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Can Democrats avoid gun talk?

Some candidates try to shy away from the issue of regulating firearms. But doing so for long might be difficult.

Dwight Stansel is that rare Democrat who wins elections among rural, white voters in North Florida. He has simple advice for Democrats who want to do the same:

"There's no such thing as sensible gun control in North Florida," says the farmer and state representative from Suwannee County. "If you're on the wrong side of that issue, nothing else matters,really."

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a new national star after showing how Democrats can win over red states, stayed far away from gun control when he courted voters in depressed rural areas of Virginia: "A lot of what we tried to offer was hope - but they had to hear me first." If you talk about gun control, he said, "Sometimes, they don't hear anything else."

So it is that Democrats in Florida and across the country no longer talk much about regulating firearms. More and more, they view the issue as political poison.

"I don't go as far as some people. I'm not for registering guns," Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis quickly responded last week when asked about his record supporting gun control measures. He never talks up gun control in his standard stump speech.

But in the Democratic gubernatorial primary between U.S. Rep. Davis of Tampa and state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua, guns may be one of their starkest differences. The National Rifle Association gives Smith an "A" for his record on gun legislation and Davis an "F."

Davis' grade is based on consistently voting against the NRA on federal proposals, and Smith has consistently supported the NRA's position on state proposals.

Whether Smith and Davis like it or not, ardent advocates on both sides of the gun debate are determined to make the candidates talk about the issue.

"I'm not aware of a single time that Smith has voted against Second Amendment issues, and I'm not aware of a single time where Davis has voted the right way," said Marion Hammer, the NRA's influential lobbyist in Tallahassee. "Davis got his F the old-fashion way. He earned it."

Among other things, Davis supported a federal assault weapons ban and background checks for gun show purchases, and he opposed banning lawsuits against gunmakers and gun sellers.

In Tallahassee, Smith's consistent support for NRA positions has included voting to prohibit lawsuits against gunmakers and sellers, to protect gun ranges from the costs of pollution and to prevent police from keeping permanent records of pawned guns.

Last year, Smith and all other state senators voted to make Florida the first state with a law dubbed the "Castle Doctrine" by supporters and "Shoot First Law" by critics. It allows Floridians to use deadly force even if they could have fled and says authorities must presume would-be victims feared for their lives.

"I've always been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment," Smith said of his record on guns. Firearms are part of his culture, he said, recounting how after several long days of campaigning, he and his son recently shot skeet together.

Both Democrats may find their NRA grades politically awkward. Davis doesn't want to antagonize registered Democrats in North Florida by being cast as out of step with their values. Nor can Smith afford to alienate too many liberal primary voters who loathe the NRA and embrace gun control.

"Voters are more progressive in South Florida, and that kind of message is not going to play well there," predicted Arthur Hayhoe, executive director of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. But he acknowledged Democrats no longer want to emphasize gun control.

Uncomfortable as the issue may be for both Democrats, they may have little choice as the campaign heats up.

"Whether they like it or not, we're going to do everything in our power to make sure the gun issue is on the radar screen in a big way next year," said Peter Hamm of the Washington-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "They're going to need to talk about those things."

Likewise, NRA lobbyist Hammer promised that her group's 350,000 Florida members will be well-informed about Davis' record. The gun issue, she said, is a big reason why many registered Democrats vote Republican in general elections.

"That grade is a death knell issue for Davis in North Florida," said Rep. Stansel, a Smith supporter. "Being able to have a weapon is very important to people up here. They'll eat him up on that. The NRA'll do mailouts."

Davis noted he strongly supports hunters and sportsmen. He dismissed the potential problems the NRA might create if it tries to cast him as someone staunchly opposed to gun rights.

"I'm proud of my record, and when I talk to Floridians about my values and their rights and responsibilities, I get a very good response," Davis said. "One reason I started so early in trying to build an army of concerned Democrats and concerned Floridians is because I want people to know who I am and what I believe in before people start distorting my record."

Meanwhile, as Smith heads into a tough Democratic primary, he may finally have found an NRA-backed bill he can oppose.

State Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, is sponsoring a bill to ensure employees can bring firearms to work in their cars. Businesses would face criminal charges if they bar guns inside the cars in their parking lots.

The bill infringes on property rights, Smith said. If Shands at the University of Florida at Gainesville - a hospital - or Disney want to keep guns off their property, they should have that right.

As Democrats increasingly shy away from challenging the NRA, gun control advocates insist the NRA is overreaching on proposals such as that one, which they say will help gun control advocates regain their political footing.

"It's in a bit of a trough right now, but the (gun control) issue is never going away," Hamm said. "The NRA really has to frighten their people into thinking we're right around the corner waiting for the first opportunity to take away people's guns. But that's what they have to do to keep them passionate and keep those checks coming in, and they do it marvelously well."