| | | | 1 number that explains the total madness of gun politics | | 97%.
That's the percentage of people in a new Quinnipiac University national poll who say they support "requiring background checks for all gun buyers."
97%.
If you asked people whether water is wet, you might not get 97% of them to say that it is.
Democrats (99%), Republicans (97%), independents (98%), men (96%), women (98%), 18- to 34-year-olds (99%) and those 65+ (98%) all overwhelmingly support making a background check a requirement for anyone trying to purchase a gun.
And yet, attempts to provide legislative fixes to some of the issues with the background check system have run aground in years past.
The biggest failure came in 2013, after the murder of more than two dozen people, including schoolchildren, in late 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A bill that would have expanded background checks failed to gain the 60 votes required in the Senate. Ditto a bipartisan compromise bill offered by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania.
In 2017, following a shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, along with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, offered legislation that would force states to comply with regulations for updating the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It went nowhere.
That bill appears to have gained a second life over the weekend, with President Donald Trump seemingly signaling support for it -- or something very like it.
If past is prologue, however, you would be right to be leery that last week's shooting in Parkland, Florida -- and even the outspoken calls to action from students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School -- will prompt significant action from Congress.
Which is, if you stop and think about it, totally baffling.
Politicians are in the business of getting re-elected every two or six years. One way to do that is to take actions that are broadly popular with the public. And you don't get much more popular than 97% of people supporting something -- like requiring background checks.
So why doesn't anything get done? Because of the National Rifle Association's striking success in selling the slippery slope argument. The NRA has convinced its members -- and the many members of Congress the organization donates to -- that allowing any sort of movement toward more gun control is an inevitable step to someone from the government coming along to collect your guns.
The Point: The all-or-nothing dynamic that has dominated gun politics for the past two-plus decades ill serves a public that clearly is able to differentiate between gun collection and requiring background checks. It's a depressing reality of our politics.
-- Chris | | "The President has expressed his support for efforts to improve the federal background check system. In the coming days we'll continue to explore ways to ensure the safety and security of our schools."
-White House press secretary Sarah Sanders | | | TRUMP MOVES TO BAN 'BUMP STOCKS' | | From CNN's Kevin Liptak: "President Trump said on Tuesday he'd directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to propose changes that would ban so-called 'bump stocks,' which make it easier to fire rounds quicker.
" 'Just a few moments ago I signed a memo directing the attorney general to propose regulations that ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns,' Trump said at a Medal of Valor event at the White House. 'I expect these regulations to be finalized, Jeff, very soon,' Trump said, addressing Sessions." Read more in CNN's full story here.
Bump-fire stocks, or "bump stocks," modify such rifles as an AR-15 to "allow it to fire in rapid succession or automatic fire," Sam Rabadi, a retired ATF special agent told CNN in October. Twelve bump fire stocks were found on firearms recovered from Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock's hotel room in October. The mass shooting left 59 people dead.
Read more in an explainer on bump stocks, by CNN's Nicole Chavez, here. Also read CNN's Daniella Diaz's story on what the current Senate gun bill says. | | | It's Chris' birthday! 🎂 So here's Billboard's list of 24 best birthday songs. HBD Cillizza! 🎉 | | Bon Iver's longtime manager, Kyle Frenette, is running for Congress in the hopes of unseating Republican Rep. Sean Duffy in Wisconsin's 7th District.
CNN's Deena Zaru reported Tuesday: "Frenette, who was born and raised in the district, is raising money for his campaign through Act Blue, a tool for progressive candidates to raise money to 'resist the Trump administration.' He plans to take a leave from Middle West Management and is set to formally announce his campaign Thursday.
''Kyle always had progressive politics near and dear to his heart, but he didn't get politically active until what happened in 2016 with Donald Trump's election and he just felt that there was a need for a new generation of leaders to pick up the torch and run with it,' Frenette's campaign manager Christian Duffy (no relation to the congressman) told CNN in a phone interview Tuesday." | | ICYMI: President Donald Trump on Monday tweeted his support for Mitt Romney's bid for the US Senate from Utah. CNN's Eli Watkins reported: "The endorsement marked the latest chapter in an at times tumultuous relationship. Romney was among the top Republican critics of Trump's behavior during the 2016 campaign, and Trump fired back in return, mocking Romney for his loss in the 2012 presidential election.
"Romney responded later Monday night, tweeting, 'Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.'"
Here's Chris' take on the endorsement. | | CNN's Katelyn Polantz and Marshall Cohen reported Tuesday: "Special counsel Robert Mueller has charged a lawyer with allegedly lying to investigators about covering up his discussions about Ukraine with former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates and another person in September 2016, while the Trump campaign operation was in full swing." Marshall broke down the Mueller charges so far for The Point: - After about nine months on the job, special counsel Robert Mueller has brought charges against 22 people and entities.
- Four Trump associates have been charged so far in the investigation
- Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos (Pleaded guilty, cooperating)
- Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort (Pleaded not guilty)
- Senior Trump campaign official Rick Gates (Pleaded not guilty, nearing a plea deal)
- Former national security adviser Michael Flynn (Pleaded guilty, cooperating)
But, Marshall noted: "A reminder that many of the proceedings are secret/sealed so these numbers can quickly change. Also important: the majority of these charges are of Russian nationals for alleged meddling in the election." | | MARCHES, WALKOUTS & 'LIE-INS' | | CNN's Alessia Grunberger reported; "A group of teens and more than a hundred supporters staged a 'lie-in' outside the White House on Presidents Day to pressure lawmakers to pass tougher gun laws.
"The group, dubbed Teens for Gun Reform, had started organizing the event by seeking 17 demonstrators to lie down for three minutes to symbolize how long it took for Nikolas Cruz to gun down 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida last week."
Students who survived the shooting in Florida are also planning to protest in Washington on March 24 at an event organized by March For Our Lives. George and Amal Clooney announced they are donating $500,000 to the upcoming march in the names of their 8-month-old twins, Alexander and Ella. Oprah Winfrey said on Twitter she will match their donation.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the White House will host parents, teachers and students from Parkland as well as from Columbine and Sandy Hook tomorrow for a "listening session." Sanders said they will talk about "a wide range of issues." | | | CNN will hold a town hall with the victims' classmates, parents and community members. "Stand Up: The Students of Stoneman Douglas Demand Action" will air live on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET. | | | If you want to give Chris a birthday present: Spread the word about The Point and tell people you know to subscribe. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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