Democrats Obama, Clinton tred softly on gun control

[beevul]

Democrats Obama, Clinton tred softly on gun control
Silence on the issue has become the party's pattern

By DAVID LIGHTMAN
Mcclatchy-tribune

The Democratic presidential candidates' silence is part of a pattern. For years, the national party has downplayed its historic sympathy for gun control for fear that emphasizing it would be politically costly.

Democratic politicians are "nervous about the gun issue, so they stay away from it," said Paul Helmke, the president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Gun-rights advocates described the Democrats' dilemma in starker terms.

"The fact is that politicians have discovered there are 80 million law-abiding gun owners, and they're mad as all get out at politicians who want to take their guns away," said John Snyder, a spokesman for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5651756.html

A good and interesting article.

[SteinbachMB]

1. It's impossible

...to separate the "right of the people to keep and bear arms" from the 2nd amendment.(not a lawyer, just playing one on the net) If Obama starts talking about banning guns in some way, he's crazy. Republicans win the gun debate hands down. (pun intended)

[jody]

2. BO was board member of Joyce Foundation and considered accepting its presidency. VPC is funded by

Joyce and VPC wants to ban all handguns.

Republicans will have a field day with that fact even if SCOTUS, as expected, rules the 2nd does protect the individual RKBA for self-defense.

[WildeKurt]

3. Obama is very anti

While he's kept mum (and will probably continue to do so) on the topic. Past statements reveal his true feelings on the matter: All guns should be banned from private hands. Yes, he like many others in the Dem party like to pick and choose which rights are granted to us peons no part of the ruling elite. He and his ilk have driven me away from the Dems.

[krispos42]

4. For the record, only about 10% of Joyce's funding went to the VPC

I think it was about ten-and-a-half percent. And since they focus on urban issues, it's not surprising that soem of their money went to such activities.

[jody]

6. Whether Joyce spends 100% or .001% it is still pure anti-handgun. IMO that fact will hurt BO. n/t

[krispos42]

7. I know, I know

But I think he's smart enough to realize that gun laws should be done on a state level, and he's running for federal office, so he can detach from that by simply saying "Yes, I support strict handgun control, but that is an issue for the states, not the federal government" and leave it at that.

He's also probably banking on the SCOTUS ruling.

[jody]

8. As others have said, BO & HC should say they'll veto any bill that comes to them that infringes

upon a law-abiding citizen's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense and other legal purposes.

No apologies or excuses for past positions or actions, just say what they will do if elected.

[virginia mountainman]

5. Damn republicans, and their Democratic allies.

Imagine that...REPUBLICAN Paul Helmke, wondering why Democrats wont take up HIS, and (R) Sara Brady's pet issue.........