Democrats 2019 Gun Control Plans Exposed

Last year’s mid-term elections, as expected, gave Democrats control of the U.S. House of Representatives. With their new majority poised to take control of half of Congress in just a few days time, Democrats are sending out feelers regarding gun control measures. They want to know just how much support they have in their quest to restrict guns in this country.

Democrats have already announced their intentions to push a gun control initiative they know won’t get anywhere with the current President and a Senate under GOP control. Their first initiative is a bill mandating universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers, including private transfers.

The only exceptions the Democrats claim they would allow in the bill is for direct relatives to give firearms as gifts, such as a father to a son, or when borrowing a rifle or shotgun for hunting purposes. Otherwise, forget about buying or transferring ownership of a firearm without committing a federal crime. Most likely, that crime would be a felony.

Democrats say their plan fits with “common-sense” gun control laws greatly favored by U.S. citizens. They say the support shows the time to act is now. The problem with that is, while no one opposes “common-sense” gun laws, there is no agreement on what that comprises. In fact, much of what Democrats are proposing is losing support among the American public, according to polling.

The universal background checks are a keystone item in Democrats’ plans for eroding Second Amendment rights. Back in March 2018, a Gallup poll showed 67 percent of respondents favored stricter sales on firearms, including expanded background checks. Yet, six months later, that support eroded by six points to 61 percent. While that poll shows a majority still support more stringent gun laws, a six-point drop in about as many months shows the public is not fervently behind Democrats as they like to claim

Meanwhile, support for maintaining current laws or making them less strict has grown over the same time. In March of 2018, 28 percent polled favored the status quo when it comes to gun control laws. Another 4 percent said they wanted less strict laws.

Six months later, 30 percent of respondents said they favor maintaining current laws, while 8 percent want gun control laws less restrictive. The six points the gun control measures lost among supporters now shows up among those most opposed to stricter gun laws in the United States.

That 38 percent is a significant amount opposing Democrats and their proposals, and could continue growing as the issue likely receives lengthy debate and massive mainstream media coverage over the next two years. If polling data continues showing a shift in support away from what Democrats want, it is entirely possible a majority of those polled within a year or two might favor maintaining current laws or making them less restrictive.

Historically, support for stricter gun laws grows follow a highly publicized shooting – especially mass shootings. While several occurred in 2017, fewer have happened in 2018. Many also point to mass shootings usually occurring in gun-free zones, and support the right to bear arms.

There is no better example than the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission recommending teachers be armed and schools have more armed security to prevent shootings. Those are two notions that Democrats do not support.

Yet, the nation’s highest-profile mass school shooting shows support for an armed and well-trained citizenry remains strong, and Gallup polling shows waning support for stricter gun laws. Clearly, an armed citizen militia remains the nation’s best deterrent against evil. That could prove problematic for Democrats.