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Democrats Want Discharge Petitions on Gun Provisions
By Stacey Zolt
Convinced that gun control will not be dealt with before adjournment, a group of House Democrats is floating the idea of forcing action by drawing up discharge petitions on three key gun safety amendments.
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and a group of his colleagues discussed last week a strategy of bringing the base juvenile justice bill to the floor on its own when Congress reconvenes in January. Then the discharge petitions would be introduced to try to force votes on controversial regulations of sales of weapons at gun shows.
The group of Democrats includes Caucus Chairman Martin Frost (Texas) and Reps. Bill Delahunt (Mass.), Sander Levin (Mich.) and Bobby Scott (Va.).
Stupak said the group will bring the idea to Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) this week as a way to move forward on legislation.
Stupak, who departed from his usual support for the National Rifle Association in voting for the gun safety provisions last summer, said he views the gun control provisions as "gun safety provisions."
"If I can sell that in my district, you should be able to sell that in any district -- Democrat or Republican," Stupak said.
Levin said the idea was "informally discussed" as an option to force a vote in January.
"I think we need to look at all the options," Levin said. "It's too early to know which is the best way to proceed but we need to do something."
While Stupak has become one of the NRA's top targets for the 2000 elections, he said he's not backing down. "Organizations have to understand that you can't always give them 100 percent," he said.
The Democratic pressure comes amid little progress from a conference committee on juvenile justice legislation. The version passed by the House includes provisions sponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) that would mandate that all background checks be completed within 24 hours without exception.
House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) released his latest proposal to Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) Thursday.
The new language narrowly defines gun shows, excluding flea markets and sports shows. It also eliminates the Senate language that aids in the identification of criminals.
Conyers said the proposal is "unacceptable because it opens up massive new loopholes and weakens current gun safety laws." Conyers asked once again for the conference to meet so they can hash out their differences.
But no matter when the conference actually convenes, there could still be a stalemate. Many Democrats have vowed to press for a presidential veto of the bill if it does not close the so-called gun show loophole.
Democrats are hopeful that Republicans will forge a middle ground between the House and Senate bills instead of ignoring Sen. Frank Lautenberg's (D-N.J.) provisions -- which allowed up to three days for background checks on gun show sales -- altogether.
But conservatives are not going to let Democrats go too far.
"If the bill includes gun control measures much beyond Dingell we're going to have a problem with the conservatives in the House," said Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Hyde said that deep down, Democrats don't want to win the issue, because they would rather club Republicans on the campaign trail next year.
"They want there to be an issue,"said Hyde. "They want to be able to blame Republicans and that's their whole strategy."
Indeed, Democrats held one press conference after another last week to blast Republicans for inaction on gun legislation.
"The leadership of the majority party ... is frustrating the will of the American people by refusing to take up legislation that the American people support," Vice President Al Gore said at one press conference.
"We know that in this Congress there is a lot more unfinished business than finished business," Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said.
"Schedule a vote!" Leahy shouted. "Don't hide behind the doors of a closed conference room."
In one long-shot strategy, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Clinton Thursday requesting he hold up the appropriations process until the gun show loophole is closed.
"We ask that you not sign any final budget agreement proposed by the House and Senate leadership unless airtight legislation that closes the gun show loophole is included," they wrote. "We believe that only the threat of a veto and the threat of keeping Congress in session for several additional weeks will spur Congress to finally act."
But Republicans fired back, calling the strategy absurd.
"It just shows Schumer is the demagogue that he is on this issue and that's all that shows," House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Texas) said.
Even Democrats were not quick to join in the push for the appropriations veto.
"I laud their effort but ... the momentum to leave here can be inexorable," Levin said.
Joe's Second Amendment Message Board
Democrats Want Discharge Petitions on Gun Provisions
By Stacey Zolt
Convinced that gun control will not be dealt with before adjournment, a group of House Democrats is floating the idea of forcing action by drawing up discharge petitions on three key gun safety amendments.
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and a group of his colleagues discussed last week a strategy of bringing the base juvenile justice bill to the floor on its own when Congress reconvenes in January. Then the discharge petitions would be introduced to try to force votes on controversial regulations of sales of weapons at gun shows.
The group of Democrats includes Caucus Chairman Martin Frost (Texas) and Reps. Bill Delahunt (Mass.), Sander Levin (Mich.) and Bobby Scott (Va.).
Stupak said the group will bring the idea to Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) this week as a way to move forward on legislation.
Stupak, who departed from his usual support for the National Rifle Association in voting for the gun safety provisions last summer, said he views the gun control provisions as "gun safety provisions."
"If I can sell that in my district, you should be able to sell that in any district -- Democrat or Republican," Stupak said.
Levin said the idea was "informally discussed" as an option to force a vote in January.
"I think we need to look at all the options," Levin said. "It's too early to know which is the best way to proceed but we need to do something."
While Stupak has become one of the NRA's top targets for the 2000 elections, he said he's not backing down. "Organizations have to understand that you can't always give them 100 percent," he said.
The Democratic pressure comes amid little progress from a conference committee on juvenile justice legislation. The version passed by the House includes provisions sponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) that would mandate that all background checks be completed within 24 hours without exception.
House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) released his latest proposal to Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) Thursday.
The new language narrowly defines gun shows, excluding flea markets and sports shows. It also eliminates the Senate language that aids in the identification of criminals.
Conyers said the proposal is "unacceptable because it opens up massive new loopholes and weakens current gun safety laws." Conyers asked once again for the conference to meet so they can hash out their differences.
But no matter when the conference actually convenes, there could still be a stalemate. Many Democrats have vowed to press for a presidential veto of the bill if it does not close the so-called gun show loophole.
Democrats are hopeful that Republicans will forge a middle ground between the House and Senate bills instead of ignoring Sen. Frank Lautenberg's (D-N.J.) provisions -- which allowed up to three days for background checks on gun show sales -- altogether.
But conservatives are not going to let Democrats go too far.
"If the bill includes gun control measures much beyond Dingell we're going to have a problem with the conservatives in the House," said Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Hyde said that deep down, Democrats don't want to win the issue, because they would rather club Republicans on the campaign trail next year.
"They want there to be an issue,"said Hyde. "They want to be able to blame Republicans and that's their whole strategy."
Indeed, Democrats held one press conference after another last week to blast Republicans for inaction on gun legislation.
"The leadership of the majority party ... is frustrating the will of the American people by refusing to take up legislation that the American people support," Vice President Al Gore said at one press conference.
"We know that in this Congress there is a lot more unfinished business than finished business," Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said.
"Schedule a vote!" Leahy shouted. "Don't hide behind the doors of a closed conference room."
In one long-shot strategy, Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Clinton Thursday requesting he hold up the appropriations process until the gun show loophole is closed.
"We ask that you not sign any final budget agreement proposed by the House and Senate leadership unless airtight legislation that closes the gun show loophole is included," they wrote. "We believe that only the threat of a veto and the threat of keeping Congress in session for several additional weeks will spur Congress to finally act."
But Republicans fired back, calling the strategy absurd.
"It just shows Schumer is the demagogue that he is on this issue and that's all that shows," House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Texas) said.
Even Democrats were not quick to join in the push for the appropriations veto.
"I laud their effort but ... the momentum to leave here can be inexorable," Levin said.
Joe's Second Amendment Message Board