Back to Rule By Poll!
NRA Caves?
From AP:
The Senate also agreed to a proposal by Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., to ban juvenile possession of semi-automatic weapons and high- capacity ammunition clips. That vote was 96-2.
The maneuvering came as some Republicans expressed concern about the outcome of a series of votes Wednesday relating to so-called private sales at gun shows. ``There was a realization that there was a loophole that had to be closed,'' said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Under the revised GOP proposal, Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, said all sales at gun shows would be subjected to the instant background checks.
Craig, a member of the National Rifle Association board of directors, said the organization had ``grudgingly'' agreed to the changes.
Craig described the changes as a ``clarification'' and an attempt to build on ``the accomplishments we had made'' on Wednesday.
Some Democrats offered a different description.
``He got caught weakening the gun laws. A lot of people here got sucked in and got upset,'' said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., referring to Republican senators.
McCain, in particular, underscored the shifting political dynamic on gun control following last month's fatal shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.
Several GOP sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said private polling in recent weeks has shown very strong support for gun control, even among potential voters in Republican presidential primaries. That is a marked shift from the past, in which base Republican voters were less supportive of gun control than the nation as a whole.
Clinton and other Democrats made it clear they intend to use the issue in the elections in 2000. Republicans countered that gun control policy had hurt Democrats in 1994, when it last was a key issue. But at the same time, GOP lawmakers worked to revise their position.
[This message has been edited by DHH (edited May 13, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by DHH (edited May 13, 1999).]