opinion

Bernie Sanders touts 'radical' ideas but plays it safe on guns

Sen. Bernie Sanders was about a third of the way into his half-hour speech in Des Moines on Friday when a man in the audience shouted: “Gun control! We need gun control now!”

Sanders, who had already talked about raising the minimum wage, tuition-free college, criminal justice reform, Medicare for all, and campaign finance reform, ignored the shout.

He talked for another 10 minutes or so about President Trump and his proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security and his tax reform plan that benefited the wealthiest Americans. “It turned out that Donald Trump is a pathological liar,” he said, drawing a roar of approval from the crowd.

He even mentioned net neutrality and circled back to health care before bringing up the issue that has dominated national forums since last week’s mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school.

The crowd of about 200 at the rally clapped appreciatively when he brought up “common-sense” gun safety, as they did through most of Sanders’ speech. The Vermont senator made no emotional appeal and only mentioned Parkland briefly.

More: Bernie Sanders says his 2016 team saw effects of Russian anti-Clinton campaign

Sanders called for ending the gun-show loophole for background checks, stopping people on a terrorism no-fly list from buying firearms and stopping so-called “straw purchases” used to allow felons to circumvent federal background checks.

“More and more people are saying … we’ve seen it in the tragedy in Parkland, the disaster in Las Vegas, is that assault weapons are meant to kill human beings,” Sanders said.

More: Obradovich: First official 2020 candidate brings future-focused agenda

For a former presidential candidate who prided himself on proposing “radical ideas,” Sanders’ remarks and proposals on gun control seemed safe, bland and underwhelming. In other words, he hasn’t changed much on this issue from the 2016 presidential campaign, when he spoke about it carefully and usually only when asked.

Hillary Clinton criticized Sanders during the 2016 primary campaign for voting repeatedly against the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Clinton said Sanders voted against legislation to prevent the so-called "Charleston loophole," which allowed the shooter who killed nine people at a South Carolina church to buy guns legally despite a drug charge.

Sanders also repeated the line he often used on the campaign trail that his constituents in Vermont are avid hunters and gun-owners.

Pete D’Alessandro, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 3rd District, spoke before Sanders. He also received a prompt from the audience after he brought up public support for closing the gun-show loophole and keeping guns away from people with dangerous mental illnesses. “How about a ban on assault rifles?” a woman in the audience shouted.

“I’m all for it,” D’Alessandro said. But then he turned the discussion back to campaign finance reform, claiming the NRA was able to “buy congressmen.”

Sanders has endorsed D’Alessandro, who was a top aide to Sanders’ Iowa campaign in 2016.

More: Bernie Sanders endorses Pete D'Alessandro in Iowa's 3rd District race

Sanders has been a trail-blazer on progressive issues, especially related to economic inequity. But on gun control, it seemed like Sanders’ audience was taking the lead. That may have been the smart play for a presidential candidate in 2016 but it may not wear well if Sanders should decide to try again.

“Guns are a big topic right now,” said Rick Robertson of Des Moines, who attended the rally with his wife, Georgia. “I’ve got a lot of friends (who served) in Vietnam, Vietnam veterans, and I haven’t heard one of them support assault weapons on the streets,” he said.

He said he thinks the NRA scares politicians. “This school shooting is going to happen again.”

Column: 'Gun-friendly' Iowa could allow permit-free weapon carrying, kill last few restrictions

About half the Democrats I talked to at the rally said they would like to see Sanders run again for president in 2020, although some suggested it would be hard for him to win.

“I would love for him to be able to run for president,” said Hannah Klausner, 30, of Des Moines. She mentioned gun control as one of the issues she cares about, as well as education, immigration and racial justice.

Her companion at the rally, Bonnie Brown, 27, of Des Moines, joined Hannah in getting a selfie with Sanders. “I’ve always agreed with a lot of the things Bernie stood for.”

But she said she has another candidate in mind for 2020: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. “If she runs, I will definitely support her.”

Ravyn Sanford, 18, of Albia attended the rally with her mother, Rebecca Sanford. She said she would like to see Sanders “at least try to run,” although she said it would be difficult.

In the meantime, though, she said she appreciates Sanders’ efforts on behalf of Democrats like D’Alessandro. “It would give society more encouragement to listen to him,” Ravyn Sanford said.

Sanders’ continued popularity and ability to direct donations toward progressive candidates means he’ll be in demand in Iowa even if he doesn’t seem viable for 2020.

As the rally ended, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cathy Glasson was waiting for a chance to speak to Sanders. I asked if she would seek the senator’s endorsement. “We’re going to talk about that, of course we are,” she said.