Number: 1986-12
WHEREAS, The Gun Control Act of 1968 was enacted in a period of national concern with the expectation of its reducing crime in the nation; and
WHEREAS, in the 17 ensuing years, the Act has not only proved to be an unfortunate failure in that respect, but it has permitted abuse and persecution of law-abiding firearm dealers and citizens due to its ambiguous and vague language; and
WHEREAS, for the past six years the U.S. Senate has held extensive hearings on proposed revisions of that Act to correct the problems it has created with the result that the Senate this year adopted by a 79-15 vote S. 49, The Firearm Owners Protection Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 20-23, 1986, in Seattle, Washington, urges all members of Congress to support passage of a Firearm Owners Protection Act which embodies these principles:
Requiring that the government prove criminal intent before a person can be convicted of an offense;
Permitting a person to transport his/her firearms through restrictive firearm jurisdictions;
Permitting a person to purchase a firearm in a state other than his residence so long as the legal requirements of both the state of residence and the state of purchase are met;
Eliminating the requirement for maintaining records of an individual’s ammunition purchases;
Establishing the mechanism for the return of confiscated firearms in the event the government fails to prosecute or the owner is acquitted of charges; and
Prohibiting the government from inflicting any gun registration scheme upon firearm owners, since only law-abiding citizens are affected by such systems.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NWF continue to seek legislation for mandatory penalties for anyone convicted of a felony offense involving the use of a handgun.