Baucus Explains Opposition To Background Checks: ‘Montana’

FILE - This Jan. 10, 2013 file photo shows U.S. Sen. Max Baucus addressing the Montana Legislature in Helena, Mont. Democrats who long ago embraced pro-gun politics to gain a foothold in Western and other gun-friendl... FILE - This Jan. 10, 2013 file photo shows U.S. Sen. Max Baucus addressing the Montana Legislature in Helena, Mont. Democrats who long ago embraced pro-gun politics to gain a foothold in Western and other gun-friendly states are facing constituents angry with Washington's renewed call for a ban on assault weapons _ and they are doing so very cautiously. In Montana, the Clinton-era assault weapon ban vote nearly sank U.S. Sen. Baucus in 1996 _ and with Baucus up for re-election in 2014, gun advocates want to make sure he remembers his vote for the ban. (AP Photo/The Independent Record, Dylan Brown, file) MORE LESS
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One of four red state Democrats to vote against a measure that would have expanded background checks for gun buyers, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) provided a pithy and geographical explanation for his opposition to the proposal that failed in the Senate on Wednesday.

“Montana,” Baucus said in explaining his vote, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Along with Baucus, Democratic Sens. Mark Begich (AK), Mark Pryor (AR) and Heidi Heitkamp (ND) also cast votes against the measure. In explaining his vote, Begich argued that it’s “dangerous to do any type of policy in an emotional moment.”

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