“Anti-Gun”

One question I get from GOP activists, in the run-up and especially since the convention, is “Isn’t Mike McFadden anti-gun?”

Now, if the GOP’s endorsed Senate candidate has taken criticism for anything, it’s being a little enigmatic on some of his answers to policy questions.  That is, obviously, going to have to change soon.  And I suspect it will.

But if there’s one issue where McFadden’s been scrutinized pretty carefully, it’s guns.  And the fact is this:  McFadden supported the “gun show background check”.  And let’s be honest; a lot of people did, including a lot of pro-gun people who hadn’t thought through all the ramifications (it’d be a de facto gun registry).  And I’m going to guess it was an idea that tested out well in focus groups with mixed bags of voters who also didn’t know the issue all that well.

But then McFadden ran up against Minnesota’s shooters – the single best-organized mass of activists in Minnesota.  And the shooters howled.  And McFadden has spent the past three months walking back the gun-show registration idea.

Beyond that, McFadden had nothing objectionable to say (and yes, “what he says” is what we have to go by, since he has no voting record).

So I have two responses:

Flip?:  Has McFadden flipped on gun-show background checks?  Hopefully.  He’s certainly been vocal about not being anti-Second-Amendment at his speeches – it was pretty much the first item on the agenda of his speeches I heard in March and April.  I have no problem with people flipping, by the way, provided they flip in the right direction.  He rates some further scrutiny – gotta keep politicians honest – but I think we’ve got the basis for some optimism.

Perspective:  Let’s say for a moment that McFadden is generally pro-gun, with a few minor warts.  Now, I know “incrementalism” is a dirty word for some of you out there, but a Senator who generally supports the Second Amendment, even with a few flash-points of disagreement, will be an improvement at the national level over Al Franken, who only wants “Organizing for America” to be armed.

Discuss.

 

12 thoughts on ““Anti-Gun”

  1. I once bought a gun at a gun show, from one of the dealer tables. I filled out the federal form, the dealer ran a background check on me, everything went smoothly. I suspect that’s what people think of when they hear “gun show background check” so they think “sure, why not?” It’s not until you become immersed in the subject that you learn that when Leftists ask for something innocuous, they have a larger agenda. Having learned that, a wiser McFadden has indeed “flipped” on the issue and that’s a good thing.
    .

  2. I have had, and continue to have, concerns with Mr. McFadden on this issue.

    In short:
    – In June and July 2013, he states that he supports closing the gun show loophole.
    – In December 2013, Mark Okern (Chair, MN Gun Owners PAC) attempts to contact him to discuss his position as a part of making an endorsement decision for US Senate. No response is received.
    – In January 2014, Mr. McFadden makes multiple media appearances, including on our show, where he does not answer 2nd Amendment questions directly. He also begins to say that his position is being “misconstrued” on the issue.
    – As late as March 2014, Mr. McFadden continues to state that his position is being misrepresented on this issue by a “third party that had endorsed another candidate.” That third party is the MN Gun Owners PAC.
    – Beginning around late March 2014, Mr. McFadden begins saying that he misspoke early in the campaign, that he’s a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and he’s opposed to universal background checks.
    – In multiple media & pubic settings, Mr. McFadden continues to be oblique in his answers on specific 2nd Amendment questions.
    – As a delegate, I sent multiple e-mails with very specific questions to the special delegate contact e-mail for Mr. McFadden and only received a reply once from his campaign manager about the fact that we didn’t screen him for endorsement.

    My concerns are these:
    1) Why did his position shift? Specifically, what was the change in his thinking?
    2) If he decided later in the campaign that he misspoke – why did he spent 60+ days talking about a third party misrepresenting his position.
    3) I still don’t understand his position on 2A issues.

    All that said, this mostly represents my personal issues on this.

    In my official capacity as MN Gun Owners PAC Executive Director, we’ll be evaluating all of the candidates in the US Senate Race for an endorsement decision in June and July – as our previously endorsed candidate, Julianne Ortman, has withdrawn from the race.

    Bryan

  3. Anyone who refers to the private firearms sales issue as “the gun show loophole” has pretty much expressed a lack of knowledge of the issue. Like the term “assault weapon”, the “loophole” tag has been crafted to elicit a negative connotation. That is,”assault” weapons assault people, and anything short of full background checks and subsequent registration for every private transaction is a “loophole” in need of repair. “Gunshow” just makes it an easier sell to the disinterested and the unaffected.

    “Has McFadden flipped on gunshow background checks? Hopefully.” If he thought the issue only affected “gunshow transactions” he clearly didn’t do his homework. Worse, perhaps he has already made up his mind on the issue and chose not to explore any further. However, his obfuscation and obvious refusal to elaborate on the topic when asked directly makes me think he knows as much as he wants to know (and knows how much he will do) about the issue if elected. So much for the endorsement process …

  4. I would like to see an R in the win column and apparently the GOP establishment would too. The Chamber of Commerce (Coleman/Weber) is here to rescue you from your single issue selves. McFadden is a RINO and he represents the best opportunity to unseat Mr. Franken.

    BTW; nice avatar Mr. Strawser! Let me guess, Drew Carey?

  5. Emery; I have met Bryan and I can attest to the fact that it is a picture of him!

  6. Emery is a McFadden guy…super. Now all he needs is for Mongrel Cur to give him 2 thumbs up.

    McFadden couldn’t get elected as a Democrat in S. Carolina, but I guess he’s the best y’all can do for now.

  7. McFadden is a coward with no convictions. If he had any degree of integrity he would have transparently given the reason for his change in position and clearly answered the many direct questions he has received on this issue. Instead he obfuscates and claims to be misunderstood.

    As far as Emery’s point about “single issue selves”: the Second Amendment issue is a lightning rod for those of us who are passionate about individual liberty. Your damn right it’s the litmus test I use to judge all Republican candidates.

  8. Emery – I know Bryan personally, and that’s his picture.

    Drew Cary did, at one point, resemble him.

  9. People here in Franken’s camp in DC would never admit it publicly but they are scared to death of McFadden.

  10. Quit eating your puppies. This is Minnesota. If you’re looking for “purity,” then you have to run yourself – probably as a libertarian. We know how that goes, don’t we?

  11. It isn’t so much the single issue as it is the way the single issue is addressed, or how it’s sold to those whose support you want. A straight forward “take me or leave me, here’s what I think …” declaration, when specifically asked is at least acceptable. To go weasely when being asked a direct question is not.

    FYI … This article from the local Patch is about the action-wanting moms and their request to Target that the retailer prohibit the open carrying of firearms in their stores:

    http://applevalley-rosemount.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/is-targets-gun-policy-offtarget69792?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-1-post&newsRef=true

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.