Zach Shrewsbury faces an improbable task to replace the conservative Democrat in the face of a Republican onslaught – but he won’t be put off

  • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Centrists have always lied about progressives being able to win in red states. The key in WV (and most red states) is a heavy emphasis on worker power and advancing organized labor.

    • blindbunny@lemmy.ml
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      8 months ago

      You forgot about gun rights. But nobody wants to talk about that… And I’ll get down voted for mentioning it.

      • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        They would need to take a Midwestern stance on firearms most likely. Tbh a socialist would likely fit the role nicely. As the saying goes, “you get your guns back when you move far enough left”

        • blindbunny@lemmy.ml
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          8 months ago

          May I ask you to expand on that? What stance do Midwesterners take on gun rights?

          Also, oddly I didn’t get downvoted.

          • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            The Midwest has a weird stance on guns in general. Even the most staunch liberals in the Midwest oppose “assault-style weapon” bans. The emphasis has been on raising the bar to ownership without heavy restrictions after reaching that bar.

            From my experience, there’s also a very healthy gun safety culture. I have some friends that are dumber than a box of rocks, and even they never touch their guns after any kind of drinking or drug use. The restrictions on using guns as a minor mixed with the very popular activity of hunting means anyone that has any genuine interest in guns has at least 5 years of training before they can even purchase a gun.

            • blindbunny@lemmy.ml
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              8 months ago

              I agree with all of this.

              To be clear though a minor has 5 years of training before they can purchase a firearm am I understanding that correctly?

              • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                It’s a bit of extrapolation, my bad. The Midwest (or at least my state) doesn’t allow anyone under the age of 12 to go hunting with a firearm. At the age of 12, the kid must graduate a 6 week state-ran hunting/firearm safety course. After that, they must be within a certain distance of a legal guardian at all times if the gun is loaded. Because of the instilled safety culture, safety is also enforced by the guardian. They can purchase a gun at age 18.

                • blindbunny@lemmy.ml
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                  8 months ago

                  These are extremely fair rules. I was much younger when I started shooting and I wish I was raised in a more safety oriented gun culture. Thanks for sharing this. May I ask what state this is? I’m assuming Michigan.

                  • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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                    8 months ago

                    Close, but no cigar! I live in Minnesota. From what I hear, our gun laws are very similar to Michigan. Iowa and Wisconsin aren’t as strict, but the safety culture seem to cross state lines from what I’ve seen

          • qprimed@lemmy.ml
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            8 months ago

            Also, oddly I didn’t get downvoted.

            its a legit question. I also want to see the the parent poster says, but I tend to agree

            socialist rifle association is a thing and I personally know strongly left of center peeps that are protective of their gun rights for all the obvious reasons you might care to think of. makes sense in many ways.

            • blindbunny@lemmy.ml
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              8 months ago

              I think I’m just used to the other site and getting down voted for any mention of gun rights support.

              I’m aware of SRA and dig what I’ve seen them do near Tucson. Maybe I should join.

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Centrists have always lied about progressives being able to win in red states.

      I hope he has direct funding from individual small donations. If he relies on party funding, they’ll yank the rug out from under him like they did with Vallejo and then gleefully announce that progressives can’t win.

      • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I hope he goes to the DSA for funding. They’re the best socialist org equipped to fund a campaign, CPUSA simply doesn’t have the money.