George,

The debate about the position of the various AG candidates on gun control is one we don't need to have, unless we can make it abundantly clear that the Democratic Party is not opposed to the lawful use of guns by non-felons. The issue of rifles and shotguns in the back of students' trucks during hunting season should be a no-brainer -- what's the harm? The child who is going to bring a gun to school will do it anyway. The larger issue, and the reason we are having trouble in rural areas, is that the party has become tone deaf to rural opinions, and increasingly assume that people are unable to exercise judgement.

Some years ago when the legislation requiring seat belts in the back of pickups was being debated it was clear that urban and suburban legislators had no earthly idea about rural life.

If, as a Party out of power, we cannot craft a gun policy that will bring together the legitimate concerns on this issue, how could we possibly expect to enact something if elected. But, if we can't reconnect to Rural Virginia, we won't have to worry about enacting anything.

Al Weed (electronic mail, February 8, 2001).