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HowNationsControl Guns
U
NITED STATES-The
United States does not
have unrestricted availability
of firearms. More than
20,000 federal , state and
local statutes are concerned
with the acquisition,
ownership or carrying of
firearms. Federal law
prohibits gun sales lo felons,
minors, the mentally
incompetent, narcotics
addicts and illegal aliens.
Some cities and states
have strict gun-control
laws-a tew cities
practically torbid handguns
lo citizens unless needed in
professional security work or
law entorcement. Those
restricted from handgun
purchases by local
regulations buy weapons
elsewhere. Most cities and
states have less strict
handgun laws or their gun
laws are loosely enforced.
Since the Federal Gun
Control Act of 1968, all gun
dealers must be licensed
and interstate sale and
mail-order gun sales
between nondealers is
banned. Dealers mus!
record the identity and
address of gun buyers, but
there are no such
restrictions on the resale of
weapons by buyers. The
1968 act makes importation
of cheap handguns
{Saturday-night specials)
illegal. Parts can still be
imported, which has led to
such weapons being
assembled within U.S.
borders. Around 90 percent
of guns bought since 1968
can now be traced, estímate
government officials. But
scores ot millions of guns
sold befare 1968 are not
traceable.
In most states there are
no screening procedures
other than certain age
requirements for the
purchase of rifles, shotguns
or ammunition. Dealers are
34
supposed to require
handgun purchasers lo sign
an affidavit of eligibility.
Waiting periods are required
so that police may check up
on a handgun purchaser ' s
background. Search can
verify little beyond a felony
record. There is little other
effort to verify character or if
a purchaser has entirely told
the truth on gun purchase
forms.
BRITAIN-British law is
predicated on the principie
that possession of a
weapon is a privilege rather.
than a right. To buy a gun
an individual must apply
directly lo !he chief of police
in his area. All firearms mus!
be registered with the
police. Licenses are granted
only alter an extensive
checkup of the applicant.
The applicant mus! prove he
has not been convicted of a
criminal offense or suffered
from mental disorder. He
can be denied a license if
he has a record of
alcoholism or even heavy
drinking.
The gun applicant will be
interviewed by a police
officer, who will also likely
check with neighbors and
friends about the applicant's
background . In general,
permission to possess a
firearm usually is granted
only to supervised members
of Britain' s gun clubs and on
condition that all weapons
are kept in secure places
away from children and
burglars. Farmers who need
firearms lo control vermin
usually can gel them. 11 has
been estimated that only
1
in 50 Britons owns a firearm.
Nevertheless, use of
firearms by criminals and
terrorists, and a significan!
rise in the use ot knives or
other sharp instruments, has
increased considerably in
recen! years. Growing crime
and violence, armed and
unarmed, is viewed by many
authoriti es in Britain as !he
result of general
deterioration of respect for
law and order.
Special riot police of
various types are emerging
out of the clímate of the
terrorist bombings during the
las!
15
years and the riots in
Liverpool and London in
1981. lncreasingly these
special squads do carry
firearms and there is some
pressure from certain
quarters lo arm the police in
general.
AUSTRALIA- Australia
has quite rigid gun-control
laws, which are acceptable
to the population al large.
While there are various state
regulations on licensing of
long guns for hunting or
target shooting, all states
have strict licensing laws on
handguns A person must
have very c¡ood reason lo
obtain a ha· 1dgun permit
from police. The majority of
handguns are pisto! c lub
guns- they can be used
only on approved ranges, or
are souvenirs made
inoperable by police, or are
antiques with ammunition
unavailable.
CANADA-Canadians
likewise do no! have the
tradition that citizens have
an inherent right to carry a
gun. While shotguns and
rifles are relatively easy to
purchase, all persons
wishing lo acquire firearms
mus! be more !han 16 years
of age and mus! obtain a
firearms acquisition
certificate. A person mus!
no! have been convicted of
violen! crime or been treated
for mental illness within five
years of application.
A special permit is
needed lo possess a
handgun. A person must
have good reasons to
possess a handgun, such as
security work or a critica!
need for personal
protection. Befare issuing a
handgun permit, a police
officer may visit the
applicant's home to see
where he plans to store the
handgun. A second permit is
needed to transport a
handgun and yet another to
carry a concealable
handgun. The latter is rarely
issued.
FRANCE -Ownership of
concealable firearms in
France has always been
strictly controlled. 11 you
want lo buy a small gun you
must apply lo a police
station. Alter an inquiry
lasting severa! weeks, the
prefect who represents the
Interior Ministry gives or
withholds authorization.
French officials are most
worried about gun thefts and
smuggling of weapons,
which usually end up in the
underworld of gangsters and
terrorists.
SWITZERLAND- Under
the Swiss militia system,
almos! every male adult is a
serviceman and must keep
military weapons and
ammunition al home. Yet
homicide by guns and
armed robbery ra tes are
among !he lowest in the
world.
All sales of handguns
require police licenses and
are registered. Sale is
prohibited to exconvicts,
alcoholics and the mentally
deranged. lf there is any
doubt on eligibility, the
applicant won't gel a permit.
Handgun licenses usually are
granted only to people such
as watchmen, bank
employees and jewelers.
SOUTH AFRICA-Since
!he Soweto riots of 1976,
!he sale of handguns is
soaring. Any white citizen
over the age of 16 who has
no criminal record can
purchase a firearm from an
established dealer. Once a
choice of gun is made, the
potential buyer, armed with
!he serial number, applies
The
PLAIN TRUTH