Gun Control A Heavier Lift Than Immigration Reform

There's more organized opposition to imposing an assault weapons ban

The question: Is an assault weapon ban or citizenship for undocumented immigrants more likely to get through Congress?

My answer: There's a lot going on in Washington besides budget battles. Tuesday President Obama will send his immigration reform proposal to Congress. Presumably the president's bill will include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Last week Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) proposed a law that will ban the manufacture, sale and ownership of assault weapons.

I think it will be easier for Congress to give undocumented immigrants citizenship than it will be to take away assault weapons. Why do I feel that way? Let me count the ways.

There is political pressure on both sides of the aisle to reform the immigration system. The president owes a debt of gratitude to Latino voters who voted overwhelmingly to re-elect him. Not only did Latinos strongly support President Obama but they made up a larger share of the electorate than they did in 2008. Latinos along with Asians are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. and the GOP is panicked because they know Hispanics will be an even larger share of the electorate on 2016.

Potential Republican presidential candidates know they ignore Latino voters at their own peril. Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American U.S. Senator from Florida has warned Republicans that things will get worse for the GOP if the party doesn't embrace reform. In an op-ed he wrote for The Wall Street Journal last week, another presidential aspirant Jeb Bush called for "comprehensive immigration reform." The Los Angeles Times reported last week that traditional GOP supporters like police chiefs, businesspeople and even evangelical ministers want the party to do something to solve the problem.

The best thing that immigration reform has going for it is there is no organization that opposes immigration reform comparable to the National Rifle Association. With its visibility and money, the NRA still has a death grip on Congress.

A few days after the massacre in Newtown, Conn., a strong NRA supporter, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, said he was open to a ban on assault weapons. My guess is that Sen. Manchin got a quick call from someone at the NRA since he walked back his comments soon after. I don't know of any anti-immigration group that inspires the same shock and awe.

Sen. Feinstein understated the problem last week when she said that there was a "really uphill road" ahead for her proposal. The path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants will be much easier to travel.

Brad Bannon is president of Bannon Communications Research, a Washington D.C.-based political polling and consulting firm that helps Democratic candidates, labor unions and progressive issue groups win political and public affairs campaigns. Campaigns and Elections magazine named Brad a "mover and shaker" in the political consulting industry. He is also one of the "Democratic Insiders" in the biweekly National Journal pundit poll.

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What's your reaction?

[Arumizy]

Is it easier to remove a constitutional right or give criminals amnesty?

[GmanGSW]

Scared that we, as US citizens, have to hound our legislature to protect our fore fathers "seeing" what we need as a "right," and being correct (this citizen's opinion) ATTACKED vs giving certain people (some criminals, most trying to make a better life for themselves) amnesty. Hmm, I think I'd rather go about immigration reform; but, what about our "right," as laid down in the Constitution, now thought of as not necessary, by some? Sad, as so many other people in other countries see our Constitution as being "great," to the point they'd want to "break the law" for those "rights." Sad indeed, sad indeed. Oops, should've started my own post, but I'd get on immigration reform & sorry for being so hard hitting against certain hard working ppl, seeking amnesty, who simply want the same life that we, er, enjoy(?); then again, what about our "rights?" Folks, keep on your legislators! Leave our RIGHTs alone!

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Funny, the obama regime wants to confiscate your weapons yet let criminals be amnestied so there are more criminals to be on guard against. I cannot feel safe in this country as long as obama is president. He wants to remove the tools we as Americans use to defend ourselves while giving us more opponents. How backwards is that?

[ADudeCalledRay]

That goes to show you that the media is on the side of criminals. That is why they love amnesty and condemn law abiding citizens defending themselves. If John Doe criminal is trying to kill you and your family, people like Chris Matthews will see to it he gets a slap on the wrist, but have the tool necessary for self defense and Matthews will demand you get life in prison.

[bsking]

Gun control shouldn't even be a topic of discussion. what it really is population control. both parties have an interest in amnesty for the invaders. neither party should have an appetite to diminish the rights afforded to Americans by the Constitution... that is a clear sign of a government gone completely wrong and in desperate need of replacement

[Grubby]

The morons should not even be taking about gun controls. But I hope the Liberals push it all the way, including getting themselves on record as opposing the Second Amendment. Helps pave the way for the landslide that I expect in 2014.

[hwyangel]

Take away our defense and open the gates, only the bozo's in the white house could think this was a good idea.

[Republican5001]

Perhaps he should move them all into the whitehouse with him and his family....

