The gun debate is one of the central issues during the state鈥檚 legislative session. Lawmakers have already heard the first two Republican proposals.
Both proposals failed along party lines and highlight the wide difference between Democrats and the GOP when it comes to tackling gun violence.
The would鈥檝e removed the gun ban in schools and allowed districts to decide whether teachers and other school employees could carry concealed handguns.
The second bill would鈥檝e required businesses to either hire a security guard or allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. The business would face liability in the case of a shooting if it failed to meet either standard.
Democrats, who hold a majority in both chambers, have not introduced any gun bills yet.
of the says for both parties gun legislation is as much about politics as policy.
鈥淔or some (Republicans) it鈥檚 just constituent bills that they promised they鈥檇 run as an alternative to what the Democrats would want to do even though they have no chance.鈥�
Ashby says Democrats don鈥檛 know what they want to do.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if they want to go after assault weapons. I don鈥檛 know if there鈥檚 any agreement on the high capacity magazines. I don鈥檛 know if they even have an answer on the universal background check. Because one aspect of that might call for gun registration for everyone who has a gun.鈥�
says he鈥檚 not optimistic there will be any middle ground on gun legislation or bipartisan support. He doubts whether any Republican will back universal background checks or a ban on high capacity magazine clips.
He says Democrats are more worried about getting their party on the same page than what Republicans think.
鈥淒emocrats are trying to figure out what鈥檚 going to be palatable to the majority of Democrats. What might the Governor go for? And also it wouldn鈥檛 surprise me if there was some quiet polling happening right now to see what the public might be willing to stomach.鈥�
Hoover notes that Dems don鈥檛 want internal infighting on gun issues.
