EmailPond scum.
That’s the expression Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, used to characterize how some critics viewed him after he voted against expanding background checks two week ago during the gun control debate in Congress.
In a posting today on his Facebook page, Flake conceded that his “poll numbers have indeed taken a southerly turn.” He is home in Arizona for a week long break from Washington, where he bluntly acknowledged the criticism. ”Nothing like waking up to a poll saying you’re the nation’s least popular senator,” a message on Flake’s Facebook page said. “Given the public’s dim view of Congress in general, that probably puts me somewhere just below pond scum.”
Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
The gun control debate is quiet in Washington, but it is only getting started at home for some senators, particularly those who were on the fence but opposed a bipartisan compromise on expanding background checks for people who buy weapons at gun shows and on the internet.
Senator Kelly Ayotte, Republican of New Hampshire, faced a confrontational exchange during a town meeting today in Warren, N.H. The daughter of the principal killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School challenged Ayotte on her vote against the background check measure, according to the Political Scoop blog on WMUR.com.
Related: Gun Control Group Targets Ayotte
“You had mentioned that date you voted, owners of gun stores that the expanded background checks would harm,” said Erica Lafferty, whose mother was killed in the Newtown, Conn., shooting four months ago. “I’m just wondering why the burden in of my mother being gunned down in the halls of her elementary school isn’t as important.”
Ayotte has been besieged with advertising from both sides of the gun debate. She apologized to Lafferty for her loss, but renewed her objections to the background check bill, saying she did not believe it would have prevented the mass shooting in Newtown.
The legislation to expand background checks, which was sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, and Pat Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, fell short of receiving 60 votes in the Senate on April 17. The failure effectively put the gun control measures on hold for now – perhaps for the rest of the year in Congress – but not necessarily in the minds of voters and advocates, as today’s events in New Hampshire and elsewhere indicated.
“why the burden in of my mother being gunned down in the halls of her elementary school isn’t as important.”
Thank you for your question. The burden in of your mother being gunned down in the halls of her elementary school is important! Except the Manchin/Toomey/Obama background-check ammendment would have done nothing to prevent Adam Lanza from obtaining the weapons he did to commit that shooting. Besides, the Manchin/Toomey ammendment would have just weakened the Obama/Reid gun-bill in the Senate right now. Oh what? Senate Majority Leader Reid isn’t putting it up for a vote? Besides, we are supporting letting your mother carry a gun in school, and so should you! You would like that, wouldn’t you? So instead of running away from Adam Lanza and getting shot in the back, she could have pulled her gun out and then shot him in the face. Instead of being dead, she would be alive, PUMA!
Posted by: Clintoncrat for Palin | April 30, 2013, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
When will people realize you can’t legislate criminals. You think that criminals will not be able to get guns if they are outlawed? They will get them on the black market.
wake up liberals and take some steps to solve the real problem of mental nutcases who should be in an insitution getting help. .
Posted by: Tim | April 30, 2013, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
Sharon– your illogic and emotion are what’s out of control. Canada just did away with their long gun registry because it was a massive waste of money with no positive results. “We have to do Something” is not a good reason pass legislation. Especially when the legislation is unconstitutional.
Posted by: df jonathon | April 30, 2013, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
I think that if guns should be allowed, the person who owns the guns is responsible for what happens with them. If your son grabs a gun and shoots someone, not only is he responsible, but so is the registered gun owner. The registered gun owner has to be an individual, not a corporation.
Posted by: Mike Koval | April 30, 2013, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
The liberal anti-gun zealots are still NOT able to demonstrate how expanded background checks and yet more ammo and gun bans would STOP criminals from obtaining illegal guns from some back alley gun seller! The laws already on the books are not being enforced, people that are caught with illegal weapons rarely do any jail time.
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 30, 2013, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
Criminals don’t need background checks when obtaining illegal guns from a back alley gun seller!
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 30, 2013, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. And not to Democrats alone do I make this appeal, but to all who love these great and true principles.
Abraham Lincoln–August 27, 1856 Speech at Kalamazoo, Michigan
Posted by: Remember America? | April 30, 2013, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
Funny that they aren’t reporting the flip side.
One of the Democratic senators who voted against the so called “background check” bill was Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor. Pryor represented the voters of his state, not the Democratic Party, not Mayor Bloomberg, not George Soros.
I don’t know who the other Democrats represented, I have my suspicions.
Senator John Boozman also represented the people of Arkansas by supporting the Second Amendment just as he has always done and just as we expected him to do.
The vast majority of the people of Arkansas don’t want more gun control. Our Senators know that and take our wishes in Washington.
Thank you Senator Pryor and Senator Boozman. The people of Arkansas appreciate your service.
Posted by: oonogil | April 30, 2013, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
I find it curious that 7 of the 8 posts on this topic are pro-gun. Sharon’s comment, whatever it was, (pro-gun control?) has been deleted. Clintoncrat calls someone a PUMA and is allowed to remain. 7 anti-gun legislation vs. 1 pro-gun legislation isn’t an accurate reflection of the nation’s thinking or position on this particular topic. If ABC, like FOX, wants to be known as a GOP/tea party website, just say so.
