Georgia Representative Phil Gingrey outraged Liberal observers when he spoke about rape and pregnancy when he spoke before the Chamber of Commerce in his Atlanta-area district. He said that his position was misconstrued.
Representative Gingrey also became the most conservative member of Congress to open the door to more limitations on guns. He said that he sees large magazines a problem. He added that he would be willing to listen to the possibility of a limit in the type of magazine available for civilians.
Gingrey said he was open to revisions of a loophole that allows buyers to buy firearms at gun shows without the need of a background check. Gun control advocates say that up to 40 percent of gun buyers in the United States use the loophole to acquire guns.
Vice President Joe Biden said that a similar consensus was reached during his summit with various stakeholders in the gun debate. He noted that people suggested having universal background checks and not just close the gun show loophole. They want universal background checks in all gun sales including private sales.
Gingrey is not the first Republican to suggest new restrictions on gun ownership after the mass shooting in Newtown. New York Republican Peter King called for reinstating the assault-weapon ban that expired during George W. Bush’s Administration. But King is a moderate Republican from a state with strict gun law. On the other hand, Gingrey is a southern conservative with an A rating from the NRA. His remarks suggest that there is common ground between the two parties regarding the gun control debate.
