Opponents Back Same Gun Plan Craig, Minnick Support Background Checks

Republican Sen. Larry Craig supports the same criminal background check system for handgun purchasers that his campaign claims makes Democratic challenger Walt Minnick a threat to gun owners.

In response to a National Education Association questionnaire, Craig wrote on April 16 that “I have supported and helped enact a workable instant background check system for felon records.”

An instant check system is what Idaho has had since the state had to comply with the Brady Bill that otherwise imposes a 5-day waiting period before a gun can be bought.

But a fund-raising letter sent out last week over Craig’s signature cited Minnick’s support of the Brady Bill in justifying its claim that he is against the Second Amendment.

Campaign spokesman Mike Tracy said the anti-gun charge against Minnick was justified, at least in part, by Minnick’s response to the same NEA questionnaire. On that questionnaire, Minnick wrote, “I favor the Brady Bill as implemented in Idaho.”

After the fund-raising letter was circulated, Minnick accused the incumbent and member of the board of directors of the National Rifle Association of lying about his position on gun control - a claim Tracy rejected.

The questionnaire answers did show the candidates at odds on one issue - weapon-free schools.

Minnick said simply he supports weapon-free school environments. Craig said he understood the dangers involved when children handle firearms and “that is why I helped Senator Herb Kohl draft the ‘Youth Handgun Safety Act’ provision which was contained in the last anti-crime bill to pass the Congress. However, to the degree that schools provide firearms instruction and training, such as safety or ROTC programs, I do not think a guarantee of “weapon-free” schools necessarily promotes safety or even makes sense.”