She was a wishy washy woman to say the least. She made those comments in 1999 and has since then she endorsed North Carolinas law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons. (News & Observer, 11-20-01)
She has futher related the below lately. "Seven years after President Clinton and his allies outlawed so-called assault weapons, there appears to have been little effect on crime prevention or punishment. What is effective is the Instant Check system. We should stick with what works. We do not need new restrictions on those who already observe the thousands of gun laws on the books."
But what did her opponent support???? Dole has backed down on her statements and looked at the issue futher and changed her position. But I, like you, do wish the woman was not so flip/floppy, but at least she flopped the right dirrection. Personally I don't like to vote for a women in high positions for this very reason. (Yeah women, gripe all you like, I'm a pig). But I don't vote in that state and my armchair computer chat here carries little weight. Mrs. Dole was not who I would of chosen in the primaries, but the people did. She is the better still than the demorat nethertheless.
BTW. Looks like Bowles stands firmly in the gun control group. (source: http://www.ncrpa.org/pc402.htm ) ---National North Carolina rifle and pistol association.