March 13, 1992 PRESIDENT BUSH ON GUN CONTROL +quot;Our sworn duty to 'ensure domestic Tran

March 13, 1992


                  PRESIDENT BUSH ON GUN CONTROL


"Our sworn duty to 'ensure domestic Tranquility' is as old as the
Republic, placed in the Constitution's preamble even before the
common defense and the general welfare.  When we ask what kind of
society the American people deserve, our goal must be a Nation in
which law-abiding citizens are safe and feel safe."

                    President George Bush 
                    May 15, 1989

"I have long felt that the answer is to go after the criminal and
not, in the process, do violence to the rights of the legitimate
gun owners." 
 
                    September 18, 1989

"I am firmly committed to keeping guns out of criminals' hands
and keeping criminals off the street.  Much more important,
however, are my proposals to establish increased Federal
penalties for the criminal misuse of firearms.  Ultimately, the
only 'gun control' that will really work is crime control.

                    January 17, 1992


Criminal Use of Firearms

The proper response to armed criminals is to deter and punish
criminal behavior, not to interfere with the traditional rights
of law-abiding citizens, including the legitimate pursuit of
shooting sports such as hunting.  The Bush Administration has
taken a number of steps specifically directed at the criminal
misuse of firearms:

o    Proposed legislation to double the mandatory penalty from  
     5 years to 10 years for the use of a semiautomatic firearm
     during the commission of a violent crime or drug felony.

o    Proposed legislation creating a mandatory 5 year prison
     sentence for illegal firearms possession by felons with
     previous convictions for a violent felony or serious drug
     offense.

o    Proposed legislation authorizing pre-trial preventive
     detention of defendants in cases involving serious Federal
     firearms offenses.

o    Proposed legislation establishing mandatory minimum
     sentences for theft of firearms.


Unsuitable Weapons

The Bush Administration has also taken action to address the
problems associated with "assault weapons" which are illegal for
hunting and unnecessary for legitimate self-defense, but which
are used by criminals to "spray" an area with gunfire.  These
types of guns are frequently associated with drug and gang
warfare.

In particular, in consultation both with gun manufacturers and
concerned citizen groups, the Bush Administration has:

o    Proposed legislation to prohibit the importation,
     manufacturing, transfer, or sale of high-capacity gun
     magazines (over 15 rounds) for use by private citizens.

o    Suspended, as authorized by existing law, the importation
     for sale on the civilian market of several types of
     military-style weapons.