Bid to curb gun violence is worth a shot

Chicago Sun Times ^ | 2-19-03

[SJackson]

Seasoned observers of gun control battles can be forgiven for not spilling their coffee, in excitement or dismay, over Mayor Daley's newly proposed gun control legislation. Much in it is familiar, including measures that previously failed to gain approval in the General Assembly. Once again, new laws are being pushed when existing ones aren't always being enforced as vigorously as we would hope.

But while we certainly would like to see a greater commitment to prosecuting owners of illegal handguns in the city--and not only gang-bangers and career criminals, but anyone in wrongful possession--there's a lot to be said for turning up the heat on gun law violators by fortifying and expanding the measures aimed at them.

Limiting gun purchases to one a month (there is currently no limit) is a practical way to bring down the number of guns in the wrong hands. It permits authorities to go after straw purchasers, who buy them on behalf of felons and others who cannot pass background checks. It stands to reason that the more difficult it is for criminals to get guns, the less shootings there will be. Exemptions could be allowed for anyone with a legitimate reason to exceed the limit.

A "cooling-off" period of 10 days before a buyer can take possession of a gun, up from three, is another measure worth supporting. We also are in favor of requiring gun makers to conduct test-firings to compile the "fingerprints" left on bullets by individual guns, instituting background checks on guns bought at gun shows and classifying as a felony having a secret gun compartment in a car. And in the absence of a system of federal licensing of gun dealers, Daley's proposal to have the state license them makes sense.

Whether we need to join California, New York and other states in banning assault weapons when a federal ban already exists (albeit one that will expire in 2004 if not renewed by Congress) is open to debate. But raising the price of a Firearm Owner's Identification cardfrom $5 to $25 is a reasonable hike to cover FOID administrative costs. Gov. Blagojevich unsuccessfully campaigned as a state legislator to raise it to $500 but abandoned that during his gubernatorial campaign. The governor, who likely will support Daley's other gun control proposals, says raising the FOID even "a penny" has "no hopes of passage."

The mayor hopes to prove him wrong.

[cruiserman]

What are illegal handguns? Why is "gun" violence (whatever that means) worse than other types of violence?

[Chi-townChief]

How about one from the mildly amusing Richard Roeper?

http://www.suntimes.com/output/roeper/cst-nws-roep19.html

[Destructor]

Makes me glad that I don't live in Chicago!

[Protagoras]

Mayor Daley should be more concerned with stopping Night Clubs from burning down.

A night club burned down?

[Destructor]

That is easier said than done. Most large urban areas have become cesspools of Liberalism courtesy of the Publik Skool System.

[Protagoras]

How about one from the mildly amusing far left lunatic Richard Roeper?

[demosthenes the elder]

grrrr...
these people will never quit their incrementalism until they are all lined up against a wall...

[hoosierskypilot]

You want to reduce gun violence? Then start getting violent with criminals. Build more prisons. Start executing murderers who, in many cases, have been on death row for many years. And arm the populace. More guns=less crime.

[demosthenes the elder]

more on the Illinois/Chicago gun control issue, in case you have yet to see it.

[RamingtonStall]

Reference your: <<"Enforcing the existing gun laws is the answer,.." to which you responded: "Exactly," ">>

Only one minor problem, Most, if not all, of the existing Guns Laws are Unconstitutional.
In my State, OHIO, the existing laws are currently working their way to the Ohio Supreme Court after being ruled unconstitutional by several criminal courts and one Appellate Court. And, of course, the laws in Ohio also are unconstitutional in the face of our Second ammendment rights.

So we have Politicians swearing to uphold and protect the Constitutions of the USA and/or the States against ALL enemies, Foreign and Domestic, only to immediately go out and try to enforce and expand Unconstitutional Laws.

Hardly makes sense to encourage the bastards, does it?

RamS

[metalurgist]

Why not pass a law making it illegal for a crack head to steal more than one gun a month?

This bullship about stopping straw purchases is bullship.

How about a law that makes it unlawful for one drug dealer to shoot another drug dealer over a dispute about territory.

[TheRightGuy]

Five bucks is a significant bite if you're trying to stretch a paycheck. 25 starts to limit the gun-owning demographic

It's worse than that. What the article fails to point out is that the current $5 fee is paid once every five years, and the proposed $25 fee would have to be paid annually. In actuality it works out to a 2500% increase in the fee!

It sucks!

[SJackson]

It's also worth pointing out that a prudent gunowner in Illinois makes sure everyone in his family has an FOID, whether they're a shooter or not, including children. Another multiplier.

[dogbrain]

I dunno...
waiting 10 days makes me REALLY mad.

[elbucko]

Hardly makes sense to encourage the bastards, does it?

No it doesn't, but that is the reality within which we live. The "State Legislative Class" is now, with the money involved, an organism unto itself and devoted only to self preservation by re-election and not at all by a sense of duty to the Constitution.

I don't know what the answer is. Perhaps making it a rule of legislature that any law introduced MUST have funding for enforcement. This would make many gun laws "Budget Busters" and impact gun controllers in a serious way.
I won't hold my breath.

[RamingtonStall]

IT seems that now is the best opportunity we have had in years to take the Gun Control Laws to the Supreme Courts and to win back our Rights in the same way the Gun Grabbers have taken them away from us. They chipped at our rights one bite at a time as we (and our Fathers and Grand-fathers) paid attention to other matters which were deemed to be more important at the time.

Now, there is a good 2nd Amendment case heading to the US Supreme Court and we have one going to the Ohio Supreme Court with another case close on its heels.

Reality is that we can beat these unconstitutional laws if we put our minds and our efforts to it.

Cheers! ([: ^ )

RamS