Gun Control and Virginia Democrats

By: Gustavus
Published On: 4/27/2007 10:09:57 AM

In light of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech it is depressing to me that none of Virginia's prominent Democrats have come out for any sort of restrictions on guns.  (If I have missed something, please let me know.)  They don't have to call for a total ban on guns, but it seems clear that some restrictions could save lives.  For example, according to an article in the April 26 Washington Post Cho "squeezed off more than 170 rounds" in about nine minutes.  So for nine minutes Cho fired about one shot every three seconds.  This can't be done with the kind of gun used for hunting, or for self-defense.  Why won't any of Virginia's leaders call for, at the least, restrictions on automatic weapons?  The response to Columbine and Virginia Tech by our leading Democrats like Webb seems to be no more than a shrug of the shoulders, and the thought that nothing can be done. 

 

Comments



See the New Yorker editorial in the Apr 30 issue (Quizzical - 4/27/2007 1:54:09 PM)
here:
http://www.newyorker...

Seems obvious to me that, after a decent interval for grieving, gun control has to be addressed in Virginia in some fashion.



I wouldn't know how to control it... (Detcord - 4/27/2007 9:03:59 PM)
...but a mandatory 90 day time-out after a tragedy should be put into place for study and review so that both sides of the issue aren't using public emotion to drive a point one way or the other.  Cooler heads always make better thoughtful long-term decisions. 


That's what Gov. Kaine said (Quizzical - 4/28/2007 12:56:35 AM)
Gov. Kaine said he didn't want to have an emotionally charged debate about gun control when people were still grieving.

Though I kind of suspect that he has his own political agenda planned out, and a big fight on gun control isn't on it.  And let's face it, gun control is a classic wedge issue that has hurt Democrats in elections. So why would he choose to have that on his plate in Virginia?

But the debate is going to happen at some point.  Hope somebody has some creative ideas on this issue.