The horrible VT tragedy has, no surprise, fostered some vigorous debate on this site about gun control.
If there was general agreement about anything in that debate (and I'm not sure that there was), it was that advocating gun control would be dangerous for Democrats, as quite a few people in swing (and other states) are strongly against gun control.
Gun control has been a prominent wedge issue in the past, but has not seen a whole lot of action in recent years, with the exception of the recent proposal by Carolyn McCarthy (NRA link) and the overturning of the D.C. gun ban.
I expect this to change very soon...
The Republicans are desperate for anything that can divert attention from their terrible failures in Iraq and the ever-widening cesspool of the U.S. Attorney scandal.
What better time to revive a successful wedge issue?
- Soon Faux Noise will be running stories and misleading banners suggesting that Democrats are about to unleash a torrent of gun control bills.
- Pundits will sprout like weeds decrying how Democrats are trying to take away guns and should stop trying to make political hay about of a terrible tragedy.
- Support Our Guns referenda will be introduced in strategic states.
- Democratic candidates will be asked to commit to not supporting gun control bills.
Now I don't think this issue (or for that matter any wedge issue) has the power to move things the GOP's way to the extent that wedge issues have done in the past.
But that doesn't mean they won't try.