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Show WESTERN AMERICANA irkixJKirktrkicMctrtoiKiiiKiKttrkitiKirtckirteiKirfc1rkirtrtckirkickickickirt The it it it flndependlenf VCSjwiwsjS Dedicated To The Constitution, Liberty, .Morality, and Truth 250 Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 Volume 2 Number 15 August 27, 1971 A PRIMER ON GUN CONTROL MimimA By Reed Benson and Robert Lee As of July 1, 1971, the F.B.I.'s computerized National On June 2, 1971, Congressman Emanuel Ccllcr (D.-NeYork), House Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, introduced the Gun w Control, Registration, and Licensing Act of 1971 (H.R. would if 8828) which, enacted, require the national registration of firearms, the licensing of their owners, and implementation of severe restrictions on the availability of handguns. It is the latest in a long line of legislative attempts to make guns the scape-gpfor the actions of criminals. Perhaps the most repeated argument used in the promotion of gun control is that such legislation will keep guns out of the hands of criminals and assassins. The record, however, fails to support such a claim. One of the oldest and most restrictive gun laws in the nation is New York fs Sullivan Law. Adopted sixty years ago, it Information Center ist a total of 390,308 stolen firearms. Thu is in :e than double number recorded cn July 1, 196. (The 842.; Which figure then should, of course, be obvious to an one who lh: iks seriously about the matter. In New York during .1966, there were 184 cases of homicide involving handguns, despite the Sullivan Law, and it is interesting - has not worked as well as was expected, or at any rale hoped, by those of us who commended it in principle, if not in all its details, is a fact too obvious for denial. Criminals are as well armed as ever. . . . More recently in 1969, the District of Columbia adopted severe gun registration regula- tions, and on January 21, 1971, the Washington Daily News reported: The Districts nearly two-year-ol- gun registration d regi lations are not keeping fire-ar- Squad put it, Tls only people who have register guns are the honest citizens. Ho. lup men and the criminal element dont, registerguns, they steal them. THE to note that in nol one single instance was a licensed weapon involved. Killers had little trouble obtaining weapons despite the strict gun regulations in that stale. Also during 1966, the New York State Legislatures Joint Committee on Crime revealed that homemade zip guns wen; used in at least 976 instances of murder, robbery, or assault. Not even a law requiring the complete confiscation of guns from every one could keep zip guns out of the hands of criminals, for such devices can be quickly constructed out of ordinary household items. Eric; Stanley Gardner, creator of the popular Perry Mason, has challenged the silly notion that laws will keep criminals from obtaining guns. Mr. Gardner observed, in an article appearing in the San Anlonio Light for February 3, 1970, that despite The average cost of processing an application for a pistol permit in New York City in 1968 was $72.87. it would perhaps be possible to lake guns away from as high as ninety percent of the citizens in America. Rut, he continued: law-abidi- ng by no conceivable, stretch of the imagination can ice ever eliminate guns from the hands of the criminal class. . .. the terrible expense imjlvcd. Continued On Page 4 announcement appears even to those hypocritical who might support his China move when compared with his statement earlier this year that an honorable relationship with Peking cannot be constructed at the expense of our Asian allies. It is further ironic that as the By Congressman John G. Schmitz on Premier Chou behalf of the government of the People's Republic of China , has impending visit to Peking means a certain knife in the back for President Nixon to visit China at an appropriate date before May , 1972. (I) accept the invitation President with pleasure. declared that she will go it alone rather than submit to the a infamy of a policy. The outlaw regime of rulers in Peking has also rejected any such . . . En-la- i, extended an invitation to Nixon, July 15, 1971, 10:30 p.m. (Washington time) People of the world , unite and defeat the U.S. aggressors and all their running dogs. Radio Peking, July 15, 1971, 10:45 p.m (Washington time) Many experienced China hands have aptly termed the Presidents announcement total surrender. Our allies in and certainly must all of the Chinese people sell-oas or a regard it collaboration. Our Nationalist Chinese allies, who are most immediately affected by the move, have through authoritative statements in their press termed the Southeast Asia ut Nixon visit foolish, humiliating to President out of the. hands of Nixon, criminals, D.C. police say. As Lt. Samuel Wallace or the Robbery - C.c' A KNIFE IN THE BACK FOR TAIWAN ALLIES at requires a police permit to possess a handgun even in your own home. On May 24, 1913, two years after its enactment, the New York Times editorialized: That the concealed weapon law Crime 1 HgfWO. and shameful The Chinese Ambassador to Washington, whom I called to deliver an apology on behalf of most of the people I represent, has expressed shock and disbelief. These reactions are appropriate. The Presidents our long-tim-e Taiwan allies. Nationalist China has U.S. government initiates two-Chin- two-Chin- overtures to some of our most bloodthirsty and ruthless enemies; we continue to penalize nations, such as Rhodesia, which have consistently demonstrated policy. a President Nixon's relations normalization of with the Chinese Communists therefore will be at the direct expense of our Nationalist allies, the legitimate government of the Chinese people. their support of anti-Commun- anti-Commun- ist else. The nations which have backed the American policy of stemming Communist aggression in the past must now see the handwriting on the wall. They can no longer maintain an isolated struggle against the Communist giant with any significant hope of success. The dominoes are beginning to U.S. foreign policy. Absolute Opposition Congressman John Schmitz Implications Significant But the implications of the visit for our other friends in Asia and throughout the world is just as significant The Peking meeting indicates clearly that the United States has abandoned and policy in Asia and probably everywhere ist wobble. As I said after I called the White House staff to cancel my invitation to a cruise along with several other congressmen and White House staff members aboard the presidential yacht. Sequoia: It is ironic that as Red China continues to export terrorism and totalitarianism and as she continues to actively assist in the killing of American and South Vietnamese defenders of freedom, the President of the United States announces that he will go to Peking without his to effect a troops normalization of relations The President's There will certainly be some criticism of my stand in total and absolute opposition to the President, on the grounds that I am a Republican. However, it is my firm opinion that we should support principles, and people to the same extent that they support such principles. The Free World has lost an important battle. Not a battle marked by the clash of opposing armies but a battle of wills. As the ancient Sun Tzu pointed out, To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence: supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemys resistance without fighting. It is impossible for me to support or condone this massive Free World defeat. T UTAH-INDEPENDEN- . P.O.Box Second Class 6274 Sait Lake City. Utah 84106 Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Serials Order Department Utah of Libraries University Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 873 Utah. |