In televised ads and media interviews, the National Rifle Association has launched an all out attack on the Clinton administration as the president lobbies for more extensive gun laws in the wake of recent shootings. But as CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart reports, that's not just hot smoke and insults the NRA is blowing at President Clinton. It's a tried and true political strategy. In the past week, the president has blamed the NRA for influencing lawmakers to stall gun control reforms, and the rifle association has accused the president of dragging his feet on enforcing existing gun laws. Then the gun group charged the president tolerated gun violence for political advantage.
Observers say the strategy looks familiar.
Every time there's a school shooting or mass killing, Clinton urges passage of new gun control laws. He has the power by enforcing existing fed gun laws to make neighborhoods all over the country safe. We begged the president to give us a zero tolerance on violation of the fed gun laws and he won't do it. You're getting people killed. I don't know why they're not doing it, but it's a horrible policy and it needs to be changed.