THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 24, 1996 TAG: 9609240008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 30 lines
I commend The Virginian-Pilot for the excellent, common-sense editorial of Sept. 12, ``Gun traffickers beware.'' You were right on target by reminding us that the United States is awash in firearms and that legal access to handguns remains ridiculously easy.
Our gun-related crime rate is embarrassing, a national disgrace. We would be wise to study Australia's successful controls with the view of strengthening our laws for those firearms not primarily designed for sporting and hunting purposes.
Although Australia has tough gun laws, its parliament is taking steps to strengthen its laws as a result of the recent massacre of 35 innocents by a lone gunman. The government is initiating legislation to ban the importation, sale, resale, manufacture, transfer and possession of all automatic and semiautomatic weapons. The government will buy back and compensate owners of all military-style weapons.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said: ``The Commonwealth and its states and territories have agreed on a uniform and tougher approach to gun laws that will make Australia a much safter place to live. We have decided not to go down the American path.''
It's time for our federal and state legislators to enact tougher controls.
HOWARD WHITAKER
Williamsburg, Sept. 13, 1996 by CNB