Sen. Joe Manchin the Good and The Bad On Gun Rights

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In years past Sen Manchin wanted to
be seen with guns - not so much anymore.

Sen. Joe Manchin is running for re-election for the first time since 2012.  Here are the facts, the good and the bad.

Before Sandy Hook:

• In 2010 and 2012,  Manchin had an “A” rating from the NRA and was endorsed in both elections.
• He supported a concealed carry reciprocity bill.

After Sandy Hook:

In 2013, after Sandy Hook,  Sen. Manchin famously joined with Sen. Pat Toomey to push an expanded background check bill (Manchin/Toomey), which was ultimately defeated.  This is worth looking at in detail:

The final bill did not provide for “universal” background checks.  Family transfers would have been exempt.  The bill also defined a transfer as transfer of ownership, so loans would have been exempt too.

While both the NRA and the GOA opposed any bill (and ultimately prevailed), the CCRKBA decided to work with Manchin and Toomey to minimize the damage and to get as many pro-gun provisions included as possible. Manchin appears to have welcomed their input and included many things in the bill at their suggestion.

Ultimately, it was the increasing number of pro-gun rights provisions (supported by Sen, Manchin) that ultimately killed the bill, as most Dem. pro-gun control senators were not willing to vote for a bill that gave gun rights advocates too much.

In addition to expanding background checks to SOME private sales, the bill would have :

• Permitted Americans to buy firearms in any state in the Union - not just their state of residence.
• Provided a real gun rights restoration process for prohibited persons.
• Provided civil penalties for violations of the travel with firearms protection currently violated by NY and Chicago without consequences.  This has become so bad that the NRA recommends that no one travel through these cities with firearms.
• Provided significant civil and criminal immunity lawsuit protection for gun owners.
• Current law forbids federal officials from using any government records to construct a gun registry - however there is no penalty.  The bill would have made violation of this rule a felony punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison.

All of this was way too much for Sen. Schumer who made sure these provisions were pulled resulting in CCRKBA pulling its' endorsement and the bill dying.   CCRKBA specifically said that Sen. Manchin should not be blamed for the removal of the pro-gun provisions.


After  Manchin-Toomey:

• He did vote against a ban of magazines of more than 10 rounds.
• He opposed the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty
• He has remained a member of the NRA
• His campaign stated that he will “continue to support 2nd Amendment rights”.
• Shannon Watts, of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America  wouldn’t say yet whether her group would support Manchin (as of last January). 
• He opposed constitutional carry in his home state.  The bill passed anyway.
• His NRA rating has dropped to a “D” 
• There is not one word regarding gun laws on his website as of 9/6/2018.
• The NRA is running this ad against him:

Clearly, Sen.  Manchin is no longer the solid, pro-gun senator he once was.  His opponent is endorsed by the NRA.  On the other hand, if all Dems were like Sen. Manchin, our task would be much easier.

The bottom line: I would not vote for him, but he is not as anti-gun rights as most Democrats.

If you live in West Virginia, you should also consider that things will get very bad for gun rights if Dems take control of the Senate.  Trump definitely will not get any more Supreme Court appointments confirmed.  That alone is enough reason to vote Republican.