The first school day since the unthinkable happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School brought more signs that the nation’s attitude toward gun control could be shifting, as the people of Newtown, Conn. braced to bury the first of their dead on Monday.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), a conservative Democrat and National Rifle Association member, told MSNBC that the massacre of 20 children and six adults by a gunman wielding a military-style rifle made clear the need to consider new regulations on assault weapons.
“I don’t know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle,” Manchin said on “Morning Joe” on Monday. “I don’t know anyone that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting.”
Manchin personifies the group of lawmakers who in the past have blocked efforts to impose stronger regulations on gun ownership. He got an A rating and an endorsement from the NRA in both the 2010 special election and 2012 general election for his seat. In a memorable campaign ad, he shot a copy of a cap-and-trade bill with a rifle.
But on Monday he said the schoolhouse massacre “changed the dialogue, and it should move beyond dialogue. We need action.” The gun lobby, he said, should be part of that conversation.
“Never before have we seen our babies slaughtered,” Manchin said. “Anybody that’s a proud gun owner, anybody that’s a proud member of the NRA, we’re also proud parents. We’re also proud grandparents.”
President Obama, speaking Sunday night at a memorial service for the victims, did not mention guns specifically, but seemed to allude to a need for stronger gun-control laws, pledging to “use whatever power this office holds .
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), a conservative Democrat and National Rifle Association member, told MSNBC that the massacre of 20 children and six adults by a gunman wielding a military-style rifle made clear the need to consider new regulations on assault weapons.
“I don’t know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle,” Manchin said on “Morning Joe” on Monday. “I don’t know anyone that needs 30 rounds in a clip to go hunting.”
Manchin personifies the group of lawmakers who in the past have blocked efforts to impose stronger regulations on gun ownership. He got an A rating and an endorsement from the NRA in both the 2010 special election and 2012 general election for his seat. In a memorable campaign ad, he shot a copy of a cap-and-trade bill with a rifle.
But on Monday he said the schoolhouse massacre “changed the dialogue, and it should move beyond dialogue. We need action.” The gun lobby, he said, should be part of that conversation.
“Never before have we seen our babies slaughtered,” Manchin said. “Anybody that’s a proud gun owner, anybody that’s a proud member of the NRA, we’re also proud parents. We’re also proud grandparents.”
President Obama, speaking Sunday night at a memorial service for the victims, did not mention guns specifically, but seemed to allude to a need for stronger gun-control laws, pledging to “use whatever power this office holds .