How much impact will guns play in this election?

[davsand]

What do you think? Will the gun issue have a big impact in this race?

Are Dean and Clark trending well because they are not seen as "anti-gun?"

Will the day of the southwest (So Carolina and six south and western states go the same day on Feb 3) go a specific way because of the issue of guns? How about Iowa or NH?

Where do all the candidates stand and what is your opinion on the impact that stance will have?


Laura

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. i don't believe its an issue

though Dean would be wise to make it one. He has some crossover potential on that issue. I don't hold out much hope for that crossover to happen though.

Personally, I think its a dead issue.

[davsand]

3. I don't know if it is a dead issue or not.

There was some criticism of Gore over his stance on guns, and I have seen speculation that it killed him with the voters in the south and west. I'm wondering if it really IS an issue out there.

Here in Illinois, I don't think it is as huge in the Dem party as it is in other states. I do know that downstate it has an impact on the folks in the middle of the spectrum--the Indys and the moderate Dems. Chicago is anti gun, typically, and downstate is pro-gun. Those moderate "in the middle" voters, are, however, the ones you need to win.

I'm thinking it might have an impact in the Primary but a much bigger impact in the General.

Anybody else?


Laura

[kcwayne]

2. The impact of guns could be enormous if the Republicans steal it again.

[davsand]

4. Well, yeah, there's that too!

I was thinking more along the lines of votes cast and candidate selection, but yeah, I see your point on it.

Will you be swayed by the opinion on gun controls expressed by a given candidate?

Laura

[kcwayne]

5. It is low on my priority list

Ever since that incident in Texas at the Luby's cafeteria, I have come to the conclusion that there is no leadership in this country that will act rationally on gun control. The incident I am referring to was when a guy drove his truck into the cafeteria, packing enough semi-automatic weapons and ammo to kill 1000 people. He proceeded to murder 40 people.

The very next day there happened to be a vote on gun control before Congress and they voted it down. At this point, one can only conclude that the only way the government will act to remove these weapons from public access is when the public uses them on Congress.

I put whatever a candidate says about gun control in the category of bilabial fricative (thanks George Carlin).

[arewethereyet]

6. 1st rule of gun safety, if you don't touch it it can't hurt you

not a bad stance to take politically either. anti gun hurts, always has always will. pro gun helps but polarizes, who needs the aggrivation ?