Posted by: whatever | May 1, 2013, 6:03 am 6:03 am
Once again we see the Bias of ABC keeping this nonsense in the news. As New Hampshire Resident I will proudly support Senator Ayotte. I will not sell my rights to a New York Billionaire. I will be voting against Senator Shaheen because she tried to sell my civil rights.
Posted by: Rick | May 1, 2013, 7:06 am 7:06 am
The background check wouldn’t have affected law-abiding gun toters’ right at all and yet even that was too much. That’s an indication you aren’t serious about preventing even the mentally ill from getting guns.
Posted by: whatever | May 1, 2013, 7:11 am 7:11 am
Even in the jaws of defeat you try and spin the reality of guns. People want to be able to defend themselves. The sales of guns and ammo skyrocketed when all of the talk of gun control first came up. People do not trust the government and that trust is at its lowest ebb. You lost.
Posted by: Perplexed | May 1, 2013, 7:18 am 7:18 am
So done with the anti-gun campaign…move-on! It’s over, you anti-gun zealots lost both the battles and the war you waged against law-abiding citizens because you failed to truly understand the issue.
Posted by: Gunner__59 | May 1, 2013, 8:42 am 8:42 am
When will people realize you can’t legislate criminals. You think that criminals will not be able to get guns if they are outlawed? They will get them on the black market. ..Terrible reasoning here. People use drugs, they are illegal why have drug laws? Why have a speed limit I see people speed evey day? Stealing is against the law yet criminals steal why would we make stealing a crime?
Posted by: WhosVoice | May 1, 2013, 8:45 am 8:45 am
How do back ground checks infringe your 2nd Amendment rights?
Posted by: WhosVoice | May 1, 2013, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Why do victims and victims families seem to think they own the rights to a tragedy and to dictate to the rest of us what should be done about and what laws should be passed? That’s not how things work in our society. It used to, but things are changing and people like me, and there are a lot of us, are tired of being inconvenienced for the actions of a very small minority of people. Adam Lanza’s father should be hauled into a town square meeting and tell us what went wrong with his kid. Why did he bring a parasite into the word and then not do anything about him? They obviously had money and the means to get this kid help but I guess it was more important to him and his ex-wife to live in nice homes and drive nice cars. Direct your anger at him not the rest of us.
Posted by: Terry | May 1, 2013, 9:12 am 9:12 am
Gun debate? Where’s the debate? Where are the facts to back up the claims that any of the proposed changes will reduce gun violence without increasing the violent crimes – as has happened in Chicago, Washington DC and other countries that have already done this? In one of the largest polls done, do a large percent of police say that the proposed background check changes will do NOTHING to reduce gun deaths?
Posted by: deanbob | May 1, 2013, 9:14 am 9:14 am
So the “moms” in the picture above are against out Constitution and therefor against this country.
They are free to leave.
Posted by: dd23 | May 1, 2013, 9:15 am 9:15 am
Once again we see the Bias of ABC keeping this nonsense in the news. As New Hampshire Resident I will proudly support Senator Ayotte. I will not sell my rights to a New York Billionaire. I will be voting against Senator Shaheen because she tried to sell my civil rights.
POSTED BY: RICK | MAY 1, 2013, 7:06 AM 7:06 AM
You’re right. And where is the coverage of Dr Gosnell, on trial for the murder of aborted babies?
Posted by: deanbob | May 1, 2013, 9:16 am 9:16 am
So are those of you who are anti-gun for rape, assault and murder (since statistics show these violent crimes increase as guns as banned)? That is the logic you have employed against anyone who was FOR many positions you opposed.
Posted by: deanbob | May 1, 2013, 9:20 am 9:20 am
The debate is over. The ignorant anti gun loons lost. Get a new life.
Posted by: Kenneth | May 1, 2013, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Great your against guns. solution’ do not buy one. I will buy one if I choose so.
Posted by: Jimmy | May 1, 2013, 10:11 am 10:11 am
There is no gun debate. The second amendment still stands strong regardless what the libitards think. You lost again. Get over it and move on as your hero Hillary the Benghazi killer would like to say.
Posted by: huh? | May 1, 2013, 10:56 am 10:56 am
The republicans are magnificent.
They are like Don Quixote tilting at big government windmills.
They don’t realize they live in the freest most open society in world made possible by a government designed 250 years ago.
Everything they do is from mis-interpretation and lack of knowledge of the Constitution that makes that government work.
Posted by: tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Whaaaa!!!…….I lost…….Whaaaaa!!!
Posted by: whining deadbeat liberal | May 1, 2013, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
WHINING DEADBEAT
Wrong, you lost as did every citizen of this country.
Posted by: tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
They don’t realize they live in the freest most open society in world made possible by a government designed 250 years ago.
POSTED BY: TMFERRETTI | MAY 1, 2013, 11:16 AM 11:16 AM
Only fools believe that. Thanks to decades of destructive progressive policies, we’re now ranked #10 for economic freedom.
