Should gun control be more prominent an issue

[goju]

Do you think the campaign should talk more about gun control? The assault weapons ban is due to expire in 40 some days and many gun control groups are asking/wanting for more focus on this issue. Should the Kerry camp strengthen its message on gun control, keep it as is, or back off gun control?

[TexasProgresive]

1. It's a wedge issue and should be ignored if possible. n/t

[k in IA]

2. Agreed.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. I Agree To Agree With Your Agreement

Agreed?

[k in IA]

12. You better believe it, Dr Funky.

[democratreformed]

25. Agreed.

Stick to the less divisive issues.

[napi21]

3. NOOOOO!!

People get crazy about this issue, and almost nobody states the real facts. Let sleeping dogs lie.

[rhino47]

4. Noooooo !!

Cost gore wv in 2000.

[havocmom]

5. Do we want to win elections and save the nation or go down the tubes

because we don't learn from past experience?

I think we need to win elections. We will not do that by making gun control a big issue. Drop the subject and save the nation. There are bigger problems.

If the point is to save lives, ban cars. Cars kill and maim more and they make us dependent on oil which also costs lives.

[FloridaPat]

6. If the idiot gets back in the White House, we may all need guns

when the people start rioting becuase of the draft, unemployment, the tanking of the US economy and handing the entire federal budget over to Hallibuton.

[Cobalt Violet]

7. NO NO NO

Back off of gun control. We have lost enough rights lately.

[Redneck Socialist]

8. Nope

It's a loser issue for us. Let it fade as far into the background as possible.

[Zynx]

10. NO! If you want to kill our chances in the mid-South and Midwest, go ahead

[goju]

11. Not me, and for the record

I dont think we should either. I just wanted to get an idea where people were at on this issue.

[DaveSZ]

14. This election is too important

and the AWB undermines civil liberties anyways.

[wuushew]

13. No!!!! If Bush wins we will soon be at war with Syria or Iran

Advancing the most anti-war and pragmatic position in opposition to Bush is the most important issue ever. No other issue carries anywhere near the same weight.

[CaTeacher]

15. Good grief!

I believe that NO one should own a gun--EVER! Why does someone need a gun? To kill someone? Or just in case you want to kill someone? Look at the countries where there is complete gun control--they all have much fewer murders than here. And don't tell me you have to hunt, because not very many people have to kill their own dinner nowadays. Besides, killing animals is as barbaric as killing people--and it is just as wrong.

The issue of gun control is very important to people in urban areas, most of the victims of gun violence are African American. It is racist to ignore their plight. I cannot believe how many people at DU either--1) want to avoid anything that may be a wedge issue and 2) are gun nuts!

I cannot believe it! I am a McGovern Democrat! And proud of it! And--I think that Kerry shares my beliefs. After all--he was Dukakasis Lieutenant Governor and he campaigned for McGovern.

I hope and pray that President Kerry WILL take ALL guns out of private hands.

Peace.

[hansberrym]

19. JFK on the second amendment...

"By calling attention to 'a well regulated militia', the 'security' of the nation, and the right of each citizen 'to keep and bear arms', our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fears of governmental tyranny which gave rise to the Second Amendment will ever be a major danger to our nation, the Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason, I believe the Second Amendment will always be important."
-Senator John F. Kennedy, April 1960

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[Redneck Socialist]

24. Democrats will never win another national election again

"I hope and pray that President Kerry WILL take ALL guns out of private hands."

Democrats will never win another national election again and will permanently lose control of both the house and the senate if he were to try that.

[JayS]

27. If you want to see racism, take a gander at our old friend...

...WOD, formally known as the War On Drugs, and a close relative of the War On Terrorism. If you want to know where all the gun violence is happening, go to where the War On Drugs is being fought. You'll find they hang out together.

[FatSlob]

28. If you hope an pray that all guns are illegal.

Then you support, perhaps unintentionally, authoritarianism.

[Zynx]

31. Bad idea politically and bad policy-wise as well.

My family owns in excess of ten guns and we mainly go to the target range and hunt the rest of the time with them. 99.9% of gun owners have never harmed a human being with their guns.

[goju]

17. Iran first, then syria

[JI7]

16. is there something wrong with Kerry's record on gun control ?

i don't see what the problem is since it's pretty clear where he stands.

[goju]

18. Its not Kerry

Its the platform, and Im not sure there is a problem per se. Their is little lip service paid to gun control right now by the Kerry camp. I wondered if people were wanting more talk on that issue. '

Kerry is middle of the road on gun control. I dont like the AWB but I think like most people, I can live with it.

[JayS]

30. But is it clear where he stands? He has done some photo-ops...

...with guns, but that does not say much. He says he "believes" in the Second Amendment but makes such statements in the context of hunting, which has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. He uses "assault weapons" and machine guns in the same sentence; machine guns have been effectively banned since 1934. His voting record is consistently anti-gun. He did not support an immunity bill protecting manufacturers from the frivolous lawsuits that cost consumers more.

So what is his position?

[Cuban_Liberal]

20. If we want to LOSE, we should talk about it more.

This is a no-brainer, y'all. RUN, do not walk, as far and as fast as possible from gun control this year.

[goju]

21. kick

[Bowline]

23. Don't touch it with a 10-foot pole!

It's a HUGE wedge issue and we should let sleeping dogs lie.

[Comrade_Goldstein]

26. no

Gun control will only hurt Democrats this year in the swing states. We shouldn't campaign on guns being great, but if we want to win Ohio, West Virginia, and if we want a shot in southern states, we should put as little focus on guns as possible. There will be a better time to discus this issue, for now it should be the abysmal job market and the war.

[FatSlob]

29. Only if we want to lose.

Most gun control initiatives are idiotic. I support repealing some of our current laws.

[skygazer]

32. No

Back off - it's a wedge issue and there are plenty of Dems (like myself) that are against federal gun control laws. Should be left up to the states. The situation in Vermont can not be compared to that in Oakland, CA.