Campaign Trail

Into the breech with George

George W. Bush announced Friday that he would spend $1 million a year as governor of Texas to provide free trigger locks for handgun owners in the state and would push for a similar national initiative, at a cost of $65million a year, if he is elected president.

Although Bush had not previously demonstrated much enthusiasm for a government role in promoting trigger locks and had stressed that they were not a panacea for gun violence, he presented his new approach as a way “to be common-sensical about how we deal with gun safety.”

He also conceded that his announcement was being made with an eye toward the Million Mom March in Washington, where women from around the country will gather this weekend to call for stricter gun control.

Into the breach with Al

Prodded by both local Democrats and his presidential rival, Vice President Al Gore dipped a toe into the debate over salmon preservation in Portland on Friday, but didn’t get very wet.

“I feel it is irresponsible to make a decision or draw a conclusion without consulting all of the parties involved and without utilizing hard science,” Gore told about 200 people Friday at Portland Community College.

The vice president had been urged by Oregon Democrats to speak up on the issue.

Bush has pledged to block any attempt to breach the dams and has ridiculed Gore for not taking a stand: “My opponent ought to take a position on this important issue, and the fact that he will not may indicate what kind of president he will be.”