New York Times reporter: "No hope" for new gun laws in 2014

Reacting to news of the two new executive actions (not executive orders) proposed by the Obama Administration, New York Times reporter Jackie Calmes states her opinion that there is “no hope” for new citizen control laws in 2014.

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“This all reflects the fact that the administration has not been able to get any legislation through Congress given the opposition of even some Democrats and the gun lobby in particular,” reporter Jackie Calmes said. “The president has said one of his biggest disappointments of 2013 was he couldn’t get the legislation on background checks for gun buyers.”

“They’re trying to signal they’re keeping this issue alive,” she continued. “They haven’t given up, but, essentially, the fact that these are regulations shows that, you know, they continue to see no hope for legislation.”

Democrats have already be rocked back on their heels by the failed implementation of Obamacare, and the problems associated with the implementation are only getting worse as we move into mid-term election year. Already worried that they could lose a significant number of seats in the U.S. Senate and even more seats in the House of Representatives due to this debacle, the national Democratic Party has no stomach for gun control legislation in 2014.

While I reserve the right to be completely wrong, I suspect that the majority of the gun rights battle in the coming year will take place primarily in courts, as gun laws passed in 2013 in the wake of Sandy Hook will be challenged in California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington, D.C..

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Colorado, however, having deposed two state senators in recall elections and forcing a third to resign, is a wildcard. Gun rights groups might have enough political momentum there to make a go at reversing the citizen control legislation passed in 2013. Hickenlooper wants to stay governor, and frankly, I don’t see him standing against the legislature in an election year if they have the muscle to pass repeal laws.

In the end, I suspect that Calmes is right in her assessment. Citizen control groups likely grabbed as much as they could in 2013, and 2014 is shaping up to be yet another defensive year for them.

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