a possibility.

The 7th Circuit’s decision in our favor in Moore v. Madigan still stands. That creates a split among the Circuits, which begs hearing by the Supreme Court, but they may be biding their time. Illinois still has to hash out a workable law, and while Attorney General Madigan seems reluctant to appeal, Governor Emmanuel most likely will. Still, we may not get a case heard this session.

On the legislative front, S. 649 appears to be gaining traction and support in the Senate, thanks to the odious Manchin/Toomey “compromise.”

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Civil Rights

Appeasement

The Senate agreed Thursday to move forward on debate over S. 649, also called the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013. Contrary to what you may have heard, nothing has been passed. At the moment, they’re hammering out the details. Amendments will be suggested, there will be debates, and it might go back to committee. After all of that, it heads to an uncertain fate in the House. It’s going to be awhile.

At the moment, we really only have the broad outlines of the bill. Yes, the proposed text is available, but that’s going to change quite a bit.

Of particular note is a “compromise” amendment proposed by Senators Toomey (R-PA) and Manchin (D-WV). Its title is the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act.

Sounds harmless, right? Well, so did the Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, and look where that got us.