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Support For Gun Control A Winning Position In Key
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Support For Gun Control A Winning Position In Key Primary Races, New Report Shows
9/27/2002
Press Release
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
1023 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
www.gunfree.org
Contact:
Blaine Rummel
Phone: (202) 408-0061
Key Primary Races Show Gun Control Remains Overwhelmingly Popular, Gun Lobby's Endorsement Often Does Candidates More Harm Than Good
Washington, DC - Gun violence issues played a key role in influencing several of this year's most hotly contested primary elections, according to a new report issued today by the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. The nalysis identified trends in the 2002 primary season, some of which continue from the 2000 elections. They include:
Gun control remains popular among voters, particularly in suburban areas
Candidates who actively seek the NRA's endorsement and assistance do so at their own peril
The gun lobby continues to lose its most vocal supporters in Congress
The report analyzed five highly competitive primary elections in a geographically and politically diverse range of states. The races were selected based on their competitiveness and the fact that gun policies emerged as a central issue in the campaigns. In several cases, these contests were selected for special attention by both the National Rifle Association (NRA) and organizations working to prevent gun violence by strengthening gun control laws.
"The primary results demonstrate the growing importance of gun violence prevention to American voters today," said Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "As this report make clear, the deep pockets of the NRA lobby are more often a hindrance than a help to candidates pursuing elected office."
The report is available on-line at www.csgv.org. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence plans to release a second analysis of gun control issues following the November elections. Following is a brief synopsis of the report findings:
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania's Democratic gubernatorial primary, strong outreach by gun violence prevention groups played a central role, overcoming an NRA ad campaign and swinging the election to pro-gun control candidate Ed Rendell, who clashed frequently with his opponent, Auditor General Bob Casey Jr., over the issue.
An NRA-sponsored television ad campaign in support of Casey focused on rural western Pennsylvania, traditionally a stronghold of anti-gun control sentiment, while gun violence prevention organizations conducted an extensive voter outreach program in the Philadelphia suburbs, targeting suburban women who generally favor stronger gun violence prevention policies.
The efforts of the gun violence prevention movement mobilized voters far more effectively than the NRA's campaign. Outreach conducted by the gun control advocates led to strong voter turnout in suburban areas, where turnout reached 40%, while the NRA's efforts failed to drive voters to the polls in western Pennsylvania, where turnout was 30%. Ed Rendell won the nomination by 12 percentage points.
Illinois
In March, Rep. Rod Blagojevich won a three-way Democratic primary for the gubernatorial nomination. A strong supporter of sensible gun laws, Blagojevich promoted gun control throughout Illinois. Opponent Paul Vallas, however, softened his support for gun laws in the southern part of the state, prompting Blagojevich to charge "he's [Vallas] Charlton Heston in Southern Illinois. He's Sarah Brady in Chicago." Blagojevich won both southern Illinois and the election.
Maryland
In Maryland, a state with generally strong voter support for gun control, two Democratic candidates for the 8th Congressional District vied to demonstrate their strong gun control credentials. In a race with few issues differentiating the candidates, the support of gun violence prevention grassroots advocates was a key factor in the victory of State Senator Christopher Van Hollen Jr.
Both Van Hollen and State Delegate Mark Shriver called for strong gun control measures, but state gun control grassroots activists backed Van Hollen because of his more extensive legislative record on the issue. A strong push by these advocates on the final days of the campaign contributed to Van Hollen's victory in an election decided by less than 3,000 votes.
Michigan
In Michigan's 15th Congressional District, redistricting pitted two incumbents, Representative John Dingell and Representative Lynne Rivers, against one another in the Democratic primary. Aggressive campaigning by gun control advocates forced Dingell, one of the most powerful members of Congress, to support stronger gun control laws for the first time in his political career.
To deflect criticism of his gun voting record, Dingell downplayed his NRA support while sponsoring a bill in Congress to strengthen the background check system--a system that he had voted against establishing. By moderating his position on guns, Dingell was able to avoid defeat at the hands of Rivers, who had the backing of gun violence prevention advocates.
Georgia
Redistricted into a contest against fellow GOP Representative John Linder, Bob Barr hinged his re-election campaign on his NRA board member status. Barr hoped to win the hyped "gun vote" that, conventional wisdom held, would turn out in a Republican primary. Linder also consistently votes against gun safety issues, but did not campaign on his pro-NRA record as lamboyantly as Barr did.
Barr was endorsed by the organization, which coordinated an aggressive campaign on his behalf, including television ads and fundraisers. Despite the NRA's efforts, Rep. Linder won the election by a two-to-one margin.
