Reply #8: E J Dionne has written extensively in support of gun control

[rl6214]

I don't think he wants anything to do with "common sense" gun laws.

From the article:

"It was a bolder Obama who said in 2001: "I know that the NRA believes people should be unimpeded and unregulated on gun ownership. I disagree." Crisp, clear, and right.

"Assault weapons are not for hunting," Obama said in 2004. "They are the weapons of choice for gang-bangers, drug dealers and terrorists." Right again.

Yet in his op-ed, the president wrote: "Some will say that anything short of the most sweeping anti-gun legislation is a capitulation to the gun lobby. Others will predictably cast any discussion as the opening salvo in a wild-eyed scheme to take away everybody's guns."

The first statement is a wild distortion of the position of actual advocates of sane gun laws. They are not seeking "sweeping anti-gun legislation." They are pushing tame steps LaPierre and his lobbyists reject -- thorough background checks and a ban on those big magazines. Yes, restoring the highly effective ban on assault weapons would also be good. But that's Obama's own position. Isn't it?