Editorial: GOP can't get out of NRA's grip

It seems that even the deadly tragedy in Littleton, Colo., is not enough to persuade Washington policymakers to act reasonably on gun control legislation. Senate Republicans, beholden to the National Rifle Association, defeated a Democratic plan on Wednesday to require mandatory background checks of all buyers at gun shows. Federal law requires background checks of gun purchasers, but a loophole exists that exempts unlicensed sellers at gun shows engaging in so-called "private sales."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., had the most telling comment about Wednesday's capitulation to a powerful interest group. "It's as if the NRA lives in this place," she said. President Clinton, who is backing legislation that would keep guns out of the hands of young people, immediately seized upon the Senate's rejection of background checks and asked the upper chamber to reconsider its decision. Shortly after Wednesday's vote even some Republicans, who were against what truly was modest gun control legislation, started to get nervous that their votes might result in a public backlash. On Thursday many Republicans reversed course, saying that they, too, believed background checks should be done for private sales at gun shows.

So Republicans offered a new proposal on Friday that they said would establish background checks for all buyers. But Democrats, including Clinton, noted that the bill, which passed 48 to 47, was riddled with loopholes. For instance, a sale would be approved without delay if a background check couldn't be finished within 24 hours, which stands in contrast to the three days in existing law. Also permitted would be the ability of an individual to pawn a gun and reclaim it without having to submit to a background check.

Too many Republicans have allowed themselves to become patsies for the NRA's Neanderthal positions on gun control. Elizabeth Dole -- the lone woman running for the GOP's presidential nomination -- unfortunately is the only Republican with the guts so far to challenge the NRA lobby and support gun control legislation. "While I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I simply cannot accept that in modern America you need an AK-47 to defend your family," Dole said last week.

It's too bad that there aren't more Elizabeth Doles, especially in Congress. It is incomprehensible why the Senate would not pass legislation that treats these background checks uniformly. Loyalty to a special interest group, rather than adherence to common sense, is not a noble trait. Senate Republicans should muster some courage and pass legislation that requires -- without exception -- background checks on all gun sales.

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