What candidates are NOT talking about, Pt. 2: Guns & marriage equality

Hour 2

We’re continuing our look at neglected campaign issues this hour and turning out focus to gun control and gay rights.  Despite several recent high-profile mass shootings, the issue of gun control has hardly been mentioned this election. When it was finally raised as a single question at the second presidential debate, neither candidate gave a satisfactory answer about a ban on assault weapons.  And, while President Obama endorsed same-sex marriage this spring, he’s been relatively silent about his support of it on the campaign trail.  Likewise, Governor Romney hasn’t been overly vocal about his opposition to same-sex marriage. This hour, we’ll explore why both these issues have received the silent treatment.  First, Marty talks with ADAM WINKLER, professor of law at the University of California Los Angeles and author of “Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms.”  Then, PATRICK EGAN, assistant professor of politics and public policy at New York University explains why the candidates have avoided the subject of gay marriage.

Listen:
[audio: 103112_110630.mp3]

Photo: AP Images/Kevin P. Casey