Gun control off menu at campaign fundraisers
Jul 24, 2012, 5:49 AM | Updated: 7:32 am
There have been plenty of renewed calls for new gun
control measures in the wake of last week’s Colorado
theater massacre. But as President Obama comes to Seattle
for another round of fundraising dinners, both
presidential candidates are doing their best to keep gun
control off the menu.
“It’s off the table because Republicans have convinced the
Democrats they don’t dare put it on the table,” said Seattle’s Morning News host Tom
Tangney, in a discussion on 97.3 KIRO FM.
Tangney says support for gun control has continued to
decline, and many lawmakers are fearful of being targeted
by the NRA and its backers. He points to the defeat of
numerous candidates who supported an assault rifle ban in
1994. “It’s like a third rail in politics right now.”
In statements to the press as the President traveled to
the West Coast for his latest fundraising swing, White
House press secretary Jay Carney made clear Obama won’t be
pushing to reinstate the ban, which expired in 2004.
“The President is focused on doing the things that we can
do that protect second amendment rights, which he thinks
is important, but also to make it harder for individuals
who should not, under existing law, have weapons to obtain
them,” Carney said.
Seattle Morning News co-host Bill
Radke argued the issue is a loser for Obama, who is doing
all he can to keep from energizing Mitt Romney’s
supporters.
“The last thing he needs is for them to think Romney is
the guy on their side,” says Radke. “So he paints Romney
as being this out of touch elitist.”
And Radke says Romney faces a similar challenge.
“The last thing he wants is for people to be reminded as a
moderate Massachusetts governor he signed an assault
weapons ban, therefore you don’t hear a whisper.”
Romney has continued to express his opposition to gun
control when asked, saying CNBC in an interview, “I still
believe that the second amendment is the right course to
preserve and defend and don’t believe new laws are going
to make a difference in this type of tragedy.”
But given the challenge both candidates face in attracting
independent voters, the consensus is both candidates will
steer as clear from gun control as possible.
