CHARLESTON —
Sen. Joe Manchin, an avid hunter and lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, says it’s time for all sides in the gun policy debate to move beyond the political rhetoric and begin an honest discussion about reasonable restrictions on guns.
The school shooting in Connecticut that killed 20 children has changed the dialogue, Manchin said.
“I’m not afraid to say, ‘Let’s talk about that,’” Manchin told reporters during a conference call Monday. “I’m not afraid of the political ramifications.
“You have people who want to use scare tactics and extremes and try to drive a wedge when we’re trying to have a dialogue,” he said. “Don’t you think we should at least sit down and talk about it?”
The comments by the West Virginia Democrat came on the day of the first funerals for the Sandy Hook Elementary School students killed Friday.
The massacre renewed calls from some Democrats for a ban on military-style assault weapons and a look at how the nation deals with individuals suffering from serious mental illness.
Manchin said school safety, movies and video games that glorify violence should also be part of the discussion.
“This needs to have an adult conversation about the society we have become and the direction we are going,” he said.
President Barack Obama traveled to Newtown, Conn., on Sunday night to console the grieving families, the fourth such trip he’s had to make during his presidency. He vowed to use “whatever power this office holds” to safeguard the nation’s children, raising the prospect he will pursue policy changes to stem gun violence.
Gun control was a hot topic in the early 1990s, when Congress enacted a 10-year ban on assault weapons. But since that ban expired in 2004, few Americans have wanted stricter laws and politicians say they don’t want to become targets of a powerful gun rights lobby.
“We can’t be afraid to talk about it,” Manchin said. “I’m not supporting a thing except open dialogue.”
Manchin, who had been hunting with his family over the weekend, also said a 2010 campaign ad that showed him firing a hunting rifle at a paper target labeled “Cap and Trade Bill” did not glorify firearms.
“What we did at that time and the way we used it was in the most responsible manner. I’m a proud gun owner and I’m a responsible user and I don’t think that glorified anything. It was not intended for that,” he said.
Manchin is the most prominent gun rights advocate to speak publicly in the wake of the shooting.
Chris Feldhaus, a 31-year-old Republican from Charleston, said he voted for Manchin in November but believed his latest remarks were an effort to win more support.
“I like what he does, but lately it seems like he’s more of a TV guy wanting to be on TV more so than worrying about the issues,” Feldhaus said.
Terri Roush, another Manchin supporter from Nitro, said even if he was just trying to be in the spotlight, the issue deserved to be in the spotlight.
“So if he’s the voice to do it, then by all means. I think he’s somebody in West Virginia that people respect, people admire. I think it’s something that needs to be brought to everyone’s attention,” she said.
West Virginia
Manchin: Time to rethink gun legislation
W.Va. senator says school safety should be part of discussion
- West Virginia
-
-
Tax, fee hikes proposed to fund state roads
A commission studying West Virginia’s highway system is proposing tax and fee increases to raise millions of dollars for maintenance and repairs.
-
Rockefeller sponsors new head-injury legislation
A senator who’s long pushed parents, coaches and communities to help protect young athletes from sports-related concussions is now sponsoring federal legislation to set safety standards for helmets.
-
Former hospital executive, nurse to become state DHHR secretary
Former hospital executive and nurse Karen Bowling will become West Virginia’s Health and Human Resources secretary on July 1, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said Wednesday, taking over a sprawling department recently scrutinized by an audit and assigned the daunting task of expanding the state’s Medicaid program.
-
Protesters rally at FirstEnergy annual meeting
At least 200 union workers picketed FirstEnergy’s annual shareholder meeting in West Virginia on Tuesday, demanding the Ohio-based utility hire enough people to keep the power on without forcing an ever-shrinking labor force to work as many as 1,800 hours of overtime a year.
-
Waiver eliminates ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
West Virginia won limited freedom Monday from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, gaining approval of its own method for identifying struggling schools and then devoting resources to improve them.
-
W.Va. gets reprieve from No Child Left Behind law
West Virginia has won some limited freedom from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.
-
Big decision looms for W.Va. House
West Virginia’s House of Delegates faces a momentous decision after Speaker Rick Thompson departs for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet: Choosing a new leader will help set the stage for 2014, when Republicans aim to wipe out the Democrats’ ebbing majority.
-
Coin commemorates W.Va.’s 150th birthday
West Virginia is adding a commemorative coin to the celebratory mix for its 150th birthday, the commission overseeing the sesquicentennial activities announced Saturday.
-
Record trout caught in Berkeley County
The Division of Natural Resources says a record rainbow trout was caught in Berkeley County.
DNR director Frank Jezioro says the trout was caught by Tony Corbin of Gerrardstown on May 2 from a private pond. -
West Virginia House speaker to step down, take Cabinet position
House Speaker Richard Thompson will resign from the West Virginia Legislature next month to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet as secretary of Veterans Assistance, the governor announced Thursday.
- More West Virginia Headlines
-
Tax, fee hikes proposed to fund state roads
