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After Years of Setbacks, Democrats Again See Gun Control as a Winning Issue After Years of Setbacks, Democrats Again See Gun Control as a Winning Issue
(about 17 hours later)
PHILADELPHIA — After treating gun control as political poison for two decades, Democrats led by Hillary Clinton are again vigorously championing new gun restrictions as a central element of their campaigns. PHILADELPHIA — Follow along with our coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
After treating gun control as political poison for two decades, Democrats led by Hillary Clinton are again vigorously championing new gun restrictions as a central element of their campaigns.
It is a pronounced shift. Stung by the loss of the House in 1994 after they enacted an assault rifle ban, and wary of the proven influence of the National Rifle Association, many Democrats have shied away from gun control proposals for fear of provoking an electoral backlash with little to show for it. Democrats couldn’t race away from a discussion of gun laws fast enough.It is a pronounced shift. Stung by the loss of the House in 1994 after they enacted an assault rifle ban, and wary of the proven influence of the National Rifle Association, many Democrats have shied away from gun control proposals for fear of provoking an electoral backlash with little to show for it. Democrats couldn’t race away from a discussion of gun laws fast enough.
But a string of mass shootings involving high-powered weapons, rising anxiety about domestic terrorism, and killings of and by police officers have emboldened Democrats. They say the shootings are intensifying support for gun control, elevating weapons policy to a top-tier issue, with particularly strong appeal to suburban female voters.But a string of mass shootings involving high-powered weapons, rising anxiety about domestic terrorism, and killings of and by police officers have emboldened Democrats. They say the shootings are intensifying support for gun control, elevating weapons policy to a top-tier issue, with particularly strong appeal to suburban female voters.
Citing polls showing strong support for new restrictions even among gun owners, gun control advocates believe the public is open to expanded background checks, new limits on gun purchases and more scrutiny of gun manufacturers and dealers. They intend to enthusiastically press the case in races across the country.Citing polls showing strong support for new restrictions even among gun owners, gun control advocates believe the public is open to expanded background checks, new limits on gun purchases and more scrutiny of gun manufacturers and dealers. They intend to enthusiastically press the case in races across the country.
“For the first time, this is a winning issue in the general election,” said Senator Christopher S. Murphy, the Connecticut Democrat who has become a leading proponent of gun control since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in his state in 2012.“For the first time, this is a winning issue in the general election,” said Senator Christopher S. Murphy, the Connecticut Democrat who has become a leading proponent of gun control since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in his state in 2012.
Mrs. Clinton is expected to identify stiffer gun control laws as a priority in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, setting up a clear contrast with Donald J. Trump, who frequently notes his N.R.A. endorsement.Mrs. Clinton is expected to identify stiffer gun control laws as a priority in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, setting up a clear contrast with Donald J. Trump, who frequently notes his N.R.A. endorsement.
A top N.R.A. official was given a prime speaking slot at the Republican convention last week, a sign of the ties between Mr. Trump and the organization.A top N.R.A. official was given a prime speaking slot at the Republican convention last week, a sign of the ties between Mr. Trump and the organization.
A bloc of Democratic convention time Wednesday night was set aside specifically to highlight gun issues, with emotional appearances by survivors and relatives of those killed in the mass shootings at the Connecticut elementary school, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C.A bloc of Democratic convention time Wednesday night was set aside specifically to highlight gun issues, with emotional appearances by survivors and relatives of those killed in the mass shootings at the Connecticut elementary school, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C.
“I think the American public is at the point where they’ve seen enough,” said Maura Healey, the attorney general of Massachusetts, who last week moved to expand her state’s ban on the sale of assault-style weapons.“I think the American public is at the point where they’ve seen enough,” said Maura Healey, the attorney general of Massachusetts, who last week moved to expand her state’s ban on the sale of assault-style weapons.
Ms. Healey spoke at a session organized by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded as a counter to the N.R.A. by Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly. She is the former Arizona congresswoman grievously wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt that killed six others. The group has had a big presence at the convention, with a rally and other events.Ms. Healey spoke at a session organized by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded as a counter to the N.R.A. by Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly. She is the former Arizona congresswoman grievously wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt that killed six others. The group has had a big presence at the convention, with a rally and other events.
Ms. Giffords took the stage on Tuesday night at a private concert featuring the rock group Drive-By Truckers, which included a song about a 2015 mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon on its latest album, to urge those attending to rally behind stronger gun control.Ms. Giffords took the stage on Tuesday night at a private concert featuring the rock group Drive-By Truckers, which included a song about a 2015 mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon on its latest album, to urge those attending to rally behind stronger gun control.
