Before giving up and hanging certain Republicans and some Democrats out to dry, go read this article from and unlikely source – namely Bloomberg.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...ssed-on-gun-bill-as-some-Democrats-waver.html
It turns out that a substantial number of Republicans and some Democrats that voted to send the bills to the Senate floor yesterday for debate and amendments have no intention of voting for the final results unless some big changes are made that would likely be in our favor.
Consider:
President Barack Obama’s bid to enact even a scaled-back version of his gun-safety agenda needs support from many of the 16 Senate Republicans who showed they’re at least willing to debate it. He also must hold onto almost all of the 52 Democrats and independents who joined yesterday’s 68-31 vote to advance the measure for debate.
Snip…
“I oppose the bill, I just cannot support it,” said Baucus of Montana, who faces re-election in 2014. “I’m just not going to block debate on it.”
Several Republicans said they voted yes for the same reason -- to allow the measure to advance -- though they probably won’t back it in a final vote.
“It’s a debate we ought to have,” said Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia. “I don’t think I am going to support the legislation.”
Snip…
The 16 Republican votes to advance the bill signaled that at least some in the party will support the legislation. Still, one of those Republicans, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, said he won’t back the measure.
Snip…
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York predicted a challenge to gain votes in the coming days.
“Make no mistake about it; we have a tough fight” to pass the gun measure, Schumer said. “The NRA will try and throw all kinds of amendments at us.”
Snip…
“I think it’s at the least embarrassing, and more than that, a bit of a problem, that Democrats can’t get every Democrat,” Rothenberg said. “It becomes easier for Republicans to just to say ‘look at Pryor or Begich.’”
So before coming down hard on those that are really on our side, it might be a better idea to back off until it becomes more clear exactly who is on what side, and we’ll find that out when they take the final vote, and not before.
Up until now opponents in both parties haven't had the chance to do anything. They all passed out of Committee on a straight party vote (10 Democrats in favor, 8 Republicans opposed). Now on the Senate floor they can offer amendments that could ultimately kill them.