It's very simple: If you want new gun control laws, you need the cooperation of legal gun owners.

[billh58]

279. I agree with some of what you

say, and it is both expected and reasonable that I disagree with other parts of your stance. I do not agree with your (and the NRA's) premise, however, that ALL gun owners vote as a bloc. They are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, and the occasional Communist, and they all have different political philosophies. I tend to expect that the Democrats and Independents will be amenable to some forms of gun control, while Republicans and Libertarians will take the "cold dead hands" position.

The Democratic Party, the Brady Group, and MAIG all agree that Americans have a Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. They also agree that the Second Amendment does not enumerate an absolute right, and can and should be regulated for the general welfare of the entire US citizenry. The legitimate arguments center around registration, and its costs (Hawaii does not charge for registration), concealed carry (only allowed in Hawaii under extraordinary circumstances), and permitting (who, where, when).

Like all controversial issues, it will be difficult to reach a consensus across Party lines, but I don't believe that being a gun owner, or a non-owner, will play a significant role in the process -- except for the NRA and its die hard "preppers." They will not give in, or up, easily and will attempt to buy votes to further their own profit-motivated interests.