Sniper Victim's Mother Pleads For Gun Laws

MSNBC ^ | 2-7-03 | MSNBC

[MissTargets]

Sniper Victim's Mother Pleads For Gun Laws

ANNAPOLIS, Md., 10:15 p.m. EST February 6, 2003 - The mother of one of the men killed in the sniper shootings made an emotional appeal in Annapolis Thursday for three gun control bills.

SNIPER ATTACKS Timeline, Map SNIPER ATTACKS: SPECIAL COVERAGE Sponsors say the bills will plug loopholes or tighten current gun laws. They also hope the legislation will be better received coming on the heels of the sniper killings.

"I am here today because I am outraged," said Sonia Wills, whose son, Conrad Johnson (pictured, left), was the last victim of the snipers. He was killed on Oct. 22.

Wills is joining gun control groups to support a package of gun control bills before the Maryland General Assembly.

One would expand current ballistic fingerprinting, which now covers handguns, to include rifles and shotguns.

Another bill would ban all types of assault weapons. Supporters argue the federal ban only covers certain models.

"That means the gun industry can and does make copycat weapons just as deadly as those banned, but just different enough to elude the ban," said Leah Barrett of Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse.

And a third bill would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen gun.

Gun control advocates feel they have more clout in the legislature this year because of the sniper shootings that terrorized the region last fall.

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose and Sonia Wills (pictured, left) served as reminders at Thursday's news conference.

A handful of gun control opponents also attended Thursday's event. They argue the tight restrictions will drive gun shops from the state.

The gun advocates heckled Wills as she spoke. She didn't let their shouts go unanswered.

"I demand that the gun lobby look me in the eye when they say guns don't kill people, people kill people. Because, after all, the man or men who killed my son, Conrad, from hundreds of yards away could not have used a knife or their bare hands. The only weapon they could have used to fulfill their bloody mission was a gun," Wills said.

During his election campaign, Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich said the state already had some of the toughest gun laws in the nation. He advocates tougher sentencing for criminals.

Lawmakers believe they have the votes to get the bills to the governor's desk. However, they do not believe they have the votes to override a veto.

[MissTargets]

bang

[Straight Vermonter]

We should make guns illegal then we will no longer have to worry about guns. After all the drug laws have been effective in keeping drugs out of the country.

[PLMerite]

They can pass all the laws they want. They'll still have to climb over a lot of bodies to pry my gun from my cold, dead hands.

[Core_Conservative]

Don't they have very strict gun laws in England? So this 17 year old kid would not have been able to get a gun? What is it with these people, do they really think that having more gun laws will make criminals start obeying the law?

[Wonder Warthog]

"One would expand current ballistic fingerprinting, which now covers handguns, to include rifles and shotguns."

I "REALLY, REALLY" want one of the anti-gunners to explain to me just how they are going to get a "ballistic fingerprint" on a SHOTGUN!!!

[MissTargets]

Wills is joining gun control groups to support a package of gun control bills before the Maryland General Assembly.

Her poor son, was probably not in the grave, before the gun grabbers paid her a visit.

[Dante3]

"Chief Moose endorses three gun-control bills," The Washington Times, Feb. 7, 2003, p. B3

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I "REALLY, REALLY" want one of the anti-gunners to explain to me just how they are going to get a "ballistic fingerprint" on a SHOTGUN!!!

That's the first thing that jumped off the page at me as well.

I believe that this proves that those proposing the laws and those in favor of the passing of the legislation are severely misinformed on the entire subject are are only interested in getting the 2nd Ammendment repealed...period. They know this would be losing battle so they seek to neuter it with more and more and more anti-gun laws. And that's what they are...anti-gun laws. I don't know why these pinheads call them gun laws.

[Jaxter]

[wita]

Death, by gun using sniper = Target rich environment for bottom feeders. Seems like groups concerned with the preservation of our liberties, would have a plan to check these suckers in their tracks. Or, is it more likely that serious ($you know what$) is being offered these folks for jumping into a fray they were not even interested in or converned about, until after the sniper paid (no pun entended) their loved ones a visit.

[wita]

Oops, converned? where did that come from? Well you know it is concerned, and I had to fix that one too, must be the c and v are too close to each other.

[Puppage]

The mother of one of the men killed in the sniper shootings made an emotional appeal in Annapolis Thursday for three gun control bills.

Well, there ya have it...I FEEEEEL we need more laws. Like these scum snipers would have said "oh, geez. We can't do THAT. THAT'S against the law".

Last time I looked MURDER WAS AGAINST THE LAW

[Warrior Nurse]

I really want to ask this lady, was the trigger squeezed by itself or did the weapon aim itself? We have Muhammad and Malvo in jail and they will fry for what they did. I think the anti-gunners are exploiting this poor woman for political gain.

[biblewonk]

Does it occur to this woman what a sniper could have done with a Remington hunting rifle in say .308? Do the 41,500 people killed in car accidents register to her?

[Puppage]

I agree. They will do whatever they can to stop law abiding citizens their right to bear arms.

[oyez]

The anti-gunners won't support the death penalty for Muhammad and Malvo and will probably support parole in a few years.

[AlabamaRebel]

"One would expand current ballistic fingerprinting, which now covers handguns, to include rifles and shotguns."

Fingerprinting would surely stop crimes NOT. It wouldn't help to solve crimes. As an ex firearms dealer I know people have to go through a background check to purchase a new frame for their weapon, but not a new barrel. Ballistics come from the rifling in the barrel, not the serial number on the frame. Shotguns? what ballistics.

"ban all types of assault weapons"

Now you know we just HAVE TO get rid of assault weapons. You have heard about all those gang related Drive By Bayoneting's haven't you?

"copycat weapons just as deadly as those banned"

A bolt action .22 caliber is just as deadly as the assault weapons they are trying to ban which happens to be .223 caliber (just a hair larger).

"report a lost or stolen gun"

This is the only intelligent thing they say. You should report it stolen. If you don't and it's used in a crime, you know the first person they will be questioning don't you?

"Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose"

You people in Montgomery County better really watch this guy, he was the chief here in Portland, Oregon. Not one soul around here is sorry he was forced out.

"I demand that the gun lobby look me in the eye when they say guns don't kill people, kill people. Because, after all, the man or men who killed my son, Conrad, from hundreds of yards away could not have used a knife or their bare hands. The only weapon they could have used to fulfill their bloody mission was a gun,"

If people don't kill people, guns kill people, then might I suggest they let the snipers out and put the weapon in prison.

If there would have been 200 people caring guns on the day of the first shooting, I'll just bet her son wouldn't have been shot. The snipers would have gone down, no trial no cost to tax payers.

I might also mention that not one of my weapons has ever killed anyone.

"Gov. Bob Ehrlich said the state already had some of the toughest gun laws in the nation."

DC and New York have the toughest gun laws in the nation. Look at how safe their cities are.

That's why I live where I do. We don't have the violent crimes in my town like other cities, because the criminals know that their occupation is VERY hazardous around here.

[AlabamaRebel]

I forgot to tell you all.

There really is no gun ban any ways.

You can have ANY weapon you want if your willing to pay the federal government the excise tax to own it.

Gun laws are not put in place to stop crime, they are put in plave to generate more revenue for the government.