DOUGLAS GRAHAM/ROLL CALL/GETTY IMAGES
VOTE ON CONSCIENCE
military leaders, faith and parent
groups to ensure that individual
lawmakers receive the cover they
lacked 18 years ago.
In the end, however, gun control’s fate will likely rest on a vote
of conscience, as much as one of
political survival. None of the former lawmakers interviewed said
they regretted supporting the first
assault weapons ban. But all said
it was one of the hardest votes
they cast in office.
HUFFINGTON
04.07.13
“THIS IS A HARD-ASS
POLITICAL ISSUE.”
“As a legislator on this and any
other controversial votes, it raises
the question: Are you prepared
to lose on this matter, and not be
available on every other issue on
which you want to advance the nation,” said Pomeroy. “That’s
the question I faced.”
Former Rep.
Earl Pomeroy
(D-N.D.)
said of the
1994 assault
weapons bill:
“The political
pressure to
vote against
was intense.”