[Kenton]

The president had better pay VERY close attention to what gun owners think. If Mr. Bush plays "Mr. Moderate" with this issue, then he will loose my vote in 2004. Period.

Bob Dole lost mine in '96 for supporting "Brady" and the "AW" ban. I voted my conscience for a third party candidate. What I got was four more years of Bill Clinton. Go figger...

[ought-six]

"I voted my conscience for a third party candidate. What I got was four more years of Bill Clinton."

I voted third-party in '96, as well. I like Bush, and I give him high marks on many things. However, I will be watching this debate closely. I think Bush's press staff's announcement that he would sign a renewal of the ban was one of two things: 1) testing the waters; (2) a gaffe made by an underling that would make Bush look bad if he had to come back and denounce the announcement. There is a third possibility, but I shudder to think he intended it: he really likes the ban and wants to make it permanent. If that's the case, then we have some real worries ahead of us as to the future of any of our freedoms. Bush has so much potential for being a truly great president, and a staunch defender of liberty. God, I hope political correctness does not blind him to his duty to preserve and protect and defend the constitution. As of now, I will certainly vote for him in 2004. However, I will wait to see what develops, and what other issues may come to the fore.