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Where We Stand
Social Policy - Handguns
Goal:
Elimination of the private possession of handguns (1974)
and assault weapons (1989).
The League supports:
- limitation of the sale and possession of handguns and assault weapons to
law enforcement and military personnel
- a possible exception for sportsmen if the guns are used and stored away
from the home under controlled conditions
Until such a time as a ban on the private possession of handguns and assault
weapons becomes law the League supports:
- improved and standardized licensing procedures
- training in the use of handguns and assault weapons and the
responsibilities of ownership
- education of the public to the dangers of the handgun in the home
- strict enforcement of the present laws concerning handgun ownership
- measures to encourage the removal of all handguns and assault weapons
from the home and street
League action
In 1975 LWVM co-filed a bill to ban handguns to all but
police, military and certain other people. It did not pass. In 1975 the League joined
other groups in collecting more than 102,000 certified signatures on an initiative
petition to ban the private possession of handguns. After the bill failed to pass the
legislature in 1976, the League helped collect the additional signatures needed to place
the question on the ballot. The referendum was defeated by a two-to-one margin. The
League's efforts to ban the "Saturday night special" handgun have also failed.
LWVM has worked for stricter licensing and registration procedures and
has met with no success. During late 1976 and early 1977, LWVM participated in mediation
sessions involving groups on both sides of the limitation issue. Agreement was reached on
institution of administrative steps to be taken by police chiefs to improve licensing
procedures, making them more uniform and strict. LWVM supported a bill to require handgun
owners to pass safety courses before being granted gun permits, but general support for
these kinds of measures is weak.
Background
- 1974: Delegates to state council adopted a short study on statewide
control of the sale and possession of handguns. In the fall of that year, members,
concerned about violence committed through the use of handguns, reached consensus in
support of limiting private possession of handguns. Members agreed that the most effective
way to control misuse of handguns is to limit their number.
- 1989: Delegates to state convention, responding to concern over violence
committed with assault weapons, adopted, through concurrence, the addition of the words
"and assault weapons" to the handgun control position.
- 1990: Delegates to national convention adopted, through concurrence, a
national position on handgun control.
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