“Stopping gun violence takes great courage,” Ms. Giffords, who still struggles with speaking because of her injuries, told the admiring crowd. “Fight, fight, fight. The nation’s counting on you.”“Stopping gun violence takes great courage,” Ms. Giffords, who still struggles with speaking because of her injuries, told the admiring crowd. “Fight, fight, fight. The nation’s counting on you.”
Her group has criticized Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, one of the most endangered Republicans on the ballot this year, for opposing expanded background checks. Gun control is likely to be a line of attack in many other Senate and House races.Her group has criticized Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, one of the most endangered Republicans on the ballot this year, for opposing expanded background checks. Gun control is likely to be a line of attack in many other Senate and House races.
The renewed Democratic focus on gun control has not escaped the notice of the N.R.A. The organization is taking it seriously given the significant money behind it from the Giffords group as well as from former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, a billionaire who funds gun control advocacy through the organization Everytown for Gun Safety.The renewed Democratic focus on gun control has not escaped the notice of the N.R.A. The organization is taking it seriously given the significant money behind it from the Giffords group as well as from former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, a billionaire who funds gun control advocacy through the organization Everytown for Gun Safety.
An N.R.A. spokeswoman, Jennifer Baker, said the American public would ultimately reject added gun control because Democrats, while cloaking their gun agenda in the language of “common sense,” really want to go much further.An N.R.A. spokeswoman, Jennifer Baker, said the American public would ultimately reject added gun control because Democrats, while cloaking their gun agenda in the language of “common sense,” really want to go much further.
“The political elites and D.C. politicians don’t understand Middle America,” she said. “They don’t understand that voters support the Second Amendment and the individual right to self-protection.”“The political elites and D.C. politicians don’t understand Middle America,” she said. “They don’t understand that voters support the Second Amendment and the individual right to self-protection.”
The NRA says that it will on Thursday, in a move timed to Mrs. Clinton’s speech, begin running a new ad that says she would put an individual’s right to self-defense at risk.The NRA says that it will on Thursday, in a move timed to Mrs. Clinton’s speech, begin running a new ad that says she would put an individual’s right to self-defense at risk.
Mrs. Clinton’s advocacy of stronger gun restrictions was viewed skeptically by some during the Democratic primary campaign because it was one issue where she could get to the left of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had opposed some gun control measures as a member of the House. Conversely, in her 2008 primary campaign against Barack Obama, she tried to appeal to gun owners and raised suggestions that he was not as committed to gun rights as she was.Mrs. Clinton’s advocacy of stronger gun restrictions was viewed skeptically by some during the Democratic primary campaign because it was one issue where she could get to the left of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had opposed some gun control measures as a member of the House. Conversely, in her 2008 primary campaign against Barack Obama, she tried to appeal to gun owners and raised suggestions that he was not as committed to gun rights as she was.
Mr. Murphy and other gun control advocates say Mrs. Clinton is firmly committed to making gun control a major theme of her campaign, providing a mandate to act on the issue should she prevail in November.Mr. Murphy and other gun control advocates say Mrs. Clinton is firmly committed to making gun control a major theme of her campaign, providing a mandate to act on the issue should she prevail in November.
“This issue is a core value for Hillary Clinton and it is good politics,” Mr. Murphy said.“This issue is a core value for Hillary Clinton and it is good politics,” Mr. Murphy said.
Her choice of running mate, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, reinforced the perception that gun safety was going to be a mainstay of the campaign. Mr. Kaine, the former governor of the state, is a longtime advocate of stricter gun laws who moved to bar the mentally ill from acquiring guns after the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech.Her choice of running mate, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, reinforced the perception that gun safety was going to be a mainstay of the campaign. Mr. Kaine, the former governor of the state, is a longtime advocate of stricter gun laws who moved to bar the mentally ill from acquiring guns after the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech.
Virginia figures into the rising Democratic call on guns in another way. Democrats and analysts say they first began to realize the atmosphere had changed when the longtime Clinton ally Terry McAuliffe was elected governor while pushing new gun controls. His campaign manager in that successful run was Robby Mook, now the manager of Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign.Virginia figures into the rising Democratic call on guns in another way. Democrats and analysts say they first began to realize the atmosphere had changed when the longtime Clinton ally Terry McAuliffe was elected governor while pushing new gun controls. His campaign manager in that successful run was Robby Mook, now the manager of Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Given deep Republican resistance in Congress, major changes in gun laws anytime soon seem unlikely. But the convention is demonstrating that Democrats have recovered their voice on the issue.Given deep Republican resistance in Congress, major changes in gun laws anytime soon seem unlikely. But the convention is demonstrating that Democrats have recovered their voice on the issue.