Top Ten:
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. Australia
4. New Zealand
5. Switzerland
6. Canada
7. Chile
8. Mauritius
9. Denmark
10. United States
Posted by: sj | May 1, 2013, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
Deanbob, in your assertion that Chicago shows gun control increases crime, doesn’t make any sense. Chicago isn’t an island, so with the surrounding areas not having the same gun control laws, its effect is almost nil, except people can be sent to jail for breaking Chicago’s laws. We need reasonable gun control laws, such as background checks for all sales, to be nationwide for the best effect.
Posted by: Librarian53 | May 1, 2013, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
whatever | May 1, 2013, 6:03 am — So you want an accurate reflection of the country? Go to ANY gun shop or counter and that should ne enough to convinve you.
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | May 1, 2013, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
SJ
We are ranked 10th economically because you republicans insist on these idiotic spending cuts instead of investing in this country and it’s people.
Posted by: tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Oops! “Convince”
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | May 1, 2013, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
COMMONSENSE
Yes, also go to any of those countries SJ mentioned and see if you can buy an AR15
Posted by: tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:18 pm —- How much is enough for you? $85 billion per month isn’t enough? $16 Trillion isn’t enough? Trillion dollar deficits aren’t enough? A downgrade wasn’t good enough for you, now let’s go for all out Spain and/or Greece right? Geez, you Keynesian freaks need to wake up.
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | May 1, 2013, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm
tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:19 pm —- Let me get this straight, you are equating gun control with economic freedom? Are you serious?
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | May 1, 2013, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Only reason it is in the news is because Obama has instructed his news media to keep it up… but not a word about the abortion doctors trial and the Benghazi survivors being threatened if they testify to the truth…wow, how low can the news media go?
Posted by: Freedom | May 1, 2013, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
tmferretti — You lost the gun debate, move-on or pick another topic where you may have more success. Oh, I know!! The morning after pill!! Your 15 year old daughter can now get knocked up 3 times a week and not worry about it!!! Best yet, you as a parent will never know about it because she can now obtain it OTC, no questions asked. Hurray for progressive America!
Posted by: Gunner__59 | May 1, 2013, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
COMMONSENSE
No, I was responding to your post
“So you want an accurate reflection of the country? Go to ANY gun shop or counter and that should ne enough to convinve you.”
It seems these other countries can have common sense gun laws and are not extreme right or left wing dictatorships. Maybe we can learn something.
Posted by: tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
Pond Scum? Is that what they are calling Patriots now? Is that what they would call the founding fathers of our country? Mothers against Guns is a joke. They claim to represent all mothers, well here’s a news flash for you: MY mother taught me to hunt and shoot along with my father and she still owns three guns. I will not stand by while liberal progressive crybabies try to shove gun control down our throats again. As an NRA member I will be voting against Toomey in the primary and for a candidate that doesn’t “compromise” our rights. We’ve had six gun control bills since the 1930′s and we have “compromised” enough. They lost, get over it.
Posted by: PeteLaRo | May 1, 2013, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
As a gun owner and second amendment supporter. I don’t see background checks as an invasion of my rights. I do oppose ‘feel good’ legislation that does nothing to solve the problem. The Sandy Hook gun was a legally owned gun. It’s owner would or perhaps did pass the background checks. Governor Chrisite from NJ has proposed legislation to ban a specific .50 cal rifle. I read on these boards from the pro gun control side what a major step that was. I’d like for one of those people that really understands what that rifle is to explain how that legislation would have any effect on crime. Depending on it’s configuration it’s up to 5 feet long and can way upwards of 60 pounds. It would be nearly impossible to use it for the commission of a crime.
Posted by: ilfarmer | May 1, 2013, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
tmferretti | May 1, 2013, 12:55 pm —- Have you done some reading about their gun laws? Do you think those laws have any bearing on this list? Do you know what they mean by “Economic Freedom”?
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. Australia
4. New Zealand
5. Switzerland
6. Canada
7. Chile
8. Mauritius
9. Denmark
10. United States
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | May 1, 2013, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
ilfarmer | May 1, 2013, 1:15 pm —- The “Feel Good” legislation has been defeated. We can point out what we want about how it would not have made any difference in Sandy Hook, but progressives don’t care. If they could rid the USA of guns, they would.
Posted by: Commonsenseparty | May 1, 2013, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
These idiots draw on heart strings to a tragedy but the facts are that these gun laws won’t stop anything. You have laws that say drinking and driving are illegal yet thousand are killed yearly by drunk drivers. You have laws preventing illegal immigration yet since 1986 there are some 30 million illegals here in the US. How have these laws worked for the Americans??? Get the Pictures???
Murders by knives, explosives, poisons, automobiles and so on are readilly available alternatives as are stealing guns or buying from Mexico. You know the illegal guns that OBama and Holder let the criminals steal!!!!!!!! This is a world that follows psychological studies showing what happens to a population of rats as the population increases. We are those rats and the world is following their lead and becoming more violent and the cases of untreated mental illness on the rise. The government would rather blame a gun than their lack of response to treating mental illness. In the words of the Dumbocraps, SHAME!!!!!!!
Posted by: Gun Owner | May 1, 2013, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm