Public Radio: Is Bullock Exploiting Nephew’s Death?

Is Governor Steve Bullock (D-MT) exploiting his nephew's death nearly two decades ago as he seeks to run as a Democrat presidential candidate in 2020? That certainly seems to be the not-so-subtle message coming from veteran reporters Sally Mauk, with Montana Public Radio, and longtime capitol correspondent Chuck Johnson.

Here's what they had to say about Bullock's flip-flop on gun control, and his op-ed that printed nationally in USA Today, during their weekly "campaign beat" segment on MTPR:

CJ: Well, it's interesting. Bullock also cites the tragedy in which a nephew of his was killed on a Butte playground by someone shooting a gun.

SM: Many years ago.

CJ: Yeah, I think it was in the early '90s’. And the weird thing is, Bullock has never mentioned that before in any of his races in Montana, and really sort of taken a fairly conservative stance on gun control here. But, as he's running for president, we're seeing him kind of modify that to be stronger advocate of gun control and background checks.