Top of PageGun Policy News, 23 August 2000
Judge Finds Teen Guilty in Friend's Fatal Shooting
23 August 2000
Washington Post
A Montgomery County judge ruled yesterday that a 16-year-old Gaithersburg youth committed murder when he fatally shot a 15-year-old friend last month while playing with what he called his "toys"-his father's gun collection.
The youth, whose name is being withheld because he was tried as a juvenile, was found "involved"-the juvenile court term for guilty-in second-degree murder, manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, first-degree assault and... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Licensing Leads to Increased Crime, Lost Lives
23 August 2000
Los Angeles Times
Who could possibly oppose licensing handgun owners? Requiring training for potential gun owners both in a classroom and at a firing range before they are allowed to buy a gun seems obvious. Licensing, especially when eventually coupled with registration, will supposedly also help identify criminals and prevent them from getting guns.
Yet, as usual with guns, the debate over licensing mentions just the possible benefits while ignoring the real costs to people's safety.... (GunPolicy.org)
Mayors Ask for Free Time on TV to Respond to Ad by Gun Groups
23 August 2000
Philadelphia Daily News
WASHINGTON — Nine metropolitan mayors, including Wilmington, Del., Mayor James Sills, have demanded that CNN and Philadelphia's WCAU-TV and KYW-TV stations give them air time to respond to a recent run of firearm advocacy advertisements.
The mayors charged that $10 million worth of advertisements produced and paid for by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund unfairly attacked their personal integrity, character and... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Bill Contradictory
23 August 2000
African National Congress
The intent and purpose of the draft Firearms Control Bill, which spells out the goal of crime prevention, was at cross purposes with the fact that the bill dealt mainly with curbing existing rights of law-abiding, responsible gunowners, the Professional Hunters' Association of SA (Phasa) said on Wednesday.
In a submission to the National Assembly's safety and security committee, Phasa president Ronnie Rowland said the bill's purpose of "preventing the proliferation of... (GunPolicy.org)
Weapons Flow to Colombian Rebels Halted
23 August 2000
International Herald Tribune
LIMA — The Peruvian authorities have broken up a multinational gun-running ring that sent weapons from Jordan to Marxist rebels in Colombia, according to President Alberto Fujimori.
Mr. Fujimori said the ring had supplied Russian-made assault rifles through Peru to Colombia's biggest and most violent insurgent group, the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces.
"The arms were acquired in Amman," Mr. Fujimori said at a press conference Monday. "They were then shipped on... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Safety 101
23 August 2000
Washington Post, Editorial
Today's dangerous facts of life include guns, and health courses in schools ought to teach children at least a little something about the hazards of firearms in their midst. In Maryland, two state lawmakers who differ sharply on the need for more gun controls do agree that gunfire-like drug abuse or HIV infection-is enough of a threat to public health that firearm safety should be addressed in the classroom. Democratic State Sen. Barbara A. Hoffman of Baltimore, who... (GunPolicy.org)
Bush Redux Will Empower the NRA
23 August 2000
Los Angeles Times, Opinion
When a million moms marched in Washington and 70 other cities in May, their platform was straightforward. They asked for safety training and licensing for handgun owners; the closing of loopholes that allow criminals, kids and the mentally ill to get guns; and tough enforcement of our gun laws. The mothers also said that if our current lawmakers won't enact these measures, they will elect people who will.
For anyone who cares about the gun issue, the November election... (GunPolicy.org)
