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Show JF SLC, VJESTtE'i U L ICRARY UT. niiiJtiVHAj Responsible Action Needed to Control Threat of Gun Violence By Milt Bissegger Editorial Writer murders. Most of them are crimes of impulse and anger; if There can ne little doubt that every responsible American recognizes the need to do something to eliminate the threat of violence agaist public officials by mentally or poitically unbalanced people wielding guns. The two attempts on President Ford's life in the past three weeks certainly underline the fact that if someone is really determined to kill a public figure, they have a good chance to succeed no matter what protective measures may be taken. This is inevitably so in the open society in which we live where our political leaders move about freely and where there are virtually no restriction placed on the sale of handguns. But the threat of violence through the use of guns is not There restricted to people who are politically prominent. were almost 30,000 murders in the United States in 1973, most of them committed by what is considered the element, and msot of them committed with the use of hand-gunOf those murdered, more than 70 percent knew their assailant personally - either a friend or a relative. The fact that handguns .are so readily available is unquestionably on of the most important reasons why there are so many handguns were not so readily available fewer people would be shot each year. In most cases, once the anger passes, the would-b- c assailant is no longer dangerous. Those who oppose any kind of handgun control say that if someone really wants to obtain a weapon, they can do so. There is some truth in that assumption, since there are already over 20.000,000 private-owne- d handguns in the U.S. today. Opponents of control also allege that if registration of handguns is required, or restrictions placed on their purchase, it will only be a matter of time until they are confiscated and then the restrictions and confiscation will spread to hunting weapons. That is highly unlikely, since this country has such a long history of gun ownership by the citizens . and most members of Congress, many of them gun owners themselves, oppose gun control. And the federal agency that would be responsible for handgun registration, were it made a federal law. says that such a task would be virtually impossible and would probably bring the development of a black d market in guns. What, then, can be done to reduce or eliminate this threat s. wide-prea- to the safety of all our citizens? We don't believe the present problem will be solved by any form of or other more restictive measures, perhaps as much as 30 days. The should also require that when a private owner loses or sells his handgun, he should notify the state weapon registration office in order to protect himself against responsibility for later illegal use of the gun. Finally, wc believe that there should be concurrent laws enacted, on both the state and federal levels, which would bring automatic and stiff jail sentences for the use of guns in the commission of any crime. In our history, as we have been faced with serious problems - drugs, alcohol, for example - and in the process we have sometimes limited our freedom in a particular area of activity. The problem now is not with the great majority of people who obey the law, but with that small minority who fail to respect the law. But for that small minority we must enact laws which sometimes limit, to a small degree, the freedom of all others. But we do so to preserve our system and protect the many other freedoms we enjoy. Let's hope we are wise enough and strong enough to legislate correctly and act responsibly as individuals in resolving this problem. registration, any to the future, we believe that combination of on the purchase of handguns and their registration st time of purchase might eventually help reduce the availability of weapons whose primary function seems to be to take human life. We have laws which govern the use of uthonhings which are a threat to health and safety, and give a precedent for controlling handguns. We believe strongly that such regulation and restrictions of Handguns should be a state responsilhility. Uniformity among tlic states can come through voluntary consultation and cooWe suggest that there should be peration by each state. restrictions on the purchase of handguns prohibiting anyone ith a criminal record or under active psychiatric care from buying them. Anyone with a legitimate reason for having a Handgun should have no difficulty in obtaining the weapons He needs. All handguns should be registered at the time of purchase, regardless of their intenaeu use. And there should uc a waiting period between purchase and delivery of the gun looking Bulk Rate US Postage Faid Postal Patron Local Permit No. IS West Jordan. Utah Community News Source Your Informative 4. . K t:. Elections Begin Candidates Gather far Speeches and Questians Prospective candidates for in West the first the race down the trail. andidates have filed to three council scats to this November. The West Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Deseret Gacttc sponsored a Night at the West Jordan Jr. High. city government The canidates are: Jay Alder, a carpenter who has lived in West Jordan for over four years. Bob Allen, Max lived his Fiolayson. ' who life in West Jordan, Lyna Gillette, a mother of two who has lived in West Jordan for 2 years. Mark Hopkins a computer operator who has lived in West Jordan for 2 years. Sidney Lee Hobb, a ha, U. OF U. .rT - ,. CLASSES West Jordan City candidates hopefuls meet the public and field questions about their views on campaign issues. The candidate night was spouse red by the West Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Deseret Gazette. Everyone is urged to get out and support the man you think will do the best job. FILM SERIES STARTS County residents who don't want to travel the long distances to take university courses. now have an alternative. Classes are being offered at Whitmore Library. 