ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993                   TAG: 9312210030
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

HIGHER FEE PROPOSED FOR GUN-DEALER LICENSE

The Clinton administration will propose a sharp increase in the federal licensing fee for gun dealers in an effort to reduce the number of people selling weapons, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen said Monday.

Since 1968, dealers have paid $30 for a three-year license, or $10 per year. The recently enacted Brady law increases that figure to $200 for three years for new licenses and sets the fee for renewal of a valid license at $90 for three years.

Bentsen said the administration is studying a larger increase as part of a broad crackdown on violent crime. Any increase would have to be approved by Congress.

"It makes no sense at all to have over 250,000 dealers in guns today and to have a very minimum payment, where you have people even operating out of their kitchens," Bentsen said.

He said a higher fee would reduce the number of dealers and make it easier for Treasury's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to regulate gun dealers.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB