In no state is the delicate balance between guns rights protected by the Second Amendment and gun control laws enacted for public safety more important than in Virginia.
Despite the 2007 shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech University that took the lives of 32 students and professors, conservative Virginians, as well as many liberals, fiercely defend individual rights to gun ownership. Observed the Washington Post in 2007, "Democrats also realize that gun owners are a potent political force in Virginia."
This issue is so controversial that the Virginia Democratic party included in its 2008 platform a brief plank on gun rights that states:
"We support the right to keep and bear arms as defined in the Virginia and U.S. Constitutions. We continue to support common-sense firearms safety legislation, including background checks at gun shows and with private sellers to ensure that buyers are not terrorists, convicted felons, under a court order, or deemed dangerous to themselves or society."
For more, see Pros & Cons of Gun Ownership & Use Laws.
Education Reform and Funding
The quality of public education and the affordability of college are uppermost issues in Virginia.
The Virginia Democratic party devoted a significant portion of its 2008 platform to educational issues, including: Fulfilling the Promise of No Child Left Behind - We believe that the No Child Left Behind Act should be reformed to improve assessments that truly measure student's progress and their readiness for college and the workplace. Support for Teachers - In order to recruit and retain the best teachers, we support increasing teacher salaries to reach and exceed the national average. Meeting Funding Responsibilities - We oppose school vouchers and other tax credit programs for parochial and private schools. Support Full Funding for Higher Education - We support adequately funded and affordable higher education. We support measures that afford to students fair and equal access to Virginia colleges and universities.
For more, see Pros & Cons of the No Child Left Behind Act.
For an '08 presidential candidate to appeal to Virginia Democrats, he must demonstrate an appreciation for both gun rights and adequate gun control, and to have a solid plan to fund and support all aspects of public education and college affordability.
No comments:
Post a Comment