Polls offer little evidence of that now, however. Polls offer little evidence of that now, however. Gore, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, has no clear advantage over Republican George W. Bush on the issue.
Polls show the two about even when people are asked who they trust on guns.
DiVall noted that Texas Gov. Bush ''has been clever in taking a stand'' on trigger locks. Two days before Mother's Day and the Million Mom March, a women's movement advocating tougher gun control, Bush announced a trigger lock giveaway in Texas. He also has said he would sign legislation requiring that trigger locks be sold with guns. Bush also backs increasing the minimum age for gun possession from 18 to 21 and has signed legislation increasing the penalties for selling guns to juveniles and for parents who leave guns where children can get them, campaign aides say. The National Rifle Association is viewed fairly positively by the public, with more than half in a recent Gallup poll having a favorable view.