Hillary Clinton tightens focus on gun control in New Hampshire
Hillary Clinton’s campaign swung through Dover, New Hampshire on Thursday evening, holding a town hall with a cozy, but full crowd inside a downtown gymnasium. But her focus remained on California.
Before taking any questions, Clinton spoke exclusively about the San Bernardino shooting, which killed 14 people and injured 21, and the need for increased gun-safety measures.
“We are dealing with an act of terrorism,’’ Clinton said, citing evidence the attacks were planned, as well as bombs and weapons found by law enforcement. “Deliberate, hateful murder of all those innocent people.’’
Clinton pivoted to the “most troubling issue,’’ which she said was Congressional Republicans’ refusal to allow a vote to ban individuals on the Department of Homeland Security’s no-fly list from purchasing guns.
From 2004 to 2014, per the Government Accountability Office, “suspected terrorists’’ attempted to purchase guns from American dealers at least 2,233 times — with a 91 percent success rate. House Republicans blocked debate on a bill Tuesday that would have closed this loophole. A similar bill was voted down Thursday by Republicans in the Senate.
“I have said — I said it this morning as Southern New Hampshire University — I said look there are sensible gun-safety measures that we need to be finally taking — to applause,’’ Clinton said, one of the biggest applause lines of the night.
“I would urgently request that responsible gun owners stand up to the irresponsible, unconscionable actions of the gun lobby,’’ she said.
Clinton’s gun policy platform also includes increasing background checks; repealing immunity for “negligent manufacturers;’’ tightening loopholes that allow domestic abusers, felons, and mentally ill people obtain guns; and reinstating the federal assault weapons ban.
She made no mention Thursday — in her statements on gun control or in her answers to any other question during the night — of Democratic primary opponent Bernie Sanders.
Gun control has been a contentious issue between the two Democratic presidential candidates.
In the first Democratic debate, Clinton said Sanders wasn’t tough enough on guns, citing the Vermont senator’s votes against the Brady Bill and vote for an immunity provision for the gun industry.
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In the second debate, Sanders suggested that the two candidates were in agreement on the issue of gun control. He said he was in favor of reversing his past vote on the immunity provision, as well as expanded background checks and closing the gun-show loophole.
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Sanders argued that coming from a rural state with little to no gun control equipped him to forge “broad consensus’’ on new measures.
“The problem is people all over this country, not you Secretary Clinton, are shouting at each other,’’ he said. “And what we need to do is bring people together to work on the agreement where there is broad consensus.’’
Clinton shot back that there already is broad consensus, citing overwhelming support among Americans and gun owners for increased gun safety measures.
Clinton concluded her speech Thursday saying that we won’t be able to eliminate all tragedies, but, “we sure could to a lot to lower the number and increase the odds for people.’’
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