Gillibrand Talks the Talk on Guns; Walking the Walk Pending

Since being told to evolve on guns by Chuck Schumer, new Senator and longtime NRA favorite Kirsten Gillibrand has been trying to show some sensitivity in that regard without looking weak. Yesterday, as the Times ran a story called “To Some in Gillibrand’s Old District, Her Evolution Is a Betrayal,” Gillibrand visited family and friends of 17-year-old gun victim Nyasia Pryear-Yard in East Flatbush, and told reporters, “We do need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” which is not inconsistent with her previous stands. Nonetheless it impressed Pryear-Yard’s mother (“I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt”) and some local media . The New York Post called her a “flip-flopper,” but their anger was directed more at her support for the stimulus bill and gay marriage. While Gillibrand says she’ll work with Bloomberg and Ray Kelly on “legislation that will help reduce gun violence,” the crowded Senate economic agenda will probably not give her too many opportunities to prove this, and we can assume her friends in the Democratic Senate will give her legislative cover if such votes roll around.