A political theme being advanced by “progressives,” that pro-gun support is going to cost politicians their seats, got a harsh reality check Tuesday when Republican Samuel Belsito captured the Conncecticut State Legislature’s 53rd House District. The special election, held to replace Democrat representative Bryan Hurlburt, who resigned to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, marks the first time a Republican has won the district in 40 years, The Journal Inquirer reported.
For those gauging the impact of the gun issue, Belsito “said he would have voted against the recent gun control legislation.” Importantly, his opponent, Democrat Anthony Horn, felt the same way.
"I would have voted 'no','' Horn told the Hartfrod Courant, adding "Even though they say it is just registration, I don't think that's the end of it.
"Every day I was out knocking on doors, I would get at least one person who was really ticked off about the gun bill, he recalled. “There were an awful lot of people, including Democrats, who are really ticked off about the gun bill -- and the budget.''
That is significant, particularly in Connecticut, where draconian measures were enacted in the wake of Newtown, and where Democrat Gov. Dannell P. Malloy has made “gun control” a defining platform of his administration, one he’s been vocal about extending to the national level. Yet Belsito and Horn were competing for the gun owner vote, not for the citizen disarmament faction.