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In Virginia, Gun Control Heats Up the Governor’s Race In Virginia, Gun Control Heats Up the Governor’s Race
(3 days later)
RICHMOND, Va. — Al Stenger, who is undecided in the Virginia governor’s race next month, is the sort of voter the Democratic candidate badly wants to reach.RICHMOND, Va. — Al Stenger, who is undecided in the Virginia governor’s race next month, is the sort of voter the Democratic candidate badly wants to reach.
Mr. Stenger, a dentist who leans Republican, was sympathetic in the past to the National Rifle Association message that “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”Mr. Stenger, a dentist who leans Republican, was sympathetic in the past to the National Rifle Association message that “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
But after the horrific shooting in Las Vegas this week, Mr. Stenger for the first time is open to outlawing assault rifles like those the Las Vegas gunman used to devastating effect. It is a position that Ralph Northam, the Democratic candidate, spoke out for emotionally after the shooting, and which Ed Gillespie, the Republican, opposes. But after the horrific shooting in Las Vegas, Mr. Stenger for the first time is open to outlawing assault rifles like those the Las Vegas gunman used to devastating effect. It is a position that Ralph Northam, the Democratic candidate, spoke out for emotionally after the shooting, and which Ed Gillespie, the Republican, opposes.
“This one struck home to me,” Mr. Stenger said. “We can’t have this sort of thing in our country. It’s going to undermine our ability to be free people. You can’t go to a concert in fear of some guy opening fire.”“This one struck home to me,” Mr. Stenger said. “We can’t have this sort of thing in our country. It’s going to undermine our ability to be free people. You can’t go to a concert in fear of some guy opening fire.”
With the politics of gun control long calcified in Washington, activists have shifted energy and money to states like Virginia, which is moving away from its rural gun culture as its voters become increasingly suburban and diverse.With the politics of gun control long calcified in Washington, activists have shifted energy and money to states like Virginia, which is moving away from its rural gun culture as its voters become increasingly suburban and diverse.
The outburst of violence in Las Vegas, which killed 58 people and wounded almost 500, is roiling a tight race already in the spotlight as the nation’s major referendum this year on President Trump. Meanwhile, Virginia is still plunged in soul searching over monuments to the Civil War after white supremacists marched in Charlottesville this summer bristling with firearms. The outburst of violence in Las Vegas, in which the gunman killed 58 people and wounded almost 500, is roiling a tight race already in the spotlight as the nation’s major referendum this year on President Trump. Meanwhile, Virginia is still plunged in soul searching over monuments to the Civil War after white supremacists marched in Charlottesville this summer bristling with firearms.
The state’s demographic upheaval has opened the door for Democrats to sweep seven of the last eight elections for president, governor and United States senator.The state’s demographic upheaval has opened the door for Democrats to sweep seven of the last eight elections for president, governor and United States senator.
But gun rights remain a potent rallying cry in many places. Democrats who lead with the issue are at risk of poking a hornet’s nest, as happened two years ago when Republicans retained control over the Legislature in races animated by gun issues.But gun rights remain a potent rallying cry in many places. Democrats who lead with the issue are at risk of poking a hornet’s nest, as happened two years ago when Republicans retained control over the Legislature in races animated by gun issues.
Virginia “has totally evolved” on guns, said Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, who was elected four years ago while boasting of his “F” rating from the N.R.A. He is prevented by law from seeking a second consecutive term. “If you’re a Democrat running statewide you are very comfortable coming out and saying we need to have more sensible gun restrictions here,” he said. “It is a different conversation.”Virginia “has totally evolved” on guns, said Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, who was elected four years ago while boasting of his “F” rating from the N.R.A. He is prevented by law from seeking a second consecutive term. “If you’re a Democrat running statewide you are very comfortable coming out and saying we need to have more sensible gun restrictions here,” he said. “It is a different conversation.”
Mr. Northam, a doctor and Army veteran, attended a candlelight vigil Monday night for the Las Vegas victims where he described caring for wounded soldiers in Desert Storm.Mr. Northam, a doctor and Army veteran, attended a candlelight vigil Monday night for the Las Vegas victims where he described caring for wounded soldiers in Desert Storm.
“I know all too well what assault weapons do to human beings,” he said. “And until I don’t have another breath in my lungs, I will stand up and tell people that we do not need assault weapons on our streets.”“I know all too well what assault weapons do to human beings,” he said. “And until I don’t have another breath in my lungs, I will stand up and tell people that we do not need assault weapons on our streets.”
Mr. Northam also called for universal background checks for gun buyers and for restoring a one-gun-a-month law repealed by Republicans.Mr. Northam also called for universal background checks for gun buyers and for restoring a one-gun-a-month law repealed by Republicans.
Mr. Gillespie, a former White House counselor to George W. Bush, has an “A” rating from the N.R.A., which has booked over $1 million in TV ads to run through Election Day, Nov. 7.Mr. Gillespie, a former White House counselor to George W. Bush, has an “A” rating from the N.R.A., which has booked over $1 million in TV ads to run through Election Day, Nov. 7.
Mr. Gillespie said hours after the shootings that it was too early to discuss policy responses to gun violence.Mr. Gillespie said hours after the shootings that it was too early to discuss policy responses to gun violence.
David Turner, a spokesman for Mr. Northam, criticized as “tone deaf” Mr. Gillespie’s decision to campaign on Thursday with Gov. Eric Greitens of Missouri, who last year ran an ad consisting entirely of him firing an automatic machine-gun — a cousin to the modified weapons used by the Las Vegas gunman.David Turner, a spokesman for Mr. Northam, criticized as “tone deaf” Mr. Gillespie’s decision to campaign on Thursday with Gov. Eric Greitens of Missouri, who last year ran an ad consisting entirely of him firing an automatic machine-gun — a cousin to the modified weapons used by the Las Vegas gunman.
