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Dold calls for gun control; Schneider responds

The attack on Orlando's Pulse nightclub has rekindled a spat between Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold and Democrat Brad Schneider over guns after Dold reiterated his support for gun control legislation.

Dold gave a speech on the House floor Tuesday that was seen as a break with his party by calling for proposals that, among other things, would ban the sale of guns to people on certain terrorism watch lists.

"Keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of people who wish to do our country harm is a solution we should all be able to get behind," he said.

Challenger Schneider's campaign last year ran ads about Dold's votes in their race for the North suburban 10th Congressional District seat, saying Dold voted against Democrats' efforts to bring gun control measures to the floor.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee renewed that criticism Tuesday after Dold's speech.

"Illinois voters do not want Bob Dold's crocodile tears," campaign committee spokeswoman Sacha Haworth said in a statement. "They want action."

Dold's spokesman said those votes were procedural ones about interrupting debates on unrelated issues. He said Dold has supported the gun control proposal since his first term.

"Frankly, it's disgusting that they're trying to use this tragedy to score political points, and it's that type of hollow, patently dishonest rhetoric that prevents Congress from doing its job," Dold spokesman Brad Stewart said.

The dispute is likely to continue in the duo's third race for Congress against each other in a district likely to draw national attention as a key swing election in November.

Dold won the race to replace now-U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park in 2010. Schneider unseated Dold in 2012. Dold retook the seat in 2014.

Schneider prevailed in the March primary when gun issues played a role, too. He defeated Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, whose town was one of a few in Illinois to ban assault weapons.

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