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"Democrats in Northern Virginia are increasingly focusing their
General Assembly campaigns on guns in schools, an issue they predict will
bring suburban parents to the polls to help them defeat a group of Republican
incumbents" (Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"They're hammering these GOP legislators for supporting a measure
that would have allowed students to keep rifles and other guns locked in
their car trunks on school grounds so they could go hunting after class"
(Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Until the last session of the General Assembly, state law called
for the expulsion of students who took guns to school but exempted students
who kept guns locked in their car trunks for hunting. A lawmaker proposed
a measure that forbade students from bring guns altogether" (Justin
Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Lawmakers ultimately agreed on a compromise: Ban the guns from
school grounds but allow school boards to overturn the prohibition for students
who want to lock weapons for hunting in their trunks. Then Gov. James S.
Gilmore III (R), a fervent gun rights supporter, proposed an amendment that
his office said would have allowed guns to be kept locked in trunks unless
school boards banned them. However, gun-control advocates said Gilmore's
amendment would have prevented school boards from banning guns for hunting"
(Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Legislators voted two times on Gilmore's amendment, which
ultimately failed. Several said they changed their votes the second time
because they originally did not understand the amendment" (Justin
Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"'This is truly on the minds of voters, especially women,'
said Shawn Matteson, campaign manager for Kelly Burk, a Democrat who is
running against Del. Richard H. Black (R-Loudoun). 'You've got these soccer
moms here, and they're worried.... [They] aren't going to tolerate the
fact that Dick Black has voted to allow guns on school property'" (Justin
Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Republican incumbents say their challengers are campaigning
on a non-issue and misinterpreting the legislative vote. But at a time
when gun-control measures have gained ground in Congress, Democrats in the
suburbs think the issue will give them the edge they need in November's
voting" (Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Black and other Republicans who supported the gun measure said
that Democrats are distorting the proposal's impact and that it was designed
to help rural parts of the state where students often go hunting after class.
Black said that it would not have led to Columbine-style violence, and
that Republicans have come forward with more effective crime-fighting measures"
(Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"'The children who carry out those crimes are willing to violate
the criminal prohibition on premeditated murder,' Black said. 'Telling
them in addition that they might be expelled from school ... is probably
not going to have a very big impact,' Black said" (Justin Blum,
The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Democrat James E. Mitchell III, running a campaign focused
on the gun issue in Fairfax County, sent out a campaign brochure that features
an image of a deer in the cross hairs, along with a school building. Under
the deer, the brochure reads: 'Delegate Roger McClure believes hunting is
so important that children should be allowed to bring their guns to school
- so they won't waste a minute before heading out to go hunting after school'"
(Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"Mitchell said his opponent's record shows he's 'completely
out of touch with reality,' and he said he plans to press the issue in every
debate. McClure (R-Fairfax) said that Mitchell was blowing a minor vote
out of proportion. 'They have to divert everybody's attention from our
great transportation program, our education program,' McClure said"
(Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
"In some races, Democrats are criticizing their opponents for
votes on other gun measures, such as allowing guns in recreation centers
and concealed weapons in restaurants. But most are talking about guns in
schools" (Justin Blum, The Washington Post, October 4, 1999).
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