NCJ Number
46802
Date Published
1977
Length
0 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST GUN CONTROL ARE PRESENTED IN THIS FILMSTRIP AND CASSETTE AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAM CITING DATA AND EVENTS FROM VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
Abstract
AS GUNS WERE FIRST BEING DEVELOPED, THEY WERE SEEN AS WEAPONS, BEAUTIFUL HANDCRAFTED INSTRUMENTS, AND SYMBOLS OF POWER. IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HANDGUN HAS A ROMANTIC APPEAL RELATED TO THE FRONTIER TRADITION. MANY GROUPS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LARGE NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO GUNS, AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR STRICT GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION. MANY SPORTSMEN, HOWEVER, ARE OPPOSED TO SUCH CONTROLS. THOSE AGAINST CONTROL LEGISLATION CITE THE VALUE OF GUNS FOR SPORTS, HUNTING, AND PROTECTION, ALTHOUGH GUNS KEPT FOR PROTECTION CAN TURN INTO MURDER WEAPONS. HOUSEHOLD FIREARMS MAY BE USED AS A THREAT AND ACCIDENTALLY OR PURPOSEFULLY FIRED IN A FIT OF PASSION. SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF ACCIDENTAL MURDERS ARE CITED. GUN CONTROL LAWS IN VARIOUS STATES HAVE SHOWN THAT LEGISLATION IS EFFECTIVE IN CONTROLLING THE NUMBER OF GUN HOMICIDES, BUT SINCE GUN LEGISLATION IS NOT UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, CONTROL LAWS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THEY COULD BE; POTENTIAL CRIMINALS CAN SIMPLY CROSS A STATE LINE TO BUY A GUN. A NEW LAW HAS BEEN SUGGESTED WHICH WOULD BAN ALL HANDGUNS AND COMPENSATE THOSE CITIZENS SURRENDERING THEIR WEAPONS VOLUNTARILY. ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT, IT MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING INCIDENTS OF MANSLAUGHTER. GUN EDUCATION MAY ALSO AFFECT SUCH A REDUCTION, BUT IT IS NOT VERY LIKELY. IT IS NOTED THAT NO EASY ANSWERS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS OF GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE DEBATE OVER GUN CONTROL WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE FOR YEARS, WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. A DISCUSSION GUIDE IS INCLUDED IN THE SET. (BAC)