[hwyangel]

@Republican5001

I like the way you think, lol

[GmanGSW]

Keep on our legislators! We have to have immigration reform (FACT); however, I agree with you regarding the govt/Obama, Biden, &, er, Bloomberg, Soros, and so on, trying to take away our "personal" defenses 1st (which shouldn't even be questioned). It does make me irked that we have to hound our legislators re our right(s), as law abiding citizens, having to worry about possibly losing a Constitutional right, or watering down said right(s), vs immigration reform. Immigration reform really should be made easier for some, harder for others = do it the correct way, as one of the ppl in this forum had written about how hard it's been for his wife to gain full citizenship, vs ppl coming across the border, illegally. But the ones who have been here for "X" amt of yrs should be given precedent in so far as becoming "legal" citizens, behind those who have gone about becoming US citizens the "correct" way.

[hwyangel]

@GmanGSW

If they take my gun and someone tries to highjack my truck full of hazardous materials I'm not going to die for it. I'll just hand over the keys and give them directions too. lol

[GmanGSW]

@hwyangel That's the way to do it! LOL! Our founding fathers wrote several amendments that are self-evident = in part the self-defense of one's self, so keep on your legislators & don't even let them be able to take away your firearm(s). I'm then concerned that those hazmats may end up blowing me up, in turn = anarchy woulds rule... Hmm, am I, are we onto something here, that our legislators are not? No matter what Hwyangel, do what you would need to do, should our 2nd amendment right(s) be watered down or stripped from us!

[Buzzfriendly]

I am not sure why we need immigration reform because if your not going to enforce it why reform it? As for gun control and assault weapons bans can somebody explain the effectiveness of this to James Holmes.

[ArmedLibInMO]

As I have been going through the immigration system the last 17 years on behalf of my wife (she's from Canada) I feel I can understand why someone would want to do whatever it takes to be here. The process of becoming a Resident Alien is difficult and expensive even if you are married to an American Citizen. There are a lot of roadblocks to becoming a Citizen and we are working on getting past them. I'd love to see the process changed for others so they won't have the problems we have had while going through proper legal channels.

Banning access to 'certain kinds' of firearms SHOULD be impossible to get passed. Barring access for lawful residents of the United States to any firearms should not exist as we are NOT the problem. Banning drugs, murder, etc. has done nothing to lower the rates of crimes.

[Thegrif]

Nice post

[ConserveUSA]

Awesome Post!!!

[avlisk]

If we could get the 2nd Amendment amended, these gun nuts would have to use their brains and realize that each and every proposal to restrict guns is a common sense approach. The 2nd Amendment isn't written in stone or handed down from God. It's a document written by humans which as outlived its usefulness.

[NTBFW]

As long as you use the term gun nuts I guess you have no problem with libtard?

[culinary]

As is the rest of the constitution. But only ammend the second amendment. Not any of the others. Lets just pick and choose, shall we? Or, better yet, lets just throw out the whole thing! After all, its not "written in stone or handed down from god".

[avlisk]

@culinary No. I'm not advocating tossing everything. I'm just advocating the use of one's brain instead of knee-jerk stupid reactions. It's just the Second Amendment that is flawed. And yes, I stand by my use of the word "nut".

[stepped_in_it]

HMMM.......sometimes people think that removing just a splinter heals a wound. Problem is, this isn't a splinter, this is a sword! Removing "assault guns" and limiting mag sizes will only appease the sheep. Any gun beyond a muzzle loader can be considered an "assault gun'. A simple shotgun could have done as much damage at CT as any other gun.
The 2nd isn't solely for the protection against a tyrannical government, it is also for:
1)participating in law enforcement
2)repelling invasion
3)suppressing insurrection
4)facilitating a natural right of self-defense
#4 is a very important aspect of the 2nd. When guns are made illegal for the people to own, then only LEO's and criminals own guns.....and there never be enough LEO's to defend the sheep against the wolfs!
But hey, the 2nd doesn't REQUIRE you to own a weapon, so, don't buy one. Good luck with your dealings with the criminals and the 911 system!

[hwyangel]

In 2010 there were over 10,000 trucks highjacked near the Mexico boarder alone. 65-100% were by armed culprits. I personally haul a lot of hazardous materials that in the wrong hands could cause a lot of damage. My ability to carry has thwarted many highjackings and ended zero lives to date. For now when you or your loved ones are traveling on the public interstate highway you can be confident that it is a licenced professional driver behind the wheel and not a terrorist.........for now.

[WMCOL]

The numbers stay pretty consistent, just about as many Democrats as Republicans oppose gun control. So the conservatives aren't gonna be able to get much if any capital out of the gun issue that translates to votes. Most Democrats like myself who oppose gun control think about crossing over but when the time comes we will still vote against conservatives because they are still the biggest suppressors of human rights. Right on guns, gays, environment, but wrong on immigration, economy, Court, healthcare, education, foreign affairs, abortion, and pitiful record on human rights, civil rights. 3 out of 12 ain't good enough.