Both Mr. Northam and Mr. Gillespie are moderates in their parties who fought off primary challenges from the flanks.Both Mr. Northam and Mr. Gillespie are moderates in their parties who fought off primary challenges from the flanks.
But in the final stretch, their campaigns and outside groups are aiming at turning out core supporters with attack ads and other messages aimed at the gut. The Gillespie campaign has raised fears of the Latino gang MS-13 threatening public safety. A radio ad says the gang “pushes drugs and turns young girls into sex slaves” and it accuses Mr. Northam of supporting “sanctuary cities.’’But in the final stretch, their campaigns and outside groups are aiming at turning out core supporters with attack ads and other messages aimed at the gut. The Gillespie campaign has raised fears of the Latino gang MS-13 threatening public safety. A radio ad says the gang “pushes drugs and turns young girls into sex slaves” and it accuses Mr. Northam of supporting “sanctuary cities.’’
A gun control group lead by Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman who survived a shooting in 2011, and her husband, Mark Kelly, plans to call on Friday for Mr. Gillespie to release the questionnaire he filled out for the Virginia N.R.A.A gun control group lead by Gabrielle Giffords, the former congresswoman who survived a shooting in 2011, and her husband, Mark Kelly, plans to call on Friday for Mr. Gillespie to release the questionnaire he filled out for the Virginia N.R.A.
The group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, wants to see Mr. Gillespie’s responses to questions asking if he favors ending permits for concealed weapons and allowing concealed handguns in K-12 schools.The group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, wants to see Mr. Gillespie’s responses to questions asking if he favors ending permits for concealed weapons and allowing concealed handguns in K-12 schools.
A spokesman for Mr. Gillespie, David Abrams, declined to respond specifically to the questions and said in a statement, “Ed will be a strong defender of Virginians’ Second Amendment rights.’’A spokesman for Mr. Gillespie, David Abrams, declined to respond specifically to the questions and said in a statement, “Ed will be a strong defender of Virginians’ Second Amendment rights.’’
Although Virginia has moved leftward since the Democrat Mark Warner sought N.R.A. support in 2001 to appeal to rural voters while winning the governorship, there are limits, strategists said. In 2015, trying to wrest control of the State Senate from Republicans, Mr. McAuliffe and outside gun-control groups showered money and attention on two key races. Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group backed by Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, spent more than $2 million.Although Virginia has moved leftward since the Democrat Mark Warner sought N.R.A. support in 2001 to appeal to rural voters while winning the governorship, there are limits, strategists said. In 2015, trying to wrest control of the State Senate from Republicans, Mr. McAuliffe and outside gun-control groups showered money and attention on two key races. Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group backed by Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, spent more than $2 million.
The parties ended up splitting the two races. Republicans kept their narrow Senate majority. The next year they forced Mr. McAuliffe to make a deal on a law expanding concealed-carry rights. The parties ended up splitting the two races. Republicans kept their narrow Senate majority. The next year Mr. McAuliffe made a deal on a law expanding concealed-carry rights.
Daniel A. Gecker, a Democrat who lost one of the two races, in the suburbs of Richmond, said the single-issue effort by Mr. Bloomberg’s group — which he did not want — turned the race into a gun rights referendum that cost him voters.Daniel A. Gecker, a Democrat who lost one of the two races, in the suburbs of Richmond, said the single-issue effort by Mr. Bloomberg’s group — which he did not want — turned the race into a gun rights referendum that cost him voters.
“It took certain Republicans who would have voted for me based on my record as a local elected official and put them in a position where they would not vote for me because they believed somehow I would compromise the 2nd Amendment,” said Mr. Gecker, now president of the Virginia Board of Education. “It took certain Republicans who would have voted for me based on my record as a local elected official and put them in a position where they would not vote for me because they believed somehow I would compromise the Second Amendment,” said Mr. Gecker, now president of the Virginia Board of Education.
Some analysts said voters’ positions on gun control were already so deeply baked into both parties’ supporters that neither candidate had much to gain from the issue.Some analysts said voters’ positions on gun control were already so deeply baked into both parties’ supporters that neither candidate had much to gain from the issue.
“Northam would not be wise to spend a lot of time talking about the N.R.A. the way McAuliffe did four years ago, as Ed Gillespie does not come across to swing voters as anything other than a relatively centrist Republican,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at Mary Washington University, said in an email. “Northam would not be wise to spend a lot of time talking about the N.R.A. the way McAuliffe did four years ago, as Ed Gillespie does not come across to swing voters as anything other than a relatively centrist Republican,” Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said in an email.
In the State Senate district where gun rights played a role two years ago, which stretches from Richmond west to the suburbs, three workers for a tree company were having lunch at a bagel place this week. Stu Todd, 35, said he was a hunter but saw no reason for people to own semiautomatic weapons. “Get rid of them,’’ he said. “They don’t do anything but kill people. You’re not hunting with them.’’ In the State Senate district where gun rights played a role two years ago, an area that stretches from Richmond west to the suburbs, three workers for a tree company were having lunch at a bagel place this week. Stu Todd, 35, said he was a hunter but saw no reason for people to own semiautomatic weapons. “Get rid of them,’’ he said. “They don’t do anything but kill people. You’re not hunting with them.’’
He corrected himself. “You’re hunting humans,’’ he said.He corrected himself. “You’re hunting humans,’’ he said.