From: [c d t] at [sw.stratus.com] (C. D. Tavares)
Newsgroups: alt.law-enforcement,talk.politics.guns
Subject: Re: New US gun control bill
Date: 20 Jul 1993 17:34:45 GMT

In article <[nagleCADE 8 I F 7 C] at [netcom.com]>, [n--g--e] at [netcom.com] (John Nagle) writes:

>      Following is the text of S.892, currently being considered in
> Congress, intended to totally prohibit private ownership of handguns and
> ammo.  

>      I think the time has come for this.  It's comparable to the
> restrictions Japan and Britain enforce. 

And, since these restrictions have been in force in Britain, their
violent crime has been growing at a rate LARGER than that in the US.

> The key item here is ammo;
> the US has a 100 year supply of guns, but only a 4 year supply of ammo.

Apparently you are ignorant of the technology involved.  Millions of 
people make their own ammunition TODAY with easily-available tools.
Cartridge casings are re-usable.  With a simple mold, you can make
bullets out of discarded tire weights.  A person with a simple press
can turn out hundreds of finished rounds in a hour in his own basement.

> It may take a decade to become effective, but if we are going to have
> restrictions, something like this is the way to go.  And it has to be
> national; state restrictions are ineffective.

You know, if it wasn't for that state where they grow all the cocaine,
we'd have that problem licked, too.  Which state is that, again?

>      NRA membership, and clout, has been dropping for years. 

Here's a clear sign of ignorance, of having been sucked in by the media.
NRA membership has NEVER BEEN HIGHER.  It is currently growing at the
rate of about 2,000 people PER DAY.  This fact is ascertainable to anyone
who examines the records.  The news sources that say the NRA is folding
are either incompetents or liars.  There's no third choice.  People who
believe them -- in particular on this topic -- are demonstrable dupes.

> A majority of Americans, in polls, favor something like this.

No, in fact, they don't.  The Louis Harris poll to which you probably
refer asked whether the people would be in favor of a licensing scheme,
not the outright banning of all handguns:

   "Do you favor or oppose a federal law banning the ownership
    of all handguns, except those given permission by a court of law?"

The contemporaneous Luntz-Weber poll asked people to agree or disagree
with the simple statement, 

   "No private individual should be allowed to own a handgun."

Only 27% agreed with this statement, while an overwhelming majority --
71%-- disagreed.

> So what's the law enforcement position?

The American Federation of Police:

"There are many Americans who fear for their lives.  They
know that often they will have to protect themselves, their own
families and their own property.  Should these people be disarmed?
There are enough laws.  No, we don't need to disarm our loyal
citizens, our friends and our neighbors.  We just need judges
with the guts to make the use of a gun in a crime a risk that few
will undertake in the future."

The National Police Officers Association of America:

"We feel that an American citizen of voting age and of good
character should have the right to purchase without restriction
a handgun, pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, or like item
without interference by a government body."


In a study conducted by the National Association of the Chiefs of
Police (NACP) through its American Law Enforcement Survey for 1989,
in which 16,259 chiefs of police, sheriffs and law-enforcement command
personnel were polled with a list of 30 questions, it was determined
the overwhelming majority of officers support the right of private
arms ownership, and agreed that gun bans had little effect on crime.

        -- Do you believe that law-abiding citizens should have the
        right to purchase any type of firearm for sport or
        self-defense under state laws that now exist?

        68.71% answered YES.

        -- Do you believe that the banning of firearms (handguns, shotguns,
        or rifles) will reduce the ability of criminals to obtain such
        weapons.

        90.18% answered NO.

        -- Do you believe that the banning of private ownership of
        firearms will result in fewer crimes from firearms?

        87.62% answered NO.

        -- Would you agree that most criminals obtain their weapons
        illegally?

        89.94% answered YES.

        -- Do you believe that a waiting period to purchase a handgun
        or any type of firearm will have any effect on criminals getting
        firearms?

        70.91% answered NO.

        -- A "military type" of long gun (Rifle, shotgun, etc.) is
        now being described as one being able to hold more than five
        rounds of ammunition. It must be fired by pulling the trigger
        each time. The legal description would cover many semi-automatic
        weapons. Do you believe that banning such weapons would reduce
        the likelihood of criminals obtaining such weapons.

        86.73% answered NO.

        -- Some states have longer waiting periods than others. Would
        you agree that it should be a state mandated law rather than
        a federal regulation as to firearms purchase requirements?

        62.64% answered STATE.

        -- Do you favor the training and issuance of semi-automatic
        firearms (sidearms) that carry 16-17 rounds over the present
        police  revolver?

        85% answered YES.

        -- Historically, the militia is "all men between the ages of
        16 and 45". Under the present armed forces defense of the
        United States, the National Guard must be able to mobilize
        in three days to back up our regular armed forces worldwide.
        Therefore, the only defense would be the "state militia"
        in time of war. Would you agree, that for the sake of the
        defense of the United States, citizens should be allowed to
        have their own rifles, shotguns and handguns for emergencies,
        natural or man made?

        85.69% answered YES.

        -- Do you feel that the system of criminal justice has broken
        down to the point where it is the inability to deal with
        criminals caught by police (prosecution and imprisonment)
        that is the major cause of crime in America?

        86.46% answered YES.

        -- Do you think the courts are soft on criminals in general?

        95.60% answered YES.

        -- Do you believe the media coverage of police-involved shootings
        encourages the riots or disturbances that have often followed
        publication or televised?

        90.12% answered YES.

        -- Do you think that the media that depicts violence, especially
        on TV, while at the same time encouraging the banning of firearms
        ownership for law-abiding citizens for sport or
        self-defense, is hypocritical?

        89.95% answered YES.

Hope this helps.
-- 

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