Reply #144: From all I have read, Brown is anti-gun, unlike Hackett...

[benEzra]

Brown may be pro-hunting, but he is on record as supporting bans on nonhunting guns, rifles with protruding handgrips, over-10-round guns, etc. etc.

Gore and Kerry both ran on that plank (support hunting, ban nonhunting style rifles and shotguns), and Gore and Kerry both saw 50% of union members who voted in TN and WV pull the lever for W, IIRC. Gore and Edwards lost their own home states, and the gun issue was a big part of it.

There was a lot of cheering for Hackett on the gun forums I frequent, and even the gun-owning repubs were hopeful that Hackett would beat DeWine (who is much hated by gun owners for his attempts to ban nonhunting style guns). Most gunnies consider Brown and DeWine to be a wash on the gun issue, and some will likely stay home rather than vote for someone who would push for more bans.