Dean wants gun laws left to states

Font Size:

| Saturday, May 10, 2003 10:32 PM CDT | () comments

Kathie Obradovich

ANKENY, Iowa � Noting that gun issues drive some union members away from the Democratic Party, presidential candidate Howard Dean targeted labor leaders Saturday with a message favoring state's rights on firearms control.

"We have 20 percent of our union membership every year who vote against their economic interest because of guns," Dean said, adding later that he heard the statistic from an Iowa United Autoworkers leader.

The former Vermont governor said he would enforce existing federal laws and he would not call for any to be rolled back.

Additional gun laws, he told union members, he would leave up to the states.

"Most hunters I know don't think they need an assault rifle to kill a deer," he said. "But I also believe that every state ought to make their own gun laws."

Dean told reporters later, however, that he also would support expanding federal laws to require background checks for purchases at gun shows.

Other restrictions, such as requiring gun locks, should be up to states, he said.

He drew some applause from district representatives of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades when he said, "Gun control is not a national issue � gun control is an issue best done state by state, because what we need in Vermont and Wyoming is not the same thing that they need in Los Angeles and New Jersey."

He said Vermont has no gun-control laws of its own, which he believes is appropriate.

"I come from a very rural state, we have about five homicides a year," he said.

Painters' union member Michael Waters of Ankeny was skeptical.

"If you keep the (federal) laws that are on the books, what's left for the states to decide?" he said. "It's a nice answer."

Waters added, "My idea of gun control is to have both hands on the gun."

He said he does not doubt that two out of 10 union members vote Republican because of gun issues. "Especially among the building construction trades," he said.

Karl McLain, a Des Moines painter, said he believes health-care issues are more important to most union members than gun control.

"We have some ... for lack of a better term, gun nuts, but I don't see that as a problem because I don't think you're ever going to change their minds, and so you move on," he said.

Dean was one of several presidential candidates stumping in central Iowa this weekend.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Florida Sen. Bob Graham also were in town Saturday. Graham and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut have Des Moines appearances scheduled for today.

Kathie Obradovich can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or kathie.obradovich@lee.net.