2197 E. 7000 S.. in cooperation with the University of Utah Division of Continuing Education . These will begin in October, hut preregistration is currently underway. A basic photography for the beginners and those wanting to improve their skills, will be held 9 Thursdays. p.m.. and Sata.m.. from urdays. (hi. 2 to Nov. 22. Tuition is S35 with an additional SI0 processing fee. Ollier courses include two language conversation classes. These are designed for the novice and will he especially helpful to prospective tourists. Tuition is 125. Spanish will he held Wednesdays. Oct. I Nov. 26. p.m. German will be held Tuesdays, (hi. 2. p.m. For further information on classes at the library, call work--sho- SEPT. 30 retired state employee. Judd L. Parr, a 7 year resident, L. Helen Pearson, mother of five John L. Price, an incumbent seeking another term, and Jack Smit. an area supervisor with the Travelers Express Co. Next week, the Gazette will feature each candidate with a word on his background and their choice. Nine of the ten canidates the West Jordan City Council were on hand Wednesday night for public to meet them. The meeting began with an introduction of all the candiThe candidates then dates. summarized their platforms in the time limit alloted them. The public was then given the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates of fin- - platform. ' i , 1.4 fc ' rr 1 p. 7-- IVsfPkJur , The first presentation in Whitmore Library's "Literature in Film" scries will be shown September 30 at 7p.m. "I Heard the Owl Call My Name", based on the bestselling contemporary novel bv Margaret Craven, tells the powerful story of a young Anglican priest's awakening to life in the face of death. film is geared The to a more mature audience. For further information on this and other free films, call A ' . .. .5 & Students practice their karate skills at the new ' xrile school library-sponsore- has recently opened in Midvale. Classes arc now He holds a being formed. Joseph Shron is the instructor. 2nd degree black belt in karate. which Classes 943-761- 8:30-11:3- 0 7-- 9 943-761- Karate School Opens in Midvale . Joe feels that if the world knew karate the world would be a better place to live in. Karate works in more ways than one, it improves the health, keeps the nervous system in check, gets the mind and body working together ns one, and makes an indiuidual more compatible with his felThere are many low man. things in life that we don't like, but have to contend with and karate is just one way of helping people cope with situations. Anyone desiring information should call Joe at Classes arc cing formed now. The Gazette wishes to extend a big welcome to Joe and his new business, and hope you'll drop in and say Hiiii. Planning Commission Rejects Proposed Zone Change 7-- Start Students come in the door and take off their shoes. Then they dress in sweat clothes and proceed to work out. What are they doing? They are learning the art of karate. Anew karate school has just opened In Midvale on 27 No. Main. The instructor in Joseph Shron, who is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Karate. Joe lias been involed with Karate for the past IS yrs. This property on 7800 South 1700 West was the center of and Zoning Comcontroversy as the West Jordan Planning mission met Wednesday night to deny a rezoning application to Joe Bchunin. who had wanted to developc a shopping center. The West Jordan Planning and Zoning Commission, in a special meeting, held Wednesday night, rejected the rezo-nin-g application submitted by Joe Bchunin for the. school property at 7800 'South 1700 West. Bchunin and Bm Allen, a candidate for the West Jqrdan City Council, presented plans for the uturc development of the corner. They also presented a petition to the containing signatures of citizens who were interested in seeing a new shopping center brought .into West Jor-n. 255-154- Square dancers meet every week at the Union Jr. High All those School in Sandy every Friday starting at 7:00. 9 or interested should call Donna dark at The cost will be $5.00 per year per couple. The class will be open for 3 weeks to allow interested couples to participate. The beginners will dance from 7:00 to 9:00 and the regulars will dance from 9:00 to 11:00. 561-721- 8. In turning down the proposal. the zoning commission sta ted that in many . instances, they had re zoned a piece of property commercial only to have the property sit for years undeveloped of eventually beThe commission ing sold. decided that until more of the land presently zoned commercial was developed, there was no need for further rezoning. Bchunin and Allen, repeatedly told the commission that they felt they were being discriminated against by not allowing the change in zoning. Bchunin stated that his 'time was worth a $1000 a day and that his head was on the chopping block'. The commission also brought up the fact that rezoning this particular area went against the city's master plan. In addition members of the commission pointed out that Bchunin may not even be the legal owner of the property since the check he gave the school district for the down payment for the property had not yet been cleared by the bank. If Bchunin's down payment acre not cleared then they could not even accept a application. Editors notei The Gazette wishes to commend the members of the West Jordan Planning and Zoning Commission for their dcligence and integrity in working with the public. Theirs is a thankless job.; Too often we see national leaders instigate changes that sounded good and bolstered their public image and then ended in disaster for the masses. It's good to have dedicated men and women who are not railroaded into making a decision which would be for the bad of the city. The Gazette also, thinks that Bchunin and Allen owe the Planning and Zoning Commission an apology for the manner in which they acted at the Actions and words meeting. that were exchanged have no place in this type of meeting. |
