More on Davis’ Gun Vote
Earlier today, LL examined the decision of Virginia Republican Tom Davis---normally a staunch defender of home rule---to back a bill gutting the District's gun laws.
A few minutes ago, LL was able to speak to Davis' spokesperson, Brian McNicoll, who says his boss supported less sweeping legislation advocated by District delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.
"He supported Eleanor's approach; he backed it in committee. He shepherded the amendment that clarified what she was saying, made it acceptable to get it to the floor," McNicoll said, adding that Davis voted against the more coercive amendment pushed by conservative Democrats "because he supports home rule."
But why then, after the amendment passed, vote for the final bill?
"When it came to final passage, it was that or nothing, and if you look at what had happened since Heller, there is also an issue of the city thumbing its nose at the Supreme Court," McNicoll said. "He wanted to send a message---that you've got to do it. You may not like it, but you've got to do it."
LL asked McNicoll if Davis knew that the D.C. Council had addressed many of Congress' concerns the day before. "I guess he was aware of that," he said, but previous attempts to let the city write its own gun laws "left a lot of issues unresolved....The devil got into the details."
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4:59 pm
Let's be clear here. The amendment Davis voted against wasn't just a tweak. It substituted Childers's bill for Norton's, so the whole thing was changed. He voted against that amendment, but then, when the amendment passed and became the whole bill, voted for it. He threw home rule out the window even though the council had already addressed the 2nd Amendment issues. What sense does it make to "send a message" that the council needs to do something it's already done?
And he's not running for reelection. Hell, if he were running for reelection he wouldn't be so worried about what the NRA thinks, since they're not a huge force in his district. Sounds to me like kowtowing to the wingnuts to help with lining up a lucrative position as a lobbyist.
9:40 pm
It was a good vote. DC officials have tried to obstruct the citizens rights to own & bear guns long enough that they have forfeited any right to legislate here. Their "last minute conversion" legislation simply came too late.