Democratic candidates back off gun control

Times Record News ^ | 02/02/04 | LANCE GAY

[m1-lightning]

Four years after adopting a platform demanding a government crackdown on guns, Democratic presidential candidates this year are back peddling from a decade of party support for federal regulation of firearms.

John Kerry, frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, repeatedly notes in his speeches that he is a hunter, and Wesley Clark says that he has "20-some odd guns in the house." Howard Dean suggests gun laws should be left to states to decide, and Joseph Lieberman has repudiated a 2000 campaign pledge by his running mate Al Gore to license anyone buying a gun.

These views represent a shift in views in the Democratic Party, which over the last decade has pushed tough gun control proposals in Congress. The party's 2000 platform backed mandatory child safety locks for all guns and background checks for all purchases; mandatory gun safety courses for gun-purchasers; and funding for 10,000 prosecutors in states and communities "to fight gun crime."

---snip---

CANDIDATE POSITIONS:

George Bush promised in the 2000 elections he would not push for any new gun legislation - and he hasn't.

John Kerry has voted for background checks at gun shows and wants gun companies to make "smart guns" with computer chips that prevent their use by unauthorized people. "I believe it is important for us to have somebody who is going to stand up for gun safety in America and make certain that we make our streets safe, our children safe, and not allow people to get assault weapons in America."

Howard Dean says populous states like New Jersey and California that want tougher gun laws should adopt them, but leave rural states like Montana and Vermont to follow their own policies. Vermont has few gun restrictions other than those imposed by federal law. Dean said he supports existing federal laws. "Hunters don't need AK-47s to shoot deer," he said.

John Edwards, who grew up in the rural South, says he wants to close the gun show loophole and favors trigger locks to prevent children from using guns. Edwards says he understands how the issue strikes a discordant theme in rural areas. "Guns are about independence. They don't want people messing with that," he says.

Wesley Clark says he likes to hunt and is familiar with guns. "I have grown up with guns all my life, but people who like assault weapons should join the United States Army - we have them." He supports background checks for all gun purchases and backs a ban on assault weapons.

Joseph Lieberman opposes licensing for gun owners, although that was part of the program Al Gore endorsed in the 2000 presidential election, when Lieberman was the vice presidential nominee. "Licensing, registration, in my opinion, are bad ideas" and violations of the basic rights of Americans to own guns, he says. As a senator, Lieberman represents Connecticut where many gun manufacturers are located.

Al Sharpton, once a stabbing victim, supports tough gun control to curb crime. "We must do whatever we can to regulate how guns have been used."

Dennis Kucinich supports instant background checks for anyone buying a gun.

[m1-lightning]

I take it the Democrats are desperate for the centrist voters on at least one issue?

[Hank Rearden]

We'll see. I'm betting Bush pushes, then signs a renewal of the AWB. He's done stuff just as crazy the last couple of years.

[scooter2]

A wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf.

[Mini-14]

Wesley Clark has publicly stated that he is opposed to CCW, because "only police should have guns".

[45Auto]

RAT-bastards, being inherent and pathological liars, are not to be believed on this or any other issue of importance to real conservatives. If any one of them won the White House, it would be about 5 minutes until he was on the phone to the Brady Boob and company asking where the new gun prohibition bill was.

[45Auto]

RAT-bastards, being inherent and pathological liars, are not to be believed on this or any other issue of importance to real conservatives. If any one of them won the White House, it would be about 5 minutes until he was on the phone to the Brady Boob and company asking where the new gun prohibition bill was.

[LaraCroft]

Right, and only the army should have assault weapons.

What a fu... moron. Do you think he has the reading comprehension to know about you know, the 2nd Amendment?

[m1-lightning]

I thought the AWB had already sunset...

[Darksheare]

They are extremely desperate.

[theDentist]

I'm sure they support ownership. After all, they claim to be Pro-Life privately, yet not want to "stand in the way for a woman's right to choose".

[EllaMinnow]

Wesley Clark has publicly stated that he is opposed to CCW, because "only police should have guns".

I'm surprised Wesley thinks that EVEN the police should have guns.

[Hank Rearden]

I thought the AWB had already sunset...

Nope. Scheduled to expire this fall, though. I believe Bush Jr. has indicated he'll sign a renewal if Congress is stupid enough to pass one.

At that point, he'll not only lose the election; he'll be beaten like a rented mule.

[oyez]

If ALgore had of pledged support of the 2nd Amendment back in 2000 he would be president today.

[m1-lightning]

Naymind, "The provisions of this Act are scheduled to terminate in September 2004."

[Gritty]

"...people who like assault weapons should join the United States Army" - Wesley Clark

"Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA - ordinary citizens don't need guns, as their having guns doesn't serve the State." - Heinrich Himmler 1937

[m1-lightning]

Didn't Gore used to be an NRA spokesperson? I find that funny he turned his back on gun owners and then lost the election. The Dems lost major seats in Congress after they passed the AW Ban in '94. How many times does a Democrat have to burn himself before he realizes liberalism is too hot to keep in tough with.

[Nick Danger]

Uh-oh. This is a bad thing, because it means that the Democrats have finallly figured out that the views expressed by the Washington Post may not reflect the opinion of persons outside the Beltway.

What's even worse, they are awakening from that delusion at the same time that Republicans are slipping into it.

[Blood of Tyrants]

If he does, stick a fork in him, he's done. That is my line in the sand. I won't vote Rat, but I won't vote for someone who has betrayed me time after time, either.

[newgeezer]

Dennis Kucinich supports instant background checks for anyone buying a gun.

Say, that's a great idea. I wonder how he's going to get street thugs to sign up for it.

[newgeezer]

bang