Gun control a hot topic on the Hill

Paul Clinton

Chris Cox has been in the news lately, stumping against two gun

control bills and vocalizing support for a gun industry exemption.

Doesn’t ring a bell?

Perhaps that’s because it’s not Rep. Chris Cox, Newport Beach’s

congressman. This Chris Cox is the executive director of the National

Rifle Assn.

Both, however, could very well see eye to eye on a handful of

gun-related proposals now circulating in Congress.

Rep. Cox co-sponsored H.R. 1036, which would protect gun

manufacturers and dealers from civil liability claims brought by

victims of shootings. The House, with Cox voting “Aye,” passed the

bill on April 9. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) introduced similar

legislation, known as S. 659, in the upper house.

There are also two proposals in the works to extend a 1994 ban on

assault weapons. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has introduced S. 1034, which

would extend the ban beyond the Sept. 13, 2004 expiration date. If

the ban expires, manufacture of Uzis, AK-47s and other semi-automatic

weapons would be legal.

Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-New York), Chris Shays (R-Conn.) and

John Conyers (D-Mich.) have introduced a similar bill, H.R. 2038, in

the House.

Cox, the fifth highest-ranking House leader, could not be reached

for a comment on the assault weapons ban extension. House Majority

Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), on Tuesday, said the House proposal isn’t

expected to reach the floor for a vote.

“The votes in the House are not there,” DeLay was quoted as saying

in the Washington Post on Wednesday.

Feinstein lashed out at DeLay for it on Wednesday.

“Yesterday, Tom DeLay said that House Republicans would let the

assault weapons ban die,” Feinstein said in a statement. “If

Republicans want to be the party in support of assault weapons, let

them be that party.”

On May 1, a third gun-related proposal came out of the office of

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey). With S. 969, as it is known,

Lautenberg wants to close loopholes that have allowed terrorists to

acquire firearms and closely monitor handgun transfers during periods

of heightened security risk.

Cox was not available for a specific comment on that bill, but, in

a statement from his office, said he supports efforts to limit gun

violence.

“Also, as you can see from the NRA and Gun Owners of America rated

votes, I part company from their organizations whenever the issue is

California’s right to enact gun control laws,” Cox said. “The 2nd

Amendment does not restrict the states, only the federal government.”

While gun-rights groups don’t rank high on his list of financial

donors, Cox clearly isn’t popular with the Brady Campaign, a top

gun-control group. The group rates him an 11% on their Legislative

Scorecard, meaning he has sided with that group, on floor votes, few

times on notable gun-related bills.

Cox is also used to running across others with his name. Earlier

this week, at a speaking engagement in New York, Cox met another Cox,

President Richard Nixon’s grandson by way of Patricia Nixon and

Edward Finch Cox.

Cristich hitting the campaign trail hard

Cristi Cristich has been using her shoe leather on the

fund-raising trail in a bid to win the 70th Assembly District seat to

replace John Campbell.

Cristich held a fund-raiser on May 8 at Scott’s Seafood Grill &

Bar in Costa Mesa.

The event was hosted by Dwight Decker, the chief executive of

Conexant Systems Inc.; former state Sen. Marion Bergeson; and former

Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer.

Cristich said the event netted her $50,000 from about 150 business

donors.

“The enthusiasm out there shows that my pro-business message is

resonating well,” Cristich said. “I spoke extensively on the need to

focus on the economic malaise that has faced the state.”

On Wednesday evening, Cristich held another fund-raiser, this time

privately, at the Santa Ana offices of accounting firm Singer, Lewak,

Greenbaum & Goldstein.

Garden Grove candidates set to take over

Van Tran, the Garden Grove councilman and Republican who is

seeking the 68th District seat to represent Costa Mesa, also held a

fund-raiser.

Tran, the first Asian American to hold public office in Orange

County, raised more than $75,000 at an event in Huntington Beach on

April 27.

The event was held at the Huntington Beach Yacht Club and was

attended by Assemblyman Ken Maddox, who has endorsed Tran, and Rep.

Dana Rohrabacher.

More than 300 supporters showed up for the event.

“Van Tran is hitting on all cylinders,” said Wayne Johnson, his

campaign consultant. “He’s wrapped up key endorsements early and is

now one of the leading fund-raisers in the state.”

Mark Leyes, another Garden Grove councilman, has also declared his

intention to run for the seat.

No Costa Mesa candidates have put their hats in the ring as yet.

Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan, who is a Republican supporter, has

said he won’t seek the seat.