Senate Dems put GOP in a double bind on guns

thereisnospoon at Daily Kos:

I have to say that Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) is a genius. He has created an extraordinary wedge to use against the Administration and its gun-crazy Republican allies with S. 1237, introduced on May 1st, officially (and brilliantly) titled the "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2007". The bill essentially gives the Attorney General the direct authority (above and beyond the Brady Bill) to prevent those on terrorist watch lists from purchasing firearms. [...]

This leads to a double-bind for the GOP — if they support the bill, they do the following:

1. Betray their rabidly pro-gun base in favor of federal power to prevent gun ownership, and

2. Give the Democrats a legislative anti-gun victory in the wake of the shootings at Virginia Tech.

If they oppose the bill, they:

1. Deny the Executive [Branch] authority in an issue of national security, and

2. Put themselves on record as saying that dangerous firearms should be in the hands of known terrorists.

This no-win situation is due to a GOP base that simultaneously believes (1) the Executive Branch can ignore any law to fight the War on Terror, and (2) the 2nd Amendment gives Americans the unfettered right to own guns. So what happens when the Executive decides to overrule the 2nd Amendment? Guess the GOP base never bothered to think that through.