State Ballot Measures Temper Trump Victory for Gun Owners

By David Codrea

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Activist gun owners interested in keeping Hillary Clinton out of the White House achieved that goal in Tuesday’s election. The candidate who disagreed with the Supreme Court on the Second Amendment will not get a chance to replace judges with those more to her liking. Nor will she be able to conduct executive order gun grabs, or use the bully pulpit of the presidency to lead the way on further bans.

Republican control of the House and Senate reduces the likelihood of new federal infringements. Just don’t be surprised to see some “moderate” GOP faintheart floating preemptive surrender on prior restraints or due process denials the next time some already-on-the-radar dirtbag decides exploiting a “gun-free zone” is a great way to get media attention.

The great object now is to make sure “the Donald” keeps his word. There are plenty of Democrats and #NeverTrumpers hoping he doesn’t, but also plenty of supporters who have his ear and who can keep the pressure on. Gun owners stand a much better chance than they did on Monday of putting more Scalias on SCOTUS, of blocking “new gun laws,” of rescinding executive infringements, and even of repealing existing Intolerable Acts.

That hardly means it’s time to go back to sleep. The Republicans need to know they’re being watched and that betrayals will not be forgotten.

The other thing we saw Tuesday is that Astroturf-funded state measures are the wave of the near future. The formula: Pick a “blue” state; throw in a ton of money from New York City and Silicon Valley; hire the best propagandists money can buy; rely on media allies to amplify the signal and demonize gun owners; spook the useful idiot herd; and steamroll over grassroots volunteers who enjoy neither the money, the media savvy, the contacts nor the reach.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

That’s what happened in California. Proposition 63 passed:

The initiative outlaws the possession of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, requires background checks for people buying bullets, makes it a crime not to report lost or stolen guns, and provides a process for taking guns from people upon their conviction for a felony.

Ditto for the Question 1 “background check” measure in Nevada. Narrowly.  But per Nevadans for State Gun Rights (which waged a heroic grassroots campaign against the Bloomberg machine):

Ballot Question One has passed early this morning by less than 1% of the vote. This entire campaign, Bloomberg, his supporters and the liberal media tried to pass this off as an easy victory with an 80% approval rating, and the people of Nevada showed their lies for what they were.

Unsurprisingly, Initiative 1491 on “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” passed easily in Washington State. Naturally, the gun-grabbers and their media cheerleaders billed it as a “safety measure.” Bearing Arms added some needed perspective:

The initiative also defines “family” and “household members” vaguely, allowing roommates from up to a year prior to seek an ERPO. (see crazy ex-girl/boyfriend) Essentially, a person’s gun rights would disappear merely on the say-so of someone else.

The gun-grabbers are crowing all over social media about their “victories,” painting them as something other than using oligarch money to scam the ignorant into believing the fewer rights they have, the safer they’ll be. Or something absurd like that…

What they’re not crowing about is the one contest denied them, in Maine of all places. Question 3 on expanded background checks went down to the surprise of many. And that’s after Bloomberg spent $6M on what the Bangor Daily News called “a blow to Everytown” and “a stunning victory for … a group of “ragtag volunteers.”

Now that these races are over, and noting the new realities at the federal level, expect Bloomberg to renew his efforts against the states using a formula he knows he can get to work more often than not. And now is the time – way past time, really – to anticipate and prepare for that.

We all pretty much know who the gun rights advocacy players are on the national scene, right?  What grassroots group(s) are there that are active in your state? Assuming you’re not already a member, why not take a few minutes right now to find out, including how you can get involved?

About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.

In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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