Senator Denis DeConcini of Arizona, once voted the NRA's 'legislator of the month', is backing a ban on assault weapons. The issue of gun control stirs passionate responses on both sides. Congress has passed the Brady Bill, the first legislation since 1968, mandating a five-day wait on the purchase of a handgun, giving law enforcement authorities time to check the buyer's background. The NRA, with 3.3 million members, claims that legislation will not stem crime; the answer is stiffer penalties, longer sentences and abolition of parole. Further they believe that gun ownership is necessary to prevent takeover by a despotic government. In fact, there are many countries where guns have been banned for decades. Gun Control has become a pivotal issue in many elections, influencing who wins, who loses.
The issue of gun control stirs passionate responses on both sides. Congress has passed the Brady Bill, the first legislation since 1968, mandating a five-day wait on the purchase of a handgun, giving law enforcement authorities time to check the buyer's background. The NRA, with 3.3 million members, claims that legislation will not stem crime; the answer is stiffer penalties, longer sentences and abolition of parole. Further they believe that gun ownership is necessary to prevent takeover by a despotic government. In fact, there are many countries where guns have been banned for decades. Gun Control has become a pivotal issue in many elections, influencing who wins, who loses.