A simple question was asked of the incumbent and the challenger

Urban gun violence remains a significant issue in many U.S. cities. What steps should be taken to quell this issue?”

Here's how they answered

Politician A

“Urban gun violence is obviously a deeply troubling issue throughout much of this nation. Like most citizens, I am deeply concerned about this matter and recognize the need for a comprehensive response to the challenge. I firmly believe, however, that legal gun ownership is not the root cause for our current problems. Indeed, if more regulations and restrictions were the answer, places like Washington, DC, would be among the lowest, not the highest crime rates in our nation. The reality is too many gun control measures target law-abiding gun owners rather than the criminals who use them. In my judgment, our efforts are best directed to enforcing those laws currently on the books, by increasing assistance to local police agencies and encouraging the swift arrest, prosecution, and punishment of those who would do us harm. The best deterrent to the utilization of firearms in a crime is for the criminal to understand that if he or she ignores our laws, they will be caught, swiftly prosecuted, and punished.”

Politician B

“I was raised in the country, taught by my father to respect guns and to care for them appropriately. I have owned guns throughout my life, but I made a conscious choice to dispose of them when my children began toddling around the house. This was a personal decision I had to make in order to feel that my children were safe in our home. Our nation is haunted by irresponsible gun ownership; haunted by people that don’t make good or sensible decisions about responsible ownership and guns continue to fall into the wrong hands. I support the American right to gun ownership, but we need to take steps to make certain that gun ownership is educated, informed and that they stop falling into the wrong hands and continue to pose a threat to the right of Americans to live in peace, without threat of bodily harm.”

Not knowing the politicians' name nor party affiliation, it should be clear which one subscribes to increased liberty and which one believes the state is required to ensure we're wrapped snugly in politically provided bubble wrap.

Whenever you ask someone their view on the right to keep and bear arms and the first line out of their mouth is that they have or had guns or were raised around them, you can almost assure yourself they do not trust you to have them. Rarely is the "I'm a gun owner" not followed by a "but".

Our nation is haunted by irresponsible doctors, irresponsible congressweasels, irresponsible drivers, etc. In fact, in every aspect of our lives, we are surrounded by irresponsibility yet can only be responsible for our own. Certain politicians would like to make people believe they can enact more controls on our lives that would absolve us of that responsibility, but like most government intrusion is a smoke screen that does nothing of the sort.

If you care to know the real candidates I'm speaking of, the original article is here.