NCJ Number
48834
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
POSSIBLE GUN CONTROL MEASURES ARE DISCUSSED BY ROBERT DIGRAZIA, AND THE EFFECTS GUN CONTROL WOULD HAVE ON THE PEOPLE ARE POINTED OUT BY STEPHEN NEAL IN THIS TAPED DEBATE.
Abstract
NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER ROBERT DIGRAZIA CALLS FOR A COMPLETE BAN ON ALL PRIVATE HANDGUNS. ONLY POLICE OFFICERS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO POSSESS GUNS. ANYONE WHO TURNS IN A HANDGUN SHOULD RECEIVE AMNESTY, AND IF SOMEONE COMMITTED A CRIME WITH A GUN, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN A VERY SEVERE PENALTY. GUNS WILL ALWAYS BE MISUSED, AND PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE SHOT ACCIDENTALLY. PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO KILL WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY IF GUNS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WHEN GUNS CANNOT BE OWNED, DOMESTIC DISTURBANCES WILL NO LONGER RESULT IN SHOOTINGS. IF ALL GUNS ARE TURNED IN, PRIVATE CITIZENS WILL NO LONGER FIND IT NECESSARY TO HAVE HANDGUNS, BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE THEM. SOME STATES WITH STRICT GUN CONTROL CANNOT EXPECT THEIR LAWS TO WORK AS LONG AS SOMEONE CAN SIMPLY CROSS THE STATE LINE AND GET A GUN SOMEWHERE ELSE. REPRESENTATIVE STEPHEN NEAL SAYS THAT PEOPLE WOULD WELCOME A LAW WHICH WOULD STOP CRIME, BUT STATISTICS DO NOT SHOW THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE REDUCED BY STRICT GUN CONTROL. NEW YORK CITY HAS STRICT GUN LAWS, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE HIGHEST CRIME, ROBBERY, AND MURDER RATES IN THE COUNTRY. CRIME WILL STOP WHEN THERE IS CULTURAL CONTROL BROUGHT ON BY A GUN USE TRAINING PROGRAM. THE LEGISLATORS MUST UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF GUNS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY. GUN CONTROL LAWS MAY OFFER SUPERFICIAL APPEAL, BUY THEY WILL NOT REDUCE THE CRIME RATE. WHAT IS NEEDED EVEN MORE IS JUSTICE FOR OFFENDERS AND MANDATORY PRISON TERMS. (BAC)