by Joseph P. Tartaro
Executive Editor
"We must help protect our children in our schools and streets, and by finally and strictly enforcing our nation's gun laws."
That sentence of 21 words was the only reference to guns in the entire acceptance speech of Texas Gov. George W. Bush at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia on Aug. 3. There was no mention of guns whatsoever in the acceptance speech of Bush's running mate, former congressman and former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney the previous night.
The 10 words that spelled out Bush's plan to seriously enforce existing laws seem designed to appeal to the vast majority of potential voters who have told pollsters they favor enforcement over enactment of new laws.
Of course, the Bush campaign (www.georgewbush.com) and the GOP platform provide more specifics on how the Bush-Cheney team would handle the gun issue if elected in November.
That has to be contrasted with what Vice President Al Gore and his Democratic ticket-mate, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, will be saying at their party's national convention in Los Angeles, Aug. 14-17. If additional indicators of how a Gore-Lieberman White House would handle the gun issue is needed, they will be found in Gore speeches and on his website (www.algore.com).
Anti-Gun Democrats
And if recent Democrat conventions are any indicator, the gun policy positions of that party's candidates will be highlighted by the convention appearances-if not speeches-of James and Sarah Brady of Handgun Control Inc. and other notable anti-gunners, including Bill Clinton. The President is scheduled to speak at the opening night of the convention, as will his wife, a candidate for the US Senate in New York. (At this writing, Hillary Clinton faces at least one challenger, possibly more, in the September Democratic state primary.)
Bush's selection of Cheney has helped to highlight the gun issue for this presidential campaign. As soon as his choice was announced, Cheney's pro-gun voting record became the subject of endless media comment. Sarah Brady and friends immediately resurrected the "cop-killer bullet" and "plastic gun" issues. Cheney was one of four congressmen who voted against a "plastic gun" ban and one of 21 who voted against the ammunition ban.
According to David Kopel of the Independence Institute, "Al Gore's surrogates would have you believe that Cheney supports the murder of police officers. In truth, the Cheney vote was a vote for truth over lies, and principle over expediency. There never has been such a thing as a 'cop-killer bullet.' That the issue ever arose in Congress shows that modern Washington is just as susceptible to believing impossible things as was the English Parliament that made it a felony to use 'Witchcraft, Inchantment (sic), Charm or Sorcery, to tell where Treasure is to be found, or where Things lost or Stolen may be found.' "
Nor was there ever a "plastic gun" which could not be detected by airport security scanners. Despite the hoopla of the 1980s, Cheney's votes represented a commitment to reality and the truth.
"For the many prohibition groups who can't handle the truth, Dick Cheney could be the worst thing that ever happened to them," Kopel concluded his commentary.
Recent Polling
In spite of what the Clinton-Gore camp and the Brady's say, Bush's selection of Cheney, coupled with the convention, has given the GOP ticket a big bounce in the polls.
Not only did Bush's lead over Gore in the nationwide polls jump to 17%, but Frederic Dicker of The New York Post reported some New York state Democratic leaders are now saying that Bush could carry the traditionally Democratic state. In fact, Dicker said, the Bush-Cheney bounce could also affect the outcome of the Senate race between Hillary Clinton and Rep. Rick Lazio.
While such reports may encourage gunowners and Republicans, it is worthwhile remembering that at this time in 1988, the Democratic presidential candidate, Michael Dukakis, was leading Bush's father by a comparable 17% in preference polls. George Herbert Walker Bush ended up winning the election.
There's a long way to go between now and Nov. 7.
The Democrats are sure to get some bounce out of their convention. The anti-gun mayors of most major cities will be joining in supporting the Gore-Lieberman ticket and pushing for more gun controls.
Handgun Control and other anti-gun groups can be expected to run negative ads against the Bush-Cheney ticket, and most of the Hollywood crowd will be pitching in to help.
There is always the problem of how unexpected events will shape an election, and how the candidates handle themselves in debates and other public appearances.
Don't forget Dukakis' photo op in the tank.