Our insiders predictably broke along partisan lines over whether guns should be an issue in the presidential campaign and if the Utah Legislature needs to reconsider gun laws in the state.
In the wake of the theater shooting in Colorado, do you think gun policy should become a topic on the campaign trail for Mitt Romney and Barack Obama?
Some anonymous comments:
"As important as gun policy is, it pales in comparison to the much bigger issues of this campaign: the economy, national debt, etc."
"This should be a major issue for both candidates. But it will be gingerly addressed or ignored all together. Neither candidate is willing to take this on."
"NRA folks are quick to say now is not the time -- after a tragic shooting and innocent people are killed -- to discuss the easy availability of guns in the U.S. -- and that its ought not be politicized. If we don't discuss it after a horrible tragedy, when do we discuss it? It's a topic worthy of discussion on every levels -- from classrooms to every statehouse in the nation. It's sad that so many of our elected officials are fearful of the NRA. When did the NRA becomes a branch of the U.S government?"
"2nd Amendment rights and protections should be a perennial topic, not because of an incident, but to ensure those rights are maintained."
"They could both encourage more American's to purchase a handgun and more states make it easier to get a concealed carry permit. The next time someone tries to shoot people in mass, we will have (20) in the audience drop them on the spot. Save on all the court costs."
"They should be talking about the ease with which people can purchase assault weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition, even on the internet."
"There is no evidence that new gun laws would have deterred the outcome in Aurora. Passing new laws would only act as political clubs with no real deterrent effect."
"It's been an issue for a long time. We can't ignore such a powerful incident."
"It will be a topic where the two of them differ and it would be helpful to understand the differences."
"The talking heads from both sides will trade barbs with each other and it will fizzle in a week or two."
"Neither candidate has much to gain from a political debate on this issue. One of them (at least) has a lot to lose."
"These are not the circumstances under which gun laws, or any laws should be made."
"The random act of a mad man should not be something that drives policy nationally."
After the Colorado shooting, do you think Utah lawmakers need to make changes to the state's gun laws? If so, what?
Some anonymous comments:
"Invest MORE money in mental health programs than worrying about gun laws."
"Those purchasing guns should be required to prove their mental health the way they do in Japan (meaning a visit to a therapist). Military grade weapons such as assault rifles should not be sold in the state."
"No automatic weapons. No AK-47's and equivalent."
"Better background checks."
"State and federal law should restrict sales of weapons whose sole purpose is to kill dozens of other human beings at one time. Civilian purchase of drum magazines for ammo, like the one the theater shooter so easily ordered online, and used to rapidly mow down 70 people, should be prohibited. This would leave open all other purchases for Second Amendment fans. This is common sense compromise and it's time the NRA gave a little up for the cause of a more civilized community."
"Enforce existing laws."
"Anybody can buy a gun from another person in the want ads or gun shows with no background check. This makes it easier for criminals and others that legally couldn't buy a gun to get one."
"We need more citizens carrying guns legally. This will discourage violence."
"The pendulum has swung way too far in favor of gun rights. It's time to rein in the crazy laws that allow assault rifles and the ability to carry in any and all situations."
"Mandatory carry for retired cops and military."
"The idea that the solution to irresponsible gun ownership is more guns is ridiculous but is the likely approach to be taken by our NRA-owned legislature."
"When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Aurora, Colorado had very strict gun laws and, very, very, regrettably they didn't work."
"I agree with the suggestion that if businesses that are open to the public which forbid guns from being brought onto the premises, they should make very sure that they then provide the protection from those who are not obeying the law anyway."
"Your chance of being a victim of a mass shooting are about the same as being hit by lightening. Should we outlaw lighting now?"
"Require annual gun handling and training, with a psychological component. Although the latter component might be difficult for the Utah legislature to pass."
"I also want to ban sex because in the wrong hands it leads to pregnancy and STDs. I want to ban alcohol because it leads to stupid pick up lines and DUIs. I want to ban Bill Maher because well - he is a hate filled moron and bigot."
"Time for a constitutional carry legislation that allows people to conceal carry without permit."
