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Will the gun issue help four suburban Republicans hold on to their seats?

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* I’ve been telling subscribers over the past weeks about how the Gun Violence Prevention PAC has endorsed four legislative Republicans for reelection: Sens. Chris Nybo, Tom Rooney, John Curran and Rep. Peter Breen. All those incumbents are in Tier One races, with Democrats spending huge money against them.

From a September 30th Sun-Times editorial…

In the Illinois Legislature, a handful of GOP members are working with Democrats to produce bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing gun violence.

We say: Keep it up. Keep telling candidates they owe it to their communities to keep people safe. Remind the governor, too.

Next month, a bill that would help to prevent illegal gun trafficking and hold corrupt or careless gun dealers accountable is expected to reach Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk. He has said he will veto it.

We’d like to remind him that a fellow Republican, state Sen. Chris Nybo of Elmhurst, worked with a Democrat, state Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park, to reach a compromise on the bill. They produced a bill that drew bipartisan support after Rauner vetoed a similar bill earlier this year. Democrats and Republicans came together to address the governor’s concerns. That’s the way the system is supposed to work.

Another Republican, Rep. Peter Breen of Lombard, voted for Nybo’s bill and worked with Democratic Rep. Kathleen Willis of Addison on another, the Firearms Restraining Order Act. It allows guns to be seized from people deemed dangers to themselves or others.

In July, Rauner signed that bill and one that requires a 72-hour waiting period for gun buys. Both bills passed with veto-proof majorities, which gave Rauner an extra incentive to sign on.

“This is exactly the direction we needed to move in,” Kathleen Sances, president and CEO of Gun Violence Prevention PAC in Arlington Heights, told us about the bipartisan efforts.

G-PAC doesn’t have a ton of money, but those Republicans need all the help they can get. All four men have “F” ratings from the NRA.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:10 am

Comments

In a “normal” year, yes this helps.. But if this is a blue wave, and DuPage R’s like Roskam and Hultgren get beat, Im not sure this helps..

Comment by Not Rich Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:17 am
If these candidate lose, this might end up being the last breath of the suburban moderate Republican.

There used to be quite a few Republicans who supported gun control measures in the Thompson-Edgar years, but they faded away as the party moved further right nationally. The Dems’ growth in the burbs has forced some GOP targets back to the middle on guns. If they survive this year, we might see more of them. If they fail, the shift-right will become permanent.

Comment by Roman Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 11:55 am
I’ve been reading this over and over since Rich posted it, trying to clarify in my own mind the comment that will clearly be taken and read, without ambiguity.

If the ILGOP, after Rauner, will be defined from now on as the Right-leaning, closed tent, purity of policy party that is only open to those who find reason to dismiss those tystcagree 80% of the time… then, not only do these candidates deserve to lose, the party after Rauner deserves to roll itself up to its own uniformity in a minority of governing.

I state, far too often others might say…

“Maureen Murphy - Mark Beaubien”

That’s not just a reminiscencing of a time long passed.

They were part of a House Majority. The 89th General Assembly.

The Bernie Pedersens and Rosemary Mulligans…

Two men, two women, both sides of the party.

What are we doing as a party when I see purity of thought being far greater than the 60/30 need, and seeing districts as unique to themselves, and require the Reagan Rule to win.

When Raunerism is vanquished, I’m looking forward to building… from the dirt… to build that coalition again.

I’ll be there. Will the ILGOP be there too?

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 12:10 pm
Jeanne Ives won DuPage County in the primary.
At some point you have to have a principled position on something? The Suburban GOP has moved to Equal Marriage acceptance. If you look some voted for the ERA, the TRUST Act, as well. Now figure they are also anti-gun maybe they should just be Democrats and finish the transition at this point?
If Jeanne’s army comes out against them on top of the blue wave, they are done no matter what they do.

Comment by Dupage Bard Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 12:44 pm
===in the primary===

This is a general election.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 12:54 pm
Just want to point out that Breen has had an 11th hour conversion. He previously had a 92 rating from the NRA, IIRC. What a coincidence that he got woke on this issue just a few short months before facing a Democratic opponent who has ALWAYS been in favor of commonsense gun regulation.

Comment by Soccermom Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Being an NRA 100 percenter works in a solid red district. But in suburban purple districts, it won’t help in the general elections. Who are the NRA guys going to vote for in Breen’s district? Not the Democrat?

Comment by anon2 Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 2:30 pm
==aimed at reducing gun violence==
That’s some funny stuff right there. Chicago has a people problem, not a gun problem.

Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 3:34 pm
There was a split in the 2A crowd this year. The ISRA and others negotiated, and supported two measures that the NRA did not (72 hour & Restraining Order). The problem for Breen and the Senators is they went beyond what was common ground and supported other bills (Dealer licensing and preemption bills) So now there are Mom’s groups openly opposing these legislators even though they voted with them and on the other end the Gun folks feel betrayed and many will stay home or pass over these races. Heck Nybo’s opponent is saying he is the darling of the NRA. He got played.

Comment by Nagidam Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 3:41 pm
**If Jeanne’s army comes out against them on top of the blue wave, they are done no matter what they do.**

Where are they going to go? Support the Dem?

Comment by SaulGoodman Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 6:34 pm
“There was a split in the 2A crowd this year.” There has not really been a “split” in the “2A crowd” for the past ten years, since Major John Birch folded up Concealed Carry, Inc. All the gun types are in bed with the police unions now, not just NRA.

“The ISRA…” As a former ISRA member, I’ve known Richard Pearson since at least 1999, and all he does is capitulate as his opening position, then lose. “…and others negotiated…” You are referring to Valinda Rowe and (southern) Illinois Carry. Saint Valinda let former NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde place Duty to Inform in Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill. The “2A crowd” in Illinois constantly backstab each other on bills.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 1, 18 @ 10:18 pm
“Let’s see, red districts in danger of turning blue, with solid gun ownership. ”

“Let’s turn our backs on the strong supporters and cater to those who won’t vote for us anyway. ”

That’s the Ryno recipe for failure. I hope they all lose, it’s what they deserve. And the horses they rode in on.

In the meantime, all this is over a bill specifically crafted to put 4 or 5 gunshops out of business. If it passes, and pass it will if Jabba gets in office,those 4 or 5 gunshops will be the last ones standing. All the small gunshops in the state will close, and will you ever see a voter revolt then.

and maybe a lawsuit or two. There will be a large unintended consequence to follow.

Comment by Duty to Complain Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 6:24 am
The far right conservative wing of the GOP are self rightous and totally intolerant of other view and they of do not care how far down they will sink numbers game. The standing by your principals is the “thing” that matters. This year will be bad but when the the house is 76-42 and the senate 40-19 in 2020 maybe whats left of the ILGOP will figure out that a lot of those that want to be with them left because of their extreme views on some social issues. Re-Map 2022 is going to be even uglier for Repubs if they dont figure it out. Time to back up the 2008 truckster and put the wheels back on the double wide.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 7:50 am
Yeah, go after the lawful gunowners and shops. That’s how the gangbangers get their guns:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/atf-guns-stolen-from-tennessee-found-outside-chicago/ar-BBNQFtn?ocid=ientp

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Oct 2, 18 @ 2:18 pm