Stafford’s First Congressional District Candidate Forum: Gun Control

Where do the democrats running for the nomination in the 1^st CD stand on gun control? At the Stafford 1^st CD Candidate Forum this past Saturday, Scott Robinson and Krystal Ball had the following to say:

Scott and Krystal are supporters of the 2^nd Amendment. In case their was any doubt in your mind on where Scott stands on guns, he wants you to know that he guesses he is “a big supporter of guns.”

Both candidates were asked on where they stood on guns in bars. Scott is “uneasy” about guns in bars and does not ultimately support it. Krystal left no doubt in anyone’s mind on where she stands on guns in bars:

Guns in bars is just a bad idea. Anybody knows that beer and guns are probably not a good mix.

In typical Scott fashion, on the issue of gun legislation in general, he refused to stake out any real, concrete positions. Instead, he kept repeating that

it’s not really a federal issue; it’s really a state issue.

What a cop out! Can he provide any straight answers or opinions on issues? With current federal and state gun legislation on the books and several bills pending in the 111^th Congress, what is Scott’s position and what, if any, legislation would he support at the federal level? Simply saying that it is a state issue helps him avoid taking any positions. This has become an all too familiar theme in his campaign.

On a quick side note, the Supreme Court is set to take up, on Tuesday, a constitutional question that depending on the ruling may have far reaching implications on current urban gun laws throughout the country.  I’ll actually go into a little more details about this under a separate post.

So while Scott waffles and weaves, Krystal leaves little doubt in folks mind on where she stands. She explains that

we need to focus on how do violent criminals get their weapons. By and large they do not get them from retail outlets, they are getting them on the black market, they are getting them from friends who bought them on the black market. And what we really need to focus on to cut down on violent crime, which is absolutely a plague of this nation, is anti-trafficking legislation.

Krystal points to recent anti-trafficking legislation introduced by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) as being “on the right track.” Krystal explains that

anti-trafficking legislation at the federal level is the way to really have an impact in cutting down on violent crime.

Krystal also understands a thing or two about prioritizing needs. She actually pointed to a recent bill introduced by state Sen. Creigh Deeds that would allow lifetime hunting licenses for children younger than 2. She explains that

with all the problems that we’re facing in the state, is this really what we want to be spending our time debating. Infant hunting licenses. So, my daughter Ella for her second birthday in two weeks I can get her a hunting license.

I think Colbert does a great job of explaining all of this:

This election will come down to one of ideas and prioritization of needs. Krystal clearly has the best ideas and understands how to prioritize needs. With regards to electability, I believe that Scott is the 2010 version of Creigh Deeds. Let’s not make the same mistake twice.