GUNS- Reno suggests licensing as a way to curb crime

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[OG Comment: The woman is mad.]

TampaBayOnline

Aug 11, 2001

Reno Suggests Licensing Gun Owners To Curb Crime

By DAVID WASSON dwasson@tampatrib.com

TALLAHASSEE - Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, still weighing a gubernatorial run, suggested Friday that licensing gun owners would help curb violent crime.

Widely considered the front- runner in a crowded field of Democratic hopefuls, Reno stopped short of calling for firearm registration, saying instead gun owners should have to demonstrate ``they know how to safely and lawfully'' use firearms.

Reno's remarks to members of the Capital Tiger Bay Club, a tough crowd that includes some of Florida's most powerful political insiders, demonstrated her willingness to build an agenda on a mix of politically safe and volatile topics.

She called for greater emphasis on early childhood education, preventive health measures and criminal rehabilitation. She said police needed to be given the technological expertise needed to apprehend increasingly sophisticated cyber thieves.

But she also tackled America's continued distinction as the most violent industrialized nation despite a crime rate now at its lowest point in more than 30 years. Licensing firearm users, she suggested, would help curb that.

``My approach to guns is anybody who possesses a weapon ought to demonstrate they know how to safely and lawfully use them, and if they don't do so, take them back,'' she said later.

Reno insisted her position differs from gun registration, describing the effort instead as licensing firearm owners ``for each gun'' they own.

While many of her potential rivals for the Democratic nomination are taking pains to avoid politically turbulent issues, Reno waded right into them.

The move puts her squarely at odds with the the vocal and well-funded gun rights lobby.

Marion Hammer, the chief lobbyist in Tallahassee for the National Rifle Association, said Reno's remarks come as no surprise.

It's a similar position former Vice President Al Gore took while campaigning for the presidency last year, Hammer said.

``That flies in the face of freedom,'' Hammer said. ``She has a history of disrespecting the Second Amendment.''

Reno, 63, a former Miami state attorney tapped by President Clinton to serve as the nation's attorney general, spent eight years in a political hot seat.

She has spent the past couple of months touring Florida, talking with voters and gauging support for a potential 2002 run against Gov. Jeb Bush.

Other Democrats either seeking their party's nomination or contemplating a run include U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa, former Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson, Tampa lawyer Bill McBride, state House Minority Leader Lois Frankel, state Sen. Daryl Jones and Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox.

David Wasson can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

This story can be found at : http://news.tbo.com/news/MGA5Q4RR8QC.html

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001

Answers

This is sort of amuzing in a bizarre way. It's my understanding that Florida is one of the states that will issue a concealed-carry permit for a handgun to any Florida resident who passes the check out. And part of the permit requires that you attend a short course in gun handling and safety. So what's Reno talking about, or blowing smoke?

Further, the book More Guns, Less Crime, by Lott, specifically looks at the verifiable reduction in crime statistics in Florida since they started issuing concealed-carry to more and more citizens there.

-- Anonymous, August 12, 2001


Can't you just see it, gangbangers lining up for lessons so they can get their gun licenses. Yeah, right. When are idiots like Reno going to realize it's not the responsible gun owners who are causing the problems. If criminals steal guns or buy one on the black market now that they can't buy one without a background check, what makes Reno think they'll get licensed?

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

That reminds me of why the Japanese chose not to attempt an invasion of America, and almost backed out of Pearl Harbor...

As one Japanese general put it, "In America, there is a gun behind every rock.."

Conrol criminals, not guns... only the non-criminals will pay any attention to gun controls.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001


True, Florida has gun control laws for the law-abiding.

True, Florida needs to control criminals who use guns during crimes.

True, Reno is an idiot to go around saying we need to control guns by licensing them.

True, if they try to take guns away from the legal owners they will have a fight on their hands.

There is nothing in the Constitution that says one has to know how to use a gun, only that they can possess them. Reno is going to anger a lot of Floridians if she pursues that line of reasoning. I only hope we have more gun owners than idiots, but I doubt it.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001


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