Bradley may urge handgun sale ban

Bradley may urge handgun sale ban
Democratic hopeful plans aggressive gun-control stance
Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Bradley says the political climate has changed so that the gun lobby is not as powerful.

By Ron Fournier
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON, May 24— Former Sen. Bill Bradley, Al Gore’s sole rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, is considering including a ban on the sale of handguns in an aggressive gun control plan that he will unveil later in his campaign.

‘My sense is that the NRA or the gun lobby ... is where the tobacco lobby was eight or nine years ago. People are beginning to wake up (to see) ...this is a really threat to our culture.’
— BILL BRADLEY

       “I’M CONSIDERING all the alternatives,” the former New Jersey lawmaker said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. He already has endorsed a “handgun card” — a photo identity card required of anybody carrying a handgun.
       Propelled by school shootings in Colorado and Georgia this spring, the Senate passed measures last week to require background checks at gun shows and gun safety locks. Gore cast the tie-breaking vote for one of the measures, a moment of drama aides hope will give his campaign some badly needed momentum.
       Bradley said the action was not enough. He supports limiting handgun purchases to one per month and making it a felony to sell handguns to minors.
       Bradley said he also would seek to ban the possession of handguns by minors.
       “These events have come at regular intervals now and they have a shocking effect on people,” Bradley said.

NRA INFLUENCE EBBING?
       He said the political influence of the National Rifle Association is on the ebb. “My sense is that the NRA or the gun lobby ... is where the tobacco lobby was eight or nine years ago. People are beginning to wake up (to see) there is a better way to do this and this is a really threat to our culture.”
       In the Senate, Bradley supported a 30 percent federal tax on handguns, assault weapons and ammunition. He could not recall that position Monday, but voiced no reservations.
       Asked whether he would go beyond incremental measures and seek a ban of handguns, Bradley said: “I don’t have any comment on that now.”
       Do you support banning handguns?
       “I have not supported it up to this point,” he replied.
       Is that something you hope to do?
       “I’m considering all alternatives.”
       Including banning handguns?
       “Until I decide, I haven’t decided.”
       Asked again, he smiled and said, “If I was going to do it, why would I want to step on my own story now?”
       A Bradley adviser confirmed that he is considering calling for a ban on the sale — not possession — of handguns as part of a broad plan to reduce the number of weapons on the streets. There also are ways to do that short of banning sales of guns, the official said, such as targeting manufacturers with a heavy tax.
       In 1993, Bradley was asked why he proposed taxes on guns and not a ban. “I would be glad to have no guns to tax, but having fought the NRA before, I am realistic,” Bradley answered.
       On Monday, Bradley was asked the same question; this time, he didn’t say it was unrealistic. “I think things have changed — the (political) climate.”

DISTINGUISHING ISSUE?
With Gore pushing restrictions on guns, Bradley did not argue that this was an issue that distinguishes him from the vice president. But he repeatedly mentioned a 1994 Senate speech in which he laid out his solutions to the problems of violence in society.

‘Sweeping simplistic approaches are not what is needed.’
— CHRIS LEHANE
Spokesman for Vice President Al Gore
       “The point here in terms of violence and gun violence is this is not something that I’ve come to in the last two weeks,” Bradley said.
       Bradley reaffirmed his support of gun control initiatives dating to his Senate days, including requiring the registration of handguns as they transfer from one owner to the next, much like the title to a car; a uniform gun license and photo identification, obtained after a handgun owner passes a background check to make sure he or she is not a felon; and raising license fees on gun dealers, in part so there would be fewer of them.
       Gore spokesman Chris Lehane said the vice president has been taking action to curb gun violence while Republicans “and others seem to still be thinking through what is needed.”
       On the prospect of a handgun ban, Lehane said, “Sweeping simplistic approaches are not what is needed. The vice president is talking about specific steps to limit the availability of guns getting into the hands of children. Moreover and beyond that, he believes that guns is only one part of the solution. He also believes that parents, teachers and the entertainment industry all have a responsibility and a role to play.”

Back to Index Page