Senator Max Baucus, D-Montana, along with a number of other Democratic Senators, is facing the same dilemma today as the one he faced in 1993, according to Fox News on Saturday, March 9. Should he vote in favor of an assault weapons ban, backed by a President from his own party and at the same time anger many of his constituents, or go against his party?
In 1993, Baucus voted for the Brady Bill, establishing background checks, and in 1994, he voted for a ban on assault weapons and high capacity clips. His stance on these bills nearly cost him his senate seat in what was to be the closest election in more than four decades in Montana.
Now, as he readies his campaign for a seventh term, Baucus is having second thoughts, along with several other Democratic senators from primarily pro-gun and second amendment rights states. Six states bear close scrutiny over the next few months.
Besides Montana, pay attention to Alaska, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota and Arkansas. All are rural and have a large number of people that are strongly pro-gun. Gun owners rights are going to become an issue in their elections this next year.
Baucus finally decided to come out as opposing the new ban on assault weapons proposed by Senator Diane Feinstein, D-Calif. in response to a call for stricter gun laws from President Barack Obama in the wake of the Connecticut school shootings.
Although Baucus is telling voters he will oppose the new legislation, it doesn't let him off the hook with his party. And Republicans are watching his moves too. There are still a number of gun control issues to be resolved, including a call for universal background checks.
The bottom line is the possibility of a shift in power in the U.S. Senate. It is thought by some analysts that a wrong vote on the gun ban legislation could be a career ending move for some senators, and cause a loss of seats for the Democrats.
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