The Gun control policy of the Clinton Administration, was the White House's domestic policy on guns during Bill Clinton's term in office as President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Gun control was a major political issue in the first half of Clinton's first term and during that time he lobbied for, and signed, two major pieces of gun control legislation, the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban.
Background
After receiving the Democratic nomination for president, Clinton campaigned against George H. W. Bush, in the fall of 1992. In the six previous elections, Republicans had garnered enormous success by labeling their opponents as "soft on crime". Democrats had not used gun control in the past as an election issue. Clinton reversed the tide by using gun control as an issue and calling Bush soft on crime for not pushing for passage of the Brady Bill or an assault weapons ban. Clinton also strongly endorsed the death penalty.Vizzard, William. Shots in the Dark. Lanham MD: Roman & Littlefield, 2000. ISBN 0-8476-9559-X That ban was extended a few weeks later to include additional... Read More