Democrat for Ohio Governor speaks out on guns

Two Ohio newspapers have recently featured "Q&A"-style interviews with front-running Democrat gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for excerpts that include Strickland's comments on firearms-related subjects.

From Columbus' The Other Paper:

The Ohio House has passed a bill that would nullify the assault-
weapons ban approved by Columbus City Council last year. Would you
sign it?

Strickland: "Yes, I would sign that because I believe that there is a
constitutional issue here. I believe that law-abiding people have a
right that is granted to them under the constitution.

And on a more practical level, I believe uniformity in a state's laws
regulating the ownership and use of firearms is much desirable over a
patchwork of laws that could occur throughout a state as big and as
diverse as Ohio."

From the Toledo Blade:

Q: Democrats often ask you about your support of gun rights. Is the party wrong on gun control?

A: I don’t know that the Democratic Party has a particular position on gun control. If it is different than mine, I would say I disagree with them.

Q: Do you think John Kerry lost Ohio in 2004 because of the gun issue?

A: I think that was one of the major factors, yes.… I don’t think he had a consistent message. I think he had a ‘theme of the week.’ I also think John Kerry didn’t know how to fight back.