Why was gun control so salient in 2000?

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

It was the phony outrage du jour dreamed up by Republican strategists. It was gay marriage in 2004. It was teh Socialism!!!!111 in 2010.

So Republicans were so against Gun Control in 2000 that George Bush went on record saying he'd sign the renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban if it came across his desk, he was for instant background checks, and in favor of trigger locks.

My god my god.........he's almost as much of a fearmonger as that Russ Feingold!

Bush ran as a fairly moderate Republican in 2000... after he trashed McCain in the primary, that is.  He even said we should adopt a friendlier military policy and let the states decide on the gay marriage issue.  It's kind of a wonder how he got the nomination at all.  But still, everyone knows how he kept those promises during his presidency.  And the Assault Weapons Ban was never actually renewed, if I recall correctly.