vision2020
RE: Gun legislation
Dear Betsy and Visionaries,
Thank you for your response. I agree w/ your friends who say your are
being courageous. Your efforts remind me of the Christopher Brothers' quote
"It is better to light a single candle then to curse the darkness."
I would like to light yet another candle. I would like enlightened
legislation in Idaho that would place a protective shield between minors
and hand guns, assault weapons and explosives. I accept your challenge. I
will begin by asking members of the Visions 2020 list if they are
interested in beginning a grassroots effort that will result in Idaho
legislation to keep hand gun, assault weapon and explosives away from
minors.
I would prefer to decrease their availability to majors as well. I am not
familiar w/ the current laws on gun ownership in Idaho.
What do you think, visionaries? Is it completely crazy to push for gun
control in Idaho? Is it incompletely crazy?
Steve Cooke
-----Original Message-----
From: Betsy Dunklin [SMTP:bdunklin@micron.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 1:41 PM
To: scooke@uidaho.edu
Subject: Re: Gun legislation
<< File: vcard.vcf >> Steve,
Thanks for writing. I take a little issue with being thought of as faint
hearted. Even my liberal friends think I'm nuts to pursue this issue in
the
modest way I am. In fact, most of my e-mail responses have been to tell me
it
is too extreme.
I tell you what: You organize a Boise or Idaho Gun Control group that is
willing to speak out and back such issues and that has enough membership to
make a difference and I will seriously consider sponsoring stronger
legislation. Until then, it is pointless. such a bill would not even get
printed, much less get a hearing, so it would not achieve the goal you have
in
mind -- of beginning the discussion. The discussion must begin on a
grassroots
level and in a much, much more organized fashion that it is currently in
our
state.
Betsy
Steve Cooke wrote:
> Betsy,
> I understand that there will be resentment. However, a faint heart never
> won a fair maid. I think hand gun and assault weapon ban is the right
issue
> at the right time. It is important to show the responsibility that
society
> has in tolerating violence. This is a v. long struggle against the gun
> lobby and Idaho citizens thinking on hand guns and assault weapons. The
> conversation needs to start somewhere. I say let the games begin.
> Steve Cooke
> << File: vcard.vcf >> Steve, I would like to do that as well but such a
> bill would not even get a hearing in the Idaho legislature and would
create
> real resentment from even my Democratic colleagues against me. The ID
leg
> is the same group that this session turned an innocent bill to prevent
> school visitors from carrying weapons onto the grounds into a bill that
> allowed concealed weapons, weapons in vehicles, and so many other
> exceptions that it was perceived as a "pro-guns in schools bill" and had
to
> be vetoed by the Governor. I'm pragmatic and want to win something.
Even
> my modest approach is a long shot but I bet would get a hearing.
> Thanks for writing!
> Betsy
>
> Steve Cooke wrote:
> > hi Betsy
> > I would like to see a bill that would ban the sale of hand guns and
> > assault weapons in Idaho. I think it is time to ask society as a whole
to
> > be as responsible as we are asking individual citizens to be. I would
> > include this ban on hand guns and assault weapons in the same bill with
> > your parental responsibility proposal. If you do, then I am willing to
> help
> > you lobby for this proposal.
> > Steve Cooke
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Betsy Dunklin [SMTP:bdunklin@micron.net]
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 1999 10:42 AM
> > To: Smartgrowth
> > Subject: Gun legislation
> >
> > << File: vcard.vcf >> I have been researching for about a year a bill
I
> > would like to
> > introduce this next legislative session that would hold adults
> > responsible for misuse of firearms by juveniles. The Columbine High
> > tragedy, of course, makes the issue more timely. I don't present this
> > as an answer to troubled youths, but it may prevent such juveniles from
> > easy access to firearms. Although the various incidents of kids
> > bringing guns to schools focuses our attention, the fact is that one of
> > the major causes of death of juveniles is suicide or accidental death
by
> > firearms.
> >
> > Such a bill, if promoted correctly, would not be an instant loser in
the
> > NRA-minded Idaho legislature because it is NOT gun control; it is
> > holding adults responsible for their actions, something the leg often
> > states as an important value. In addition, a number of states,
> > including Texas and Florida, have passed such legislation.
> >
> > Many questions need to be answered: Should there be civil or criminal
> > penalties? If criminal, how severe-misdemeanor or felony or a scale
> > depending on number of convictions? If criminal, would a prosecutor
use
> > it, in the case of that poor grandfather in Notus, for example? What
> > age qualifies you as a juvenile? How do you draft it so as not to
> > impact the responsible use of firearms by juveniles for hunting, etc.,
> > which is an important part of life for many in this state.
> >
> > I am interested in people's thoughts on this issue and particularly in
> > anyone that would like to help me develop and lobby for passage of such
> > a bill.
> >
> > Betsy Dunklin
> > Senator, District 19, Boise
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