AP: 977d2996-3b01-40e1-8ff3-ff416e71e6b0
President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, left, hugs eight-year-old letter writer Grant Fritz during a news conference on proposals to reduce gun violence, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Gun lobby has leg up in the gun control debate, according to Washington congressman

BY Alyssa Kleven  on January 17, 2013 @ 8:05 am (Updated: 10:42 am - 1/17/13 )

Following Wednesday's announcement from President Barack Obama, Washington state Rep. Adam Smith says it's time for people not in the gun lobby to step up and make a stronger case.

"There is no question that in terms of where the debate is at, the gun lobby has the advantage. Given the case they've made over the last decade. If we want to change that, we've got to start making a stronger case than the other side and I think that's what's happening."

Smith told Seattle's Morning News that even though he disagrees with some pro-gun activists, "They're not some entity from another planet. They have members who are constituents who express their views on a wide variety of issues, and it's hard to blame them for that they believe what they believe."

Smith said looking at polling data he's seeing a wide variety supporting some sort of gun control.

And the intensity of the President's message and campaign on gun control matter, according to Smith.

"Intensity matters. The NRA supporters - they vote on this issue. People who support gun control tend not to."

Legislatively, Smith said he thinks the debate will only heat up, and he thinks it will be tough to agree on further action.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    President Obama
    January 17, 2013 10:30 am
    Has pulled "Heartstrings" by using children as props....NOT..President Obama is being compared to "other" infamous dictators and their propaganda machines.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    I resist directly comparing Obama to other infamous world leaders in history.
    January 17, 2013 10:38 am
    Taking away the rights of the citizens to posses firearms is what they did. I believe that Obama intends to live up to every past Liberal in the White House has failed to do. Severely limit and/or abolish the second amendment.

    If Obama can gut the second amendment, then no other amendment on the bill of right or any part of our US Constitution is out of the Dear Leaders reach!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }