Good points. Losing an arm vs. losing a head is a lose-lose choice! The American gunowner has been betrayed so often by politicians who abandon their principles (if any) and play to the media that it's hard to trust any of them.
I believe it's important to remember that Bush Jr. readily and willingly signed the original Texas concealed handgun law, along with the improvements to the law two years later. "This will make Texas a safer place," he said at the time. So in this respect, he proved the opposite of his Democrat predecessor, Ann Richards, who waged a campaign against concealed carry and would have vetoed any such bill that reached her desk. I see Gore and Dole, but not Bush, in the same league as Richards.
Anyway, I really don't know which is the better indicator of Bush Jr.'s future performance on gun issues: his past signing of the concealed carry law, or his present waffling on gun shows. Right now, a number of gun-related bills are pending in the Texas Legislature. Some of these bills are pro-gun, others are anti-gun. Some of both kinds may reach Bush Jr.'s desk. It'll be interesting to find out which ones he signs and which ones he vetoes, now that the attention of the national media is turned toward him.
Just my $0.02.
[This message has been edited by jimmy (edited May 04, 1999).]
