After years of shying away from the fight, Democrats believe public opinion has shifted enough for them to make gun control an issue worth fighting for in November, according to a story in
The New York Times.
With the spate of mass shootings around the country and polls that reflect support for restrictions, Democrats appear to be emboldened to make gun control a linchpin issue without fear of reprisal.
"I think the American public is at the point where they've seen enough," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey told the Times.
The Democrats learned a hard lesson in 1994 after a ban on assault rifles that resulted in losing the House of Representatives, the Times reported.
But in the aftermath of Orlando, Charleston, and Newtown a few years ago, Democrats think they have a shot to make ground on extended background checks and limits on gun purchases, the Times reported.
Hillary Clinton is expected to make a case for gun control Thursday night during her acceptance speech at the Democratic convention, and the NRA is ready for it; the pro-gun lobby has a new ad poised to launch during prime-time Thursday night.
"The political elites and D.C. politicians don't understand Middle America," NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker told the Times. "They don't understand that voters support the Second Amendment and the individual right to self-protection."
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