the not-so-sweet 16

In one of the United States' most lopsided gun votes in the nation's recent history, there was broad, bi-partisan support for a recent pro-gun bill in the Senate. 

Of the entire senate, a measly 16 Senators voted against Senator Vitter's legislation to prohibit the usage of taxpayer funds from the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to be used for the purpose of confiscating lawfully owned guns in the event of an emergency, such as what occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. 

They were all democrats: 

Akaka (D-HI)
Boxer (D-CA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Reed (D-RI)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)

Of all times to confiscate weapons, though they are all bad, the period directly after a disaster with widespread lawlessness when self-defense is most crucial, is most certainly one of the worst to choose.  These 16 democrats stuck with their anti-gun, anti-2nd amendment convictions and voted against this legislation. 

All OTHER 28 democrats in the senate, joined by every one of the 55 republicans voted for this common sense legislation. 

>>20

"I don't think they should be allowed to have guns as long as gays can't marry, but I guess their priorities are written in blood."

Xel, you are showing your lack of familiarity with American politics.  GWB and the republicans getting elected so soundly with majorities in all areas of government is gun owners' retribution against the pointless laws, general annoyance, and harassment committed on them by Bill Clinton and the democrats during his administration. 

Had Bill Clinton & the dems decided NOT to try and harass the nation's gun owners, the NRA wouldn't have handed over it's members' millions of votes to GWB and the republican party this last election. 

Take a look at this: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association#2000_Presidential_Election

"The NRA is sometimes said to be the most powerful single non-profit organization in the United States."

In my opinion, Bill Clinton and the democrats brought this unto themselves in voting for candidates both in the primaries, and in the final election who would piss off the gun rights folks & the NRA (not to mention all the other various gun rights groups), and thus set the stage for a HUGE republican victory in the following election, no matter HOW BAD the candidate was. 

They should have known that in pro-gun USA, this would mean political suicide, and the sacrifice of the next election, especially with the lack of popularity many of Clinton's gun laws had (EVEN WITH THE DEMOCRATS!), let alone with the gun lovers themselves...

Also to be noted:  The very democrat who was elected in the primaries to be running at the head of the dem ticket in that election vs Bush happened to be Al Gore... Clinton's runningmate and vice president throughout his just-ended administration.  It should also be noted that Gore has a horrible voting record on the 2nd amendment, as I'm sure you guessed, not to mention his annoying history with the Clinton administration.

Essentially, it was the Clintonians & dems who created the environment which then made it possible for such a sound republican victory the next several elections.  The loss of gay rights could thus be attributed to Clinton's harassment of gun owners.