Respondents include -
Fred Adams, Stuart Adams, Jess Agraz, Scott Anderson, Laura Arellano, Patrice Arent, Bette Arial, Neil Ashdown, Bruce Baird, Tom Barberi, Heather Barney, Steve Barth, Jeff Bell, Tom Berggren, Mike Bertelsen, Ron Bigelow, Emily Bingham-Hollingshead, Rob Bishop, Laura Black, Nanci Bockelie, Charles Bradley, Jim Bradley, Ralph Brown, Chris Bleak, Curt Bramble, Joel Briscoe, Ralph Brown, Aaron Browning, Dave Buhler, Ken Bullock, Ric Cantrell, Maura Carabello, Marty Carpenter, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Kay Christensen, David Clark, Kim Coleman, Peter Corroon, Tim Cosgrove, Fred Cox, Lew Cramer, Gene Davis, Richard Davis, Brad Daw, Alan Dayton, Margaret Dayton, Mike Deaver, Brad, Dee, Joseph Demma, Jake Dennis, Dan Deuel, Jeff Dixon, Brian Doughty, Carl Downing, Randy Dryer, Susan Duckworth, Donald Dunn, Alan Eastman, Becky Edwards, Scott Ericson, Chase Everton, Jessica Fawson, Janice Fisher, Wendy Fisher, Lorie Fowlke, Ronald Fox, Claire Francis, Ryan Frandsen, Adam Gardiner, Jordan Garn, Ernie Gamonal, Luke Garrott, Dave Gessel, Sheryl Ginsberg, Natalie Gochnour, Robert Grow, Karen Hale, David Hansen, Neil Hansen, Joe Hatch, Jeff Hartley, Dan Hauser, Lynn Hemmingway, Deidre Henderson, Neal Hendrickson, Casey Hill, Lyle Hillyard, Kory Holdaway, Randy Horiuchi, Ben Horsley, Bruce Hough, Scott Howell, Greg Hughes, Miriam Hyde, Allison Isom, Casey Jackson, Eric Jergensen, Mike Jerman, Jonathan Johnson, Michael Jolley, Gordon Jones, Leslie Jones, Pat Jones, Kirk Jowers, Jeremy Keele, Brian King, Scott Konopasek, Steve Kroes, Chris Kyler, Carter Livingston, Fred Lampropoulos, Clark Larsen, Douglas Larson, David Litvack, Larry Lunt, Matt Lyon, Ben McAdams, Daniel McCay, Gayle McKeachnie, JT Martin, Maryann Martindale, Jason Mathis, Bob Mayhew, Karen Mayne, Bret Milburn, Derek Miller, Rob Miller, Ethan Millard, Brett Millburn, Karen Morgan, Jeffery Morton, Mike Mower, Holly Mullen, Wayne Niederhauser, Mike Noel, Randy O'Hara, Ralph Okerlund, James Olsen, Val Oveson, Kelly Patterson, John Pearce, Helen Peters, Karen Peterson, Frank Pignanelli, Becky Pirente, Marie Poulson, Jason Powers, Tami Pyfer, Joe Pyrah, Mike Reberg, Jill Remington Love, Lauren Richards, Holly Richardson, Robin Riggs, James Roberts, Luz Robles, Ross Romero, Carol Sapp, Don Savage, Bryan Schott, Shauna Scott-Bellaccomo, Jay Seegmiller, Jennifer Seelig, Patrick Shea, Randy Shumway, Soren Simonsen, Jeremy Slaughter, Brendan Smith, Brian Somers, Carol Spackman-Moss, Robert Spendlove, Barbara Stallone, Howard Stephenson, David Stringfellow, Mike Styler, Shinika Sykes, Juliette Tennert, Gary Thorup, Kevin Van Tassell, Royce Van Tassel, Doug Thompson, Michael Waddoups, Laura Warburton, Chuck Warren, Christine Watkins, LaVarr Webb, Todd Weiler, Alan West, Mark Wheatley, Larry Wiley, Ted Wilson, Carl Wimmer, Mike Winder, Travis Wood, Thomas Wright, Crystal Young-Otterstrom
Results from the UtahPolicy.com/KSL Insider poll can be heard on KSL Radio every Friday and are published on Utah Policy.com every Monday.
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