Will Gun Control Help Republicans Woo Latinos?

Backing new laws will help with Hispanic voters, claims pundit

Adding to the chorus of pundits urging Republicans to change their ways to better attract Hispanics is the Daily Beast's Adam Winkler, a law professor who writes that more gun control could be a notch in the belt of more support for the GOP among that demographic.

Citing a poll showing that 69% of Latino voters want stricter laws regulating the sale of guns, Winkler warns Republicans that "only 5% of Latino voters say America's gun laws should be less strict."

"Latino support for the types of reform being talked about in the wake of the Newtown massacre is particularly strong," explains Winkler. "Can Republicans break from their longstanding allegiance to the gun lobby and find a way to support modest gun-control laws like universal background checks?"

One wonders what more Republicans must do to attract Latinos before the party risks ditching its traditional appeal altogether. It's not only immigration policy separating Latino enthusiasm from the GOP - though it's not the singularly compelling issue it's often claimed to be - but economic policy as well. Add 2nd amendment zeal to the list of repellent concepts to Hispanic voters and there's soon little left for conservatives to work with.

Via the Daily Beast.

Will GOP support for more gun control help attract the Hispanic vote?

[Keyjo]

First of all, it will have little overall influence. Latino's will not flock in droves if the G.O.P. suddenly makes some token proposal. Secondly, the Republicans will drive away much of their base if they come down too hard on side of gun control. They will lose more than they will gain.
There's no "win, win" prize in this box.

[thejimbo]

Clever, clever!

[marine1]

The Republican party IS their own worst enemy

[Keyjo]

@marine1
Yeah.
They have become the proverbial "boat without a rudder."

[mimi57]

I don't now , those Mexican Gangs sure do like their guns...

[PNWest]

FYI: equating Hispanic voters with Mexican Gangs probably won't help the GOP much either.

[mimi57]

@PNWest Okay, Hispanic gang members sure do like their guns... better?( ;

[woodtick57]

@mimi57 And they vote in what percentage? Probably not a lot of gang members making their way to the polls...

[Calfkiller]

@mimi57 especially the Mexican gangs. I haven't heard of many Guatemalan or Honduran gangs making any trouble lately.

[PNWest]

@mimi57 Work's for me but remember I'm not too big on the GOP.

[marine1]

If there is an ounce of common sense in goverment will someone start using it?

[mimi57]

...there isn't...

[marine1]

@mimi57 there you go, busting my balloon again

[mimi57]

@marine1 Awe, sorry...Santa will be coming, does that help?...(:

[marine1]

@mimi57 as long as he doesn't check his kist twice:)

[Sonny]

Ha, ha, ha, ha.....An "ounce of common sense" is far too much to begin with...

[Romney_Rube]

This is just more specious bunk as everyone rides their high horse in the wake of the shooting. Let's face it, the shooting was a result of a mother that shirked common sense and responsibility by letting her mentally defective son use and familiarize himself with these weapons. Does that mean we literally punish an otherwise law abiding population because of actions of so very few?

Moreover, what this dimwit professor doesn't say is how many current REP supporters would they lose as the party chose to follow this half-baked suggestion and begin publicly fellating Hispanics?

[DARSB]

Money quote: "the party risks ditching its traditional appeal" - how would that be a loss? The Republicans have lost the popular vote in 4 of the last 5 election cycles. Maybe their "traditional appeal" needs to be ditched.

[EquinsuOcha]

The FBI determined years ago that the assault weapons ban did nothing to deter crime......Actually they determined that crime rates fell after the ban expired.......It's par for the course that this administration wants to pass a law that restricts conservatives rights..........Most of the people that are making the decision on gun rights know absolutely nothing about firearms and neither do the left wingers on this forum.........

[woodtick57]

The FBI equated that the fall in crime rates was due to the expiring of the assault wepons ban? Where did you come up with that fantasy?

[DARSB]

breitbart.com/Big-Journalism references a 2004 University of Pennsylvania study that found the number of people killed in mass shootings was lower during the assault weapons ban, with the exception of 1999, the year of the Columbine massacre.

[OhWiseOne]

Sheer idiocy.

[marine1]

you just correctly described the entire united states goverment and their sibling state counterparts.

[SavageMazx]

If gun control legislation is passed in order to win voters then we are rabbit hole nothing matters anymore. Using this tragedy as political scheme is disgusting....oh wait, this is American politics we are talking about isn't it, nevermind.

[marine1]

There is NO low to which a politician will NOT stoop to further their cause.

[SavageMazx]

@marine1 well said

[Fitz]

Only Latinos should answer this question otherwise it is speculation.

[Denizen_Kate]

That the GOP actually thinks that Latino voters are mindless sheep that they can "woo" is the very problem with the GOP. Adam Winkler should stick to teaching law and avoid anything that smacks of policy-making since it obviously isn't his strong suit.

[Sabio]

no, but what that sign says to me is "here is a group that has been left unarmed and totally defenseless for you convenience. Please feel free to take whatever you wish for you will encounter no resistance at all."

[Vance1]

Hispanic voters care about one thing, getting welfare and amnesty for their cousins, sisters, parents, brothers, and so on..thats all

[RoyFloyd]

Amnesty and welfare, not to mention an instant green card upon landing. Republicans provided all that for Cubans, and got themselves a voting block. Perhaps latinos from elsewhere are holding out for such a deal.

[Vance1]

@RoyFloyd
maybe so who knows

[bsking]

yeah that's it

[KyleMFb]

How does gun control help the Mexicans??? What the GOP needs to do is change their some what racist views

[CommonSense]

Even if it worked, it would turn away all those conservative gun-toting Texans and isn't the point of trying to get more Latinos to avoid losing Texas to the Democrats in the next few decades?

[Grubby]

What a stupid question. Where did you get your information on Latinos wanting to give up their second amendment rights? If they do, then they can stay hooked up with the liberals. They will only get their freebie handouts and blanket amnesty from the left wing nutjobs anyway, so it won't make any difference.

[Politic-n]

Latinos para NRA!

[RedFloppyShoes]

Gun laws aren't what bring Hispanics to the polls.

[MarkJM]

Yep, because Gun Control is working "so well" in Mexico where the drug cartels are running rampant....No matter what the GOP does, they get blamed for it (just ask any liberal)....