NRA-ILA FAX ALERT
(800) 392-8683 Fax: (703) 267-3918 groots@nra.org
Vol. 7, No.33 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 8/18/2000
DEMOCRAT CONVENTION CLOSES WITH LITTLE MENTION OF GUNS

      The Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles closed last night with Al Gore's acceptance speech for his party's presidential nomination. As candidate Gore attempted to paint a picture to the American public of what he would do if elected president, going into relative detail on most topics, the subject of "gun control" was very quickly glossed over.

      Gore's only comments on firearm-related issues were that he felt America needs mandatory background checks on gun purchases -- although the National Instant Check System has been law of the land since November of 1998 -- and mandatory "child safety locks" -- even though virtually every new handgun sold comes with a gun locking device. This is quite a departure for Gore, who seeks to further the record of the most anti-gun administration to ever occupy the White House.

      In the months preceding the convention, especially while campaigning in Democratic primaries against anti-gun former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), Gore outlined a platform that included

  • mandatory licensing and training schemes,
  • a ban on affordable handguns, and
  • assisting anti-gun big city mayors and greedy trial lawyers in their efforts to bankrupt lawful gun makers through reckless lawsuits.
     But Gore's avoidance of these topics in his speech, coupled with the fact that there was little mention of guns during the prime-time coverage slots on the major networks, could be an indication that Gore wants to avoid the gun issue on a national level. Perhaps Gore and his handlers realize that overtly attacking law-abiding gun owners is not a winning strategy, and Gore's anti-gun views are best kept as low key as possible.

      Poll after poll shows the majority of Americans support our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and only a handful of the more than 4,000 Democratic delegates in L.A. this week bothered to show up for a forum on Wednesday that was sponsored by Handgun Control, Inc.

=+=+=+=+
This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA.

This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org

NRA Home Page NRA Members' Councils of California