NCJ Number
67558
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS TWO-PART FILM, PRESENTS BOTH SIDES OF THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING PROPOSED 1976 GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION ON HANDGUNS THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DEFEATED.
Abstract
INTENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND ADULT AUDIENCES, THE PRESENTATION ATTEMPTS TO SIFT OUT THE SLOGANS AND CATCH PHRASES OF PUBLIC DEBATE AND CONCENTRATE ON THE REALITIES OF THE ISSUE, SUPPLYING INFORMATION AND EXPOSING THE MYTHS ON BOTH SIDES. AT ISSUE IS THE CONTROL OF HANDGUNS. CONTROL IS DEFENDED BY AN ARRAY OF PUBLIC FIGURES FOLLOWING AN INTRODUCTION BY HOWARD K. SMITH. THE PRINCIPAL ARGUMENTS ON THE PRO SIDE CONSIST OF THE STAGGERING STATISTICS OR HANDGUN POSSESSION (40 MILLION) AND ON MURDERS COMMITTED WITH THESE WEAPONS (30 MURDERS AND 30 OTHER DEATHS IN THE U.S. PER DAY). IT IS CONTENDED THAT HANDGUNS HAVE ONLY ONE USE--ASSAULTING ANOTHER LIFE--AND THAT THE LACK OF FEDERAL CONTROLS MAKE THIS WEAPON TOO EASILY PURCHASED AND PASSED ON. MOREOVER, THE AVAILABILITY OF THE HANDGUN MAKES POTENTIAL MURDERERS OF ORDINARY CITIZENS WHO RESORT TO ITS USE IN MOMENTS OF PASSION AND LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL. UNDER SPECIAL ATTACK IS THE 'SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL' HANDGUN VARIETY; THIS GUN IS CHEAP AND POORLY MADE, BUT EASILY CONCEALED AND DEADLY. IT IS IN COMMON USE AMONG THE CRIMINAL POPULATION. ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ARE PRESENTED IN THE SECOND PART OF THE FILM. THIS BEGINS WITH SCENES FROM THE SHOOTING OF GEORGE WALLACE AND THE ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT FORD'S LIFE AS DRAMATIC EXAMPLES OF GUN CRIMES WHICH OCCURRED DESPITE EXISTING GUN LAWS. IT IS STATED THAT THERE ARE 20,000 GUN-RELATED LAWS IN THE COUNTRY WHICH ARE BEING POORLY ENFORCED. MOREOVER, 70 TO 80 PERCENT OF THOSE COMMITTING GUN CRIMES COMMIT THEM AGAIN, INDICATING CLEARLY THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT AND STRONGER SENTENCES RATHER THAN MORE LAWS. RESPECTABLE CITIZENS, TYPICAL OF PEOPLE USING HANDGUNS FOR SPORT IN MARKSMENS' CLUBS, DEFEND THEIR CHOSEN RECREATION AS LEGITIMATE AND THEIR RIGHT TO PURSUE IT AS VALID. CONTROL MEASURES, IT IS EMPHASIZED, WOULD HURT SUCH LEGITIMATE GUN OWNERS, WHILE THE CRIMINALS WOULD CONTINUE TO ABUSE THE WEAPON. A FILM GUIDE WITH BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ATTACHED. (MRK)