Momentum Fades for Restricting Self-Defense Rights

Control freaks see their moment slipping away

For weeks, lawmakers have been consumed by debates over massive spending cuts and nomination fights. This is the last thing that gun-control advocates needed.

At the start of this year, pressure was building for stricter gun laws with the country still in shock over the tragic shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school. President Obama and gun-control advocates in Congress were ready to move quickly on legislation. Now, strong Republican opposition and a loss of momentum are putting the proposals at risk.

Comments

[-Umbriel-]

I strongly suspect that this was by design. There was no national gun control waiting in someone's drawer. The tragedy and outcry kind of took the administration and Democratic leadership by surprise, and with the election over, they saw no need to pander to their lefty base at the expense of the battle for control of the house in two years.

So they put Biden in charge of a review panel so as to create the illusion of "doing something", and wait to see if the issue really has legs and centrist appeal, or just peters out in a month or so.