WASHINGTON — As the nation marks the one-year anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, politicians are setting their sights on what promises to be one of the most divisive issues of the 2000 campaigns: gun control. Nearly two-thirds of Americans support enacting stricter gun laws, according to an ABCNEWS poll. And with the prevalence of gun violence on the rise, politicians are reacting. During this month alone, Massachusetts announced that it would begin... (GunPolicy.org)

The new federal firearms registry has cost taxpayers $327 million so far and is running up a yearly bill nearly 10 times higher than what the government forecast in 1995. Despite the cost-and with more than 1,000 police officers and bureaucrats working for the registry-critics say it is unlikely the government will meet its Jan. 1, 2001, deadline for licensing all gun owners. Even the Canadian Firearms Centre admits that as of February, only 142,324 new licences had... (GunPolicy.org)

A Norfolk farmer who claimed he was only defending himself and his home when he shot dead a teenage intruder during a burglary was jailed for life yesterday after being convicted of murder. Tony Martin: said he had been in fear of his life when he shot at the intruders The judge said the fates of Tony Martin, 55, and Fred Barras, the 16-year-old he killed with a shotgun blast to the back, were "a dire warning" to burglars and householders who used unreasonable force to... (GunPolicy.org)

A year ago, Daniel Mauser told his father he was concerned about a loophole in the Brady law that he felt made it too easy for people to buy guns. It was only a passing remark, and Tom Mauser didn't give it much thought. But two weeks later, his 15- year-old son was gunned down in the school library by two students on a deadly shooting spree in a quiet Denver suburb. It is a year later, and Tom Mauser, who is still mourning his son's death, is a passionate gun-control... (GunPolicy.org)

TEMPLE — Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush called on Thursday for aggressive enforcement of gun laws and greater emphasis on character education as Americans "wrestle with the lessons" of the Columbine tragedy a year later. On the anniversary of the shooting in Littleton, Colo., that left 15 dead, including the two teenagers who opened fire on their schoolmates and teachers at Columbine High, Bush said the images of children running frantically for... (GunPolicy.org)

PEORIA, Arizona — A man armed with a rifle and handguns walked into a meeting at a retirement community recreation center and opened fire Wednesday, killing one woman and injuring four other people. The unidentified gunman was arrested at the scene, police said. The shooting occurred about 2 p.m. while the victims were attending a meeting of the Ventana Lakes community association. Sgt. Shawn Gormley said there was no known motive. Authorities described the suspect... (GunPolicy.org)

WASHINGTON — Three-fourths of Americans, including a majority of gun owners, favor requiring guns to be sold with trigger locks, an Associated Press poll found. People had mixed feelings about whether tougher gun laws or stricter enforcement was the most effective way to cut violence. The poll found that 43 percent thought stricter enforcement was more likely to cut gun violence, while 33 percent said enacting tougher gun laws was a better approach. A fifth of those... (GunPolicy.org)

It is disappointing, though not really surprising, that Smith & Wesson would try to retreat from some parts of its deal with the Clinton administration to change the way it designs, distributes and markets guns. The company's embrace of a sensible menu of safety restrictions in exchange for ending threatened lawsuits against it brought fierce criticism and financial pressure from other firearms manufacturers, distributors and gun dealers. But Smith & Wesson cannot... (GunPolicy.org)