US shooting puts gun control back on the agenda

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

NEW YORK (AFP) — Gun control surged back onto the US agenda after the deadliest school shooting in US history, but with few politicians willing to take up the sensitive issue, chances of major change look remote.

With an estimated 40 percent of American households owning a gun and some 200 million weapons in private hands, according to surveys, challenging the constitutional right to bear arms is potentially a hugely unpopular move.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Tuesday that while President George W. Bush would contribute to the inevitable debate about gun ownership in the wake of Monday's shooting, now was not the time to discuss the issue.

"We understand that there is going to be and there has been an ongoing national discussion, conversation,...