In response to the NSSF suit, the Clinton-Gore Administration has stated that, in effect, it will continue with its shameful strategy of politicizing tragedy. Cuomo stated he will use victims of violent crime as his initial shield, calling on child survivors of last year's horrific events at Columbine High, as well as this week's criminal attack outside the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., to appear as opening witnesses. The shooting at the National Zoo that resulted in the wounding of seven children once again opened the floodgates for anti-gun rhetoric long before any real facts about the crime were known. Al Gore took center stage, continuing to flaunt "gun control" as one of the most prominent planks in his presidential platform. At two Democratic fund-raising events on Monday, he announced the shooting to the audience, then claimed that all new handguns should have trigger-locking devices (even though virtually all currently do), gun buyers should be licensed and registered, and went on to demonize NRA, the Republican Party, and Texas Governor George Bush (R). Gore attacked Gov. Bush for signing a Right To Carry law. What any of these issues has to do with the tragedy at the Zoo is anyone's guess, especially considering Washington, D.C., already has the nation's most restrictive gun laws, which effectively prohibit the right to self defense. Even the anti-gun Denver Post derided Gore's "brazen and shallow political opportunism."Post accurately stated, "Youths who tote guns into public places aren't likely to be bothered by...whether they need to have a trigger lock on what likely is an illegally concealed weapon," and also called Gore's comments "trite sound bites from his campaign literature." But what can one expect, as Gore has learned from the master of politicizing tragedy, his current boss. Clinton, this time following Gore's lead, also exploited the event to renew his call for more "gun control," as did District Mayor Tony Williams (D) and District Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D).
But Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore (R), responding to Delegate Norton's allegation that D.C. criminals are somehow aided by Virginia's laws that focus on criminals rather than law-abiding gun owners, stated "I think that [the shooting] illustrates the frailty of her gun control idea.... We still live in a free country...and the idea that somehow gun control is going to be the answer...demonstrates foursquare that is not the answer." By the way, it should be noted, that, under current law, residents of the District are prohibited from purchasing a handgun anywhere in America, which, we point out to Del. Norton includes Virginia and Maryland.
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