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

[billh58]

281. First of all, yes

we are making progress on the issue of the NEED for gun control. The poll taken just before the Senate voted showed that 80% of Americans are in favor of some forms of gun control. That's a huge advance in American thinking and attitude. And yes, polls DO mean squat in the long run because they indicate that change is happening.

The indications are that we already have a "fair number" of gun owners on our side -- at least the Democratic and Liberal Independents. They may not agree with things like another AWB, but that's okay because at least they're indicating that they see a need to slow down the proliferation of high capacity firearms and appear to be warming to registration.

To answer your last question, gun control will be accomplished the same way Liberals and Democrats have always gotten things done: slow and steady. That's the way we have made gains in all areas of social advancement and public health over the years., and gun injuries and deaths ARE a public health issue.

Neither you, nor I, have all of the answers, and I for one don't even pretend to. I do not believe, however, that the NRA premise that ALL gun owners vote as a bloc holds very much water. Gun owners are basically no different from any other American, and have their own individual political philosophies. I also believe that money is not needed to defeat the NRA. This past election the right-wing threw enough money around to buy 10 elections, and they didn't succeed, because the American people are not stupid.