SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The campaign to recall Gov. Gray Davis took a negative turn Tuesday, with gun-control groups taking aim at San Diego Congressman Darrell Issa, a key figure in the recall movement. The groups say Issa's real goal is to destroy some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation.

"The agenda of Congressman Issa and his backers is very clear and it's very dangerous to California. It would take us backwards and repeal our gun laws," said Luis Tolley, of the Brady Campaign to Stop Gun Violence.

Recall opponents released a videotape of the Great Western Gun Show, taken at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in 1998, when Issa was running for the U.S. Senate. The show included displays of Nazi flags not far from Issa's own booth.

"We're not making the accusation that Darrell Issa is a Nazi. However, I think it is fair to ask the question why he chose to participate in an event like this," Taxpayers Against the Governor's Recall spokesman Carroll Willis said.

Gun control is a hot-button issue that Davis successfully emphasized in winning the governorship. His backers are repeating that tactic -- part of a plan to shift the focus from Davis to the recall itself.

"Gray Davis runs sleazy campaigns and slimed everyone who ever ran against him. This is his usual campaign of personal attacks, and mine is no exception," Issa said.

"It's difficult for me to understand how Mr. Issa can complain about being demonized, when he's the one who put himself into the arena," Willis said.

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KCRA's Kevin Riggs Reports

Recall groups are now threatening to sue Secretary of State Kevin Shelly, claiming he is slowing down the count of petition signatures.

"I'm not charged with the responsibility of either speeding up or slowing down this election process. I'm charged with the responsibility of ensuring it's conducted accurately and fairly," Shelly said.

For Davis, the recall threat hangs like a cloud as Californians await a budget resolution.

"They do expect us to pull together in difficult times. And a recall pulls us in the opposite direction," Davis said.

Recall opponents noted that Issa has voted in the past to give the gun industry immunity from lawsuits, and they claim that he wants to overturn the state's ban on assault weapons.

Issa has been vague on the issue in recent newspaper interviews. An Issa spokesman said Tuesday that "the governor's goon squad is running a political drill."

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