Bernie Sanders’ Defense of His Pro-Gun, Pro-NRA Votes Was Absolutely Terrible

[riversedge]

Seven Acts of Mercy Retweeted
Slate ‏@Slate 4m4 minutes ago

Bernie Sanders’ defense of his pro-NRA votes was absolutely terrible. http://slate.me/1LaJ2pV #DemDebate

By Mark Joseph Stern

Bernie Sanders’ response to a question about his record on guns was awful.



Although Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has positioned himself as a more liberal alternative to Hillary Clinton, he stands on the conservative side of one key issue: gun control. In 2005, Sanders voted for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a terrible law that shields gun sellers and manufacturers from legal liability in most lawsuits. Before the PLCAA, many states allowed victims of gun violence to sue gun sellers who negligently entrusted potentially dangerous individuals with firearms and ammunition. The law effectively nullified the majority of these state protections. Clinton voted against it. Sanders has continued to defend it.

Given this stark distinction, you might expect Sanders to prepare a strong defense when questioned about his record on guns. Instead, when the topic arose during Tuesday’s Las Vegas debate, Sanders fumbled, raising his typical retort that he represents a gun-friendly state but supports gun control elsewhere.



This answer is pretty much the worst one Sanders could possibly provide. By alleging that urban areas need stricter gun laws than rural ones, the senator adds an awkward racial undertone to the gun debate. Vermont—which, Sanders claims, can handle loose gun restrictions—is 1 percent black. ....................

What’s worse, Sanders’ defense of his pro-gun votes doesn’t actually make any sense. The PLCAA did not only protect gun sellers in Vermont. It protected gun sellers in every state in America. Thanks to the PLCAA, it doesn’t matter whether a gun store negligently sells 4,000 rounds of ammunition to a lunatic in Vermont or Maryland. The store is protected from a lawsuit thanks to the law Sanders still supports.

Sensing Sanders’ weakness on guns, Martin O’Malley dove into a horror story out of Colorado,....................

[djean111]

1. Still, IMO, the vastly superior candidate. There is no other candidate I would support.

Hillary is all for guns - in other countries, aimed at other people.
O'Malley's record on Baltimore policing - dreadful.

And, I am happy to say, I have taken that "don't be a purist" thing to heart.

[JaneyVee]

3. Bernie came out in favor of war, drones, and guns.

[djean111]

5. I believe Hillary would be the most hawkish of the candidates.

For me (and my family) case closed.

[aikoaiko]

2. So says the guy who published "Bernie Sanders, Gun Nut"

Really, 4000 rounds is a problem? I've bought 5000 rounds of ammunition when it was on sale. How far should the store have delved into my mental health records to determine if that sale would be good or bad?

[JaneyVee]

4. It was atrocious. Especially...

His rural vs urban comments a week after a mass shooting in rural Oregon. And he keeps equating it strictly to mental health, a rightwing NRA talking point.