By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer -- Mon Mar 30, 8:56 am ET WASHINGTON - When Democrats acted last month to give the District of Columbia long-denied voting rights in Congress, the powerful gun lobby saw a target too good not to take a shot at.
The National Rifle Association 's lobbyists made it clear to lawmakers that they believed the bill should include a measure to overturn the capital's gun control laws . Left mostly unsaid, but well understood by all 535 members of the House and Senate, was that failure to do so would unleash a barrage of political pain on resisters.
The result showed the strong sway the NRA has even over a Congress dominated by liberal Democrats who mostly disagree with the organization's positions. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to add the gun-rights proposal. House Democratic leaders, fearing a tough vote on the issue, swiftly scrapped plans to consider the D.C. voting legislation.
The bill hasn't resurfaced because Democrats cannot figure out how to keep it from splitting their ranks. Moderates and conservatives don't want to buck the NRA. Liberals are reluctant to be blackmailed into loosening gun laws .
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090330/ap_on_go_co/congress_at_gunpoint
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