[IPDAILY]

Why do the Democrats feel the need to rush out and take away our guns. Feinsteins bill is a shame, designed to make all semi automatic rifles and pistols illegal. Buy limiting the use of extractable magazines and rounds capacities on all assault guns. This woman is despicable and should be forced from office. She would have us loading black power and ball again.

[NTBFW]

Of course it would be easier to get immigration reform. I can agree with some way to get the people here illegally set up so they pay taxes. But if we basically give them amnesty, we have to secure out borders too. We can't continue to have this mass of illegal immigration.

[TheJimmy]

Illegal Aliens - illegal, Guns -legal. No need to turn America into Bizarro world where everything suddenly reverses itself to appease a few.

[russ]

It seems reasonable to me. As a nation, we have much to gain by reforming the immigration process. Those who come into the US under the radar avoid taxes and bog down our healthcare system. However, most of them are willing to take jobs our citizens are often too lazy or too privileged to consider. Allowing them a means to seek citizenship without the existing constraints can be beneficial to all.
On the other hand, reversing our history of gun ownership will meet significant resistance from those concerned about self defense and hunting, as well as sportmen and collectors. The outcry over gun control is an exploitation of tragedies and has absolutely no logical basis. Regardless of any legislation government enacts, guns will still remain in the hands of the lawless. Apparently those most opposed to gun rights conveniently ignore the example being played out in communities like Chicago.

[BelinKS]

Of course immigration reform will be first. The liberals that are the loudest about gun control are a small group that just happens to scream the loudest. No matter how loud these few scream, it is not going to change the minds of the majority of America that want guns left as is.
After I read an article about the immigration plan that was obviously left out on here, that the illegal immigrants will be last to get green cards behind those that have been waiting to immigrate to the US legally. And all the hoops the illegals will have to jump through. I am more in favor of the immigration reform.

[DerivePI]

"Translation for Dummies" - Will liberals enact an assault weapons ban which will do nothing to prevent massacres or naturalize illegal immigrants which will do nothing to prevent illegal immigration? Why not both. Add these to raising taxes which will do nothing to fix our deficit.

[DARSB]

Mr Bannon had a talent for describing the obvious.

[tomincali]

my take,the gov wants to punish all American citizens for what a few have done. many illegal aliens have smuggled drugs killed citizens and many other major crimes,yet this gov and some others do not want to enforce our laws against them saying not all illegal aliens have done these things.

so by these two issues it shows how much better the leaders of our country and a few citizens think of illegal aliens than their own citizens.

[TxCharlie]

Anti-self defense hand-wringers were breathlessly waiting for the perfect tragedy to push their agenda, and now they're coming out of the woodwork. Totally expected.

What tears me up is their totally distorted view that a gun in the hands of police and security guards at schools is just as bad or even worse than a gun in the hands of a lunatic.

I think Obama has a different agenda: It takes the focus off of all his other failures, like spending and unemployment.

[Rcolebank]

With regard to Joe Manchin, as one of his constituents, I think the call came from residents of WV. Joel's position was in direct contrast to what West Virginian's think and believe.

[jessejaymes]

Oh come on. I didn't bother to read the "guest article" A heavier load than immigration? Some of us out here may not be the brightest crayon in the box but we're not out and an out stupid. Gun control is a heaver sell because there are not anywhere near as many votes at stake as there is by making citizens out of illegals. Both sides HAVE to court the illegals in order to have any chance with the Latino vote. Get real. Jeez louise. How about some people writing that actually has something worthwhile to say?

[SomethinsFishy]

The more crowded our country gets; the more that people live stacked up one on top of the other and become more depersonalized through the use of computers, ATMs, etc.; the less their contact with a supportive, extended family, especially including members of several different generations, the more alienation we will have. Studies that have been performed with laboratory rats and overcrowding will be very informative to a lot of people. The semi-automatic rifles and pistols that are causing hysteria among some today HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 60+ YEARS- mass shootings have not. Even that guy that climbed on top of the Texas tower and shot at people was discovered to have a brain tumor that affected his behavior. LOOK FOR THE SAME THINGS or some other neurological problem in present-day mass shooters. When you take the neurological or mental illness problem that might be present and combine it with a proliferation of graphic and violent video games AND graphic and violent "action movies" AND the disgustingly narcissistic tendencies of modern young people and their desire for fame, you get these horrific tragedies. CONNECT THE DOTS. What are the things that HAVE NOT been around constantly for the last 60+ years? Which ones have? Those of you old enough to remember: Remember when MANY schools had marksmanship teams and kids would bring their .22 calibers and pistols to school? Can you EVER recall a school shooting back then?