It’s Time for a Road Trip

When you’re in trouble at home, it’s time for a road trip, and gun control is in trouble.  The passion for stricter gun laws after the Sandy Hook tragedy has diminished and gun control legislation is now gridlocked in Washington.

A failure to get even the modest gun legislation now being considered will be a major defeat for President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Obama lowered his expectations back in January, never really declaring an assault weapons ban essential to his gun agenda, but as of now universal registration, which is widely popular, is in trouble in the Senate.

In general, background checks have near universal support, but assault weapons and large capacity magazines bans have only about 50 percent support.  And, support for gun control in general has declined since early in the year.

Obama’s trip to Colorado is not a surprise.  This state’s rapid passage of a package of gun legislation, including registration and magazine limits, made it a luminary in the gun control universe. But, Obama will have difficulty changing the gun control trajectory. The issue is well below issues the public believes critical, such as the economy, government debt and health care. And, in fact, Republicans are seen as better able to handle gun control than Democrats.

Although a few more states appear to be considering additional laws, Washington, D.C.’s movement appears circumscribed by the 2014 election and NRA’s effective lobbying.

Mayors who, like Michael Bloomberg, are leading the pro-control lobbying effort have yet to find a message or strategy that moves Democratic senators in red states. In fact, senators in North Dakota and Arkansas have declared their independence from Bloomberg’s issue advertising.

Of course, if all else fails, Democrats will try to take the issue into the 2014 election. Will Denver voters and Michael Coffman see gun control ads?

See:

Denver Post: Personal ties to violence for Colorado Rep. Rhonda Fields have driven policy
Washington Post: Gun measures may be in jeopardy in Congress
Denver Post: Obama to speak on gun control at Denver Police Academy
Washington Post: What are the states doing about gun control?