In an article this morning for National Review Online, I analyze how the Second Amendment fared in last night’s election. Results: Almost no net change in Senate seats (-1) or governorships (-1.5). In the House, a loss of 14 seats — less than half the size of the 32-seat Republican loss. The incoming freshman classes in the U.S. House and Senate include a plentiful supply of pro-gun Democrats, a very important positive long-term trend.
That said, Speaker Pelosi and Judiciary Chair Conyers will make it nearly impossible to pass constructive legislation on the Second Amendment issues, except perhaps as appropriations riders.
Perhaps the starkest difference between the Republican results and the Second Amendment results were in Ohio. There, pro-gun Democrats picked up two formerly Republican open seats in the House. Three endangered pro-gun Republican Congresspersons defeated anti-gun Democratic challengers. Anti-gun retiring Republican Governor Bob Taft was replaced by strongly pro-gun Democrat Ted Strickland, while anti-gun Republican Attorney General Betty Montgomery was defeated by pro-gun Democrat Mark Dann. The Buckeye Firearms Association reports that in the Ohio House, “the pro-gun majority is firmly in place”, and the state Senate has improved significantly. Prospects look good for progressive legislation in Ohio, starting with statewide preemption of local gun bans.
I’ll be talking about the election results on the NRA News radio program tonight.
ONE MORE THING: Today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution includes an op-ed I wrote on the dangers of mandatory gun lock laws.