Hillary and Gun Control

Well this is a great question, where exactly does Hillary Clinton stand on gun control? She is now hitting on Obama's electability because he supports it, without mentioning her own history:

Ah, what a wonderful thing is democracy. It may have its flaws, but there's nothing better, particularly the pleasures of a national election with early contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. What else to make of the latest press release from Senator Clinton's campaign, touting Senator Obama's one-time support of "banning all handguns" as evidence that calls Mr. Obama's "electability" into question?

Well, it's a pleasure to welcome Mrs. Clinton to the Second Amendment side of the debate. It's a new development; back in 2000, when Mrs. Clinton was running for Senate, she backed the "Million Mom March" for gun control, and, according to CNN, told the Newspaper Association of America, "We have to do more to stand up to those who refuse to believe the reality that guns do kill and that common-sense gun measures can make a difference." When she ran for re-election in 2006, she earned a rating of "F" from the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund.

Well, and not only is Hillary taking a swipe at Obama for supporting Gun Control, a few weeks ago, she was appearing to hit Obama for not supporting gun control:

White House hopeful Hillary Clinton sharpened her attacks on Democratic rival Barack Obama on Monday, criticizing him for failing to vote yes or no on a series of abortion and gun-control measures when he was in the Illinois Senate.

Speaking in Iowa, Clinton singled out nine roll calls in which Obama voted "present." The votes dealt with abortion and gun-control initiatives.

It's a two-fer! Hillary is attacking Obama for supporting Gun Control while at the same time not voting for or against gun control... If this is an example of the vaunted Clinton attack machine, well let's just say I've seen miniature schnauzers that are more frightening than this (with their wicked small teeth).

With an impending Supreme Court decision due, oh, around June of 2008, Guns will be a major issue in this campaign. Where exactly does Hillary stand? If she is more electable on 2nd amendment issues, shouldn't she say, for example, if DC's gun ban is out of bounds? Or whether American cities can sue gun manufacturers for liability?

In fact she should come out on the 2nd amendment side of these issues and defuse these potential problems before they cost her West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, etc. But doing so before getting the Democratic nomination may well be complicated, which is why it's interesting that she's even bringing it up.