Where they stand: Crime and guns
Differences abound on bearing arms

Thursday, January 27, 2000

By Ann McFeatters, Post-Gazette National Bureau

America has seen a steady drop in the crime rate in recent years as the economy has improved and employment has risen. But violence at schools, workplaces and even a day-care center has made crime, especially gun control, an important issue in this year’s presidential contests

The Democrats

Al Gore favors stricter gun control measures, including federally mandated, state-run photo identification for all handgun buyers, a ban on cheap handguns and higher penalties for knowingly selling a gun to someone ineligible to buy one. He would require waiting periods for guns sold at gun shows and child-safety locks on handguns, and permit no plea bargaining for criminals who use a gun in a crime.

Bill Bradley has proposed the toughest curbs on guns. He would require registration of all handgun owners, not just new buyers. Licenses would only be given after applicants passed background checks and completed a safety course.

The Republicans

George W. Bush wants stricter enforcement of existing gun laws and would require instant background checks at gun shows. He also would increase the minimum age for possession of a handgun to 21 from 18 and would strongly oppose mandated government registration of guns by law-abiding citizens.

John McCain wants to outlaw Saturday Night Specials and wants tighter controls so that guns do not get into the hands of criminals or children. McCain favors banning some assault weapons.

Steve Forbes wants the “40,000 gun laws” currently on the books to be enforced. He wants to make sure that a juvenile offender using a gun to commit a crime never again owns a gun.

Alan Keyes supports the right to bear arms but insists the country must restore its “allegiance to its basic moral principles. We express great shock and outrage that we are bloodying the hallways of our schools with the blood of our children. What about the blood of our children killed in the womb?” His first priority would be a constitutional amendment to ban abortion and put prayer in the classroom.

Gary Bauer argues that rather than new laws, America needs to realize it has a “virtue deficit” and fails “to provide reliable standards of right and wrong for its citizens.” Current gun laws should be enforced, he says, but he opposes any new ones. He is for the death penalty, as are all the candidates, and wants gambling outlawed.