Show Senator Bennett Opposes Federal Gun Control WASHINGTON WASHINGTON-Sen Wallace F Bennett R Utah told the Senate that Federal gun con con- control legislation carries long long- range inherently dangerous possibilities and consequently I will cast a strong no vote vole against any Federal licensing provIsions At the same time he also asked the Judiciary Committee to conduct gun hearings bearings in utah and the West The utah lawmaker made the comments during Senate debate on the latest gun control legislation before the Senate I HAVE just returned from froma a month in Utah where I ha have ve visited almost every corner of the state and next to the Viet nam war the most often asked question among is the of gun control he said There is an overwhelm overwhelm- overwhelmIng ing majority in my state that thatis thatis is unalterably opposed to gun control bills and I for one agree with that majority Sen Bennett at the same time also called again for the tIo adopt adopt- adoption ion of his proposal providing for new stiff gun misuse penal penal- penalties ties tics instead of new gun legisla legisla- legislation tion AS AN alternative to reo re- gun laws I have offer offer- offered offered ed legislation calling for such penalties he told the Senate I I have also rec recommended to Dr Milton Eisenhower chair I man of the Presidents President's corn com I mIssion on violence that the new strict gun misuse penalties approach be considered in depth by the Commission Dr Eisenhower has assured me methis methis this will be done I firmly believe that gun ownership in utah is quite dif dif- different ferent than gun possession in inmany Inmany many of our large cities and states This fact has not been duly recognized by advocates of gun legislation the utahn declared lie He said Thus far during I I I the gun control hysteria the cit cit- citizens cit in and around Washington DC D C have been the only ones given an opportunity to participate pate in hearings I realize that any citizen could go to Wash Wash- Washington Washington ington and be heard how however ver the costs time and effort would be prohibitive and con COIl consequently in the interest of fair fair- fairness fairness ness hearings should be scheduled in utah to give tile the westerners an opportunity to outline their views I think tile the Committee would be somewhat surprised at the opposition to to this proposal |