The following articles appeared in the San Antonio Express-News Comment San Antonio Express News April 26, 1997 PROPOSED GUN LAWS VITAL FOR OUR SAFETY by Bruce Elfant This year, like most in recent memory, began with stories from around the state about children wounded or killed with firearms. Stories about stolen guns used in deadly crimes. Stories about "lawabiding" citizens threatening each other with handguns after minor traffic incidents. Stories about family members shooting each other to death over heated arguments. Year after year, we watch as more than 3,000 Texans lose their lives to bullets. And year after year we hold out some hope that the carnage will somehow magically disappear. All of us believe that criminals and children should not be able to obtain firearms and that people who choose to own firearms should be properly trained. Two bills are currently before the Texas Legislature that will promote responcible ownership of handguns and elimenate gun shows as a source of guns for criminals. House Bill 165 by state Rep. Elliott Naishtat would require all purchasers of handguns to complete a gun safety training course, unless they can pass a handgun competency test administered by the Department of Public Safety. Prompted by the continuing tragedy of accidental shootings, this bill builds on the very succesful hunter education courses mandated in 1971. According to Joe Doggett, outdoors columnist for the Houston Chronicle, hunter-related shooting accidents have dropped to a record low: "these declines are solid evidence that the hunter-deucation course is improving of the safety record in the field. Safety training for handguns owners will also reduce accidental shootings and will save lives. House Bill 1980 by state Rep. Debra Dansburg would require sellers of handguns at gun shows to be licensed gun dealers. Because most gun show vendors are not licensed dealers, they do not conduct background checks to determine that they are not selling handguns to criminals or children. Gun shows in Texas are open invitations to criminals, juveniles and straw purchaseres (those buying guns for other people). The sign on their marquee should read: "Criminals Welcome." Simply hoping that all gun owners take safety training classes and knowing that they are not selling guns to criminals is not working. Texans who own and sell firearms should be required to understand their responcibilities and the consequences of careless storage, handling or distribution of firearms. We should not have to be reading newspaper accounts of people who are killed because of unsecured or stolen guns. And it should no longer be possible for criminals or children or children to obtain handguns at gun shows. The National Rifle Association preaches about the importance of firearms safety training. They tell us that the real problem is criminals with guns. These bills are tailor-fit for the NRA message. Hopefully the NRA leadership will support them and practice what they preach. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce Elfant is the Travis County Precinct 5 constable. -----------------end of article---------------------------------------- Comment San Antonio Express News May 14,1997 In the Saturday, 4.26.97 Comment, "Proposed gun laws vital to our safety": Bruce Elfant builds a case for further infringement on firearms owners freedoms. He ignores the existing laws that, if enforced, will cause the changes he espouses. Elfant states "Year after year, we watch a more than 3,000 Texans lose their lives to bullets." He's trying to convince people who this number represents accidental firearms deaths and can be prevented by just one or two more unneeded laws. In 1994 there were only 1,356 accidental firearms deaths nation wide and 157 for Texas according to CDC statistics. Elfant has inferred 3,000 for Texas alone. While Elfant is correct in that we all want to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals or unsupervised children, he fails to mention that it is already against the law to rent, sell, loan or give a firearm to a person we know intends to commit an unlawful act. It has been against federal law for over 30 years for a felon to own or possess a firearm. And it is already against the law to sell, rent or give a firearm to a person under the age of 18.