The gun lobby’s big 2008 election losses should mean more gun-control legislation in Congress, editorializes the New York Times. “fter this year's election, those politicians should be far less afraid and far more willing to vote for sensible gun-control laws,” says the newspaper. Despite a harsh barrage from the National Rifle Association, Barack. Obama won states with heavy gun ownership, including Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
The Times notes that Obama long has backed the argument, disputed by the newspaper, that the Second Amendment bestows an individual right to bear arms unrelated to raising a militia. He also told the Democratic convention, “Don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.” The NRA endorsed many candidates who lost House races, as well as two major Senate contenders, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Bob Schaffer of Colorado.
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/02/opinion/02tue3.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1228242586