[Leroy S. Mort]

6 weeks old, but I don't see it posted here and it's relevant to some other discussions going on currently plus Dem strategy in '04.

It also found that a plurality of gun owners define themselves as moderates and will flock to Democratic candidates with a moderate gun position.

Agree? Or Disagree?

[goldstategop]

It hasn't hurt pro-gun Democrats from states with hunters and farmers. The rest of the Democrats are slowly waking up to the reality bashing gun owners costs them more votes than it wins for them. Evan Bayh, Mark Pryor, and Mark Warner are living proof being pro Second Amendment can make a difference for Democrats in Red states.

[Sir Gawain]

Dems principles on the 2nd Amendment are driven by polls. How can you so easily change a belief, whether right or wrong? "I was anti-gun last year, but this year I support gun owners." Riiiight.

[Bob]

"If we appear to be hostile to individuals of faith, hostile to those who own guns, indifferent to the concerns of traditional families and weak on national security issues, that is not a winning prescription for the Democratic Party."

Note: It's OK to actually be hostile, indifferent, and weak. Just don't appear to be all those things. Typical of RATs.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I think lil' Tommy Daschle's "awakening" to the rights of guns owners coincides with the fact that he's likely in the fight of his political life next year in South Dakota.

[Bob]

"It's time to scrap the term 'gun control' altogether.

Yes, by all means, scrap it. People have figured out that it really means 'people control'.

The interest groups have quietly banned the term; so should Democrats.

Right, just give it a different name and you can still accomplish the same objectives.

'Gun safety' is a more accurate term...

No, it's just a more palatable term to most people.

[Wonder Warthog]

"It's time to scrap the term 'gun control' altogether. The interest groups have quietly banned the term; so should Democrats. 'Gun safety' is a more accurate term to describe measures like mandatory safety locks, closing the gun-show loophole, and better enforcement of existing gun laws."

Ah, yes---change the language, but not the actions. I seem to recall a similar tactic when the news media stopped calling abortion supporters "pro-choice" instead of "pro-abortion". The REAL intent is "gun elimination"---ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME.

[HHFi]

The Second Amendment doesn't have squat to do with target shooting and duck hunting. It's there to insure the citizenry is never disarmed so they're at a disadvantage to a tyrannical government. That's how I can always spot an anti-gun liberal pretending to be pro-gun rights: all he ever talks about is target shooting and duck hunting. I would never shoot a duck because I doubt one would ever break into my house.

Also, the idea of mandatory safety locks is as stupid as the advice that you keep your gun in one safe and your ammo in another. If you're ever the victim of a home invasion burglary, your whole family will be dead before you get halfway through unlocking safe #1. But that's okay: in liberalthink, you may be dead, but you're safer, because you couldn't get your hands on a gun too quickly. I live in a high crime neighborhood where the police are basically useless and uninterested in doing their job, and my gun is kept loaded and handy at all times. Of course, we have no kids in the house, but if we did, I'd do what my father did with me: teach me from the time I could walk that a gun is not a toy and is never to be pointed at anything you are not willing to kill, if necessary.

[caltrop]

Agree. Unfortunately for the Democrats, most gun owners don't find political deathbed conversions credible. The Democrats will find it's a non-issue for them when they begin to successfully repeal some of the laws already on the books. Until they do, most gun owners will be leery of voting for Democrats.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang