The Gun Vote and 2014: Will There Be an Electoral Price? 538

[Eleanors38]

3. The sad thing about this is Democrats had a shot at extended b.g. tests...

But the debate was dominated from the first by those who wanted to ban whole categories of guns & magazines, leaving any practical legislation in jeopardy. Even the patched-up legislation which did emerge was decried by the ACLU for how it was worded, and for (according to the ACLU) the danger it posed for government misuse.

Perhaps, the time for making any legislative changes is before a shooting tragedy, not during it. I suppose there were some who felt the need to "discharge" a powerful hatred and frustration. That kind of emotion must be controlled when hammering out even crappy legislation. I say this knowing that there will be some who will think me insensitive or uncaring. But addressing injustice and tragedy needs a lot more than personal feelings.