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0,2061,554513,00.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
9/27/2002
Press Release
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
1023 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
www.gunfree.org
Contact:
Blaine Rummel
Phone: (202) 408-0061
Key Primary Races Show Gun Control Remains Overwhelmingly Popular, Gun Lobby's Endorsement Often Does Candidates More Harm Than Good
Washington, DC - Gun violence issues played a key role in influencing several of this year's most hotly contested primary elections, according to a new report issued today by the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. The nalysis identified trends in the 2002 primary season, some of which continue from the 2000 elections. They include:
Gun control remains popular among voters, particularly in suburban areas
Candidates who actively seek the NRA's endorsement and assistance do so at their own peril
The gun lobby continues to lose its most vocal supporters in Congress
The report analyzed five highly competitive primary elections in a geographically and politically diverse range of states. The races were selected based on their competitiveness and the fact that gun policies emerged as a central issue in the campaigns. In several cases, these contests were selected for special attention by both the National Rifle Association (NRA) and organizations working to prevent gun violence by strengthening gun control laws.
"The primary results demonstrate the growing importance of gun violence prevention to American voters today," said Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "As this report make clear, the deep pockets of the NRA lobby are more often a hindrance than a help to candidates pursuing elected office."
The report is available on-line at www.csgv.org. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence plans to release a second analysis of gun control issues following the November elections. Following is a brief synopsis of the report findings:
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania's Democratic gubernatorial primary, strong outreach by gun violence prevention groups played a central role, overcoming an NRA ad campaign and swinging the election to pro-gun control candidate Ed Rendell, who clashed frequently with his opponent, Auditor General Bob Casey Jr., over the issue.
An NRA-sponsored television ad campaign in support of Casey focused on rural western Pennsylvania, traditionally a stronghold of anti-gun control sentiment, while gun violence prevention organizations conducted an extensive voter outreach program in the Philadelphia suburbs, targeting suburban women who generally favor stronger gun violence prevention policies.
The efforts of the gun violence prevention movement mobilized voters far more effectively than the NRA's campaign. Outreach conducted by the gun control advocates led to strong voter turnout in suburban areas, where turnout reached 40%, while the NRA's efforts failed to drive voters to the polls in western Pennsylvania, where turnout was 30%. Ed Rendell won the nomination by 12 percentage points.
Illinois
In March, Rep. Rod Blagojevich won a three-way Democratic primary for the gubernatorial nomination. A strong supporter of sensible gun laws, Blagojevich promoted gun control throughout Illinois. Opponent Paul Vallas, however, softened his support for gun laws in the southern part of the state, prompting Blagojevich to charge "he's [Vallas] Charlton Heston in Southern Illinois. He's Sarah Brady in Chicago." Blagojevich won both southern Illinois and the election.
Maryland
In Maryland, a state with generally strong voter support for gun control, two Democratic candidates for the 8th Congressional District vied to demonstrate their strong gun control credentials. In a race with few issues differentiating the candidates, the support of gun violence prevention grassroots advocates was a key factor in the victory of State Senator Christopher Van Hollen Jr.
Both Van Hollen and State Delegate Mark Shriver called for strong gun control measures, but state gun control grassroots activists backed Van Hollen because of his more extensive legislative record on the issue. A strong push by these advocates on the final days of the campaign contributed to Van Hollen's victory in an election decided by less than 3,000 votes.
Michigan
In Michigan's 15th Congressional District, redistricting pitted two incumbents, Representative John Dingell and Representative Lynne Rivers, against one another in the Democratic primary. Aggressive campaigning by gun control advocates forced Dingell, one of the most powerful members of Congress, to support stronger gun control laws for the first time in his political career.
To deflect criticism of his gun voting record, Dingell downplayed his NRA support while sponsoring a bill in Congress to strengthen the background check system--a system that he had voted against establishing. By moderating his position on guns, Dingell was able to avoid defeat at the hands of Rivers, who had the backing of gun violence prevention advocates.
Georgia
Redistricted into a contest against fellow GOP Representative John Linder, Bob Barr hinged his re-election campaign on his NRA board member status. Barr hoped to win the hyped "gun vote" that, conventional wisdom held, would turn out in a Republican primary. Linder also consistently votes against gun safety issues, but did not campaign on his pro-NRA record as lamboyantly as Barr did.
Barr was endorsed by the organization, which coordinated an aggressive campaign on his behalf, including television ads and fundraisers. Despite the NRA's efforts, Rep. Linder won the election by a two-to-one margin.
http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0,2061,554513,00.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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