A Nationwide Backlash
1 ARIZONA G.O.P. Governor Jane Dee Hull vetoes a bill that would have prevented cities and counties from enacting gun controls
2 CALIFORNIA Gun purchases are limited to one a month; lawmakers tighten assault-weapons ban. Laws are among the toughest
3 COLORADO Legislators kill a bill making it easier to win concealed-guns permits; officials mulling new restrictions on the permits
4 CONNECTICUT A new law allows police to obtain a warrant to confiscate the guns of someone who might injure himself or others
5 FLORIDA Lawmakers withdraw a conceal-carry bill; Governor Jeb Bush hails law stiffening sentences of those who use guns in crimes
6 ILLINOIS New laws force gun owners to keep weapons secured from kids and increase penalties for those who buy guns for criminals
7 MICHIGAN Gun opponents plan a referendum on concealed weapons; lawmakers nix an N.R.A.-friendly conceal-carry bill
8 NEVADA After a longer than expected debate, legislators allow concealed guns in public buildings--but not in schools or airports
9 NEW JERSEY Governor Christine Todd Whitman seeks a law saying dealers can sell only "smart" handguns; the bill passes the senate
10 OHIO Republicans back away from a bill to ban suits against gunmakers, and the Governor says he opposes a conceal-carry law
11 TENNESSEE Legislators ax a bill that would have let faculty members arm themselves on campus but passes a bill to ban gun suits
12 UTAH Anti-gun forces are pushing a referendum on concealed weapons; poll says 80% think only police should have guns in schools
--Companies are trying to make safer guns
A Smarter Gun For the Future
A fingerprint-enabled handgun, being developed by Oxford Micro Devices, will use a miniature electronic fingerprint-capture-and- verification device built into the handle of a gun to identify the owner and prevent unauthorized users
1 The "latching solenoid" locks the gun's hammer and trigger, preventing unauthorized use
2 On picking up the gun, the owner's middle finger covers a tiny red button, activating the fingerprint unit on the side or the grip. The finger also wraps over the print sensor, which then scans the fingerprint
3 An image-processor chip captures the image from the sensor and, with the memory chip and circuit board, identifies the fingerprint and unlocks the gun
Some Current Safety Devices
The trigger lock is a device that fits over the trigger mechanism, immobilizing it. It is unlocked with either a key or combination
The cable lock consists of a cable that loops through the slide at the top, threads down through the grip and is fastened at both ends by a padlock
--Guns are becoming a major issue for 2000
BILL BRADLEY has taken the toughest position on guns of any major candidate in recent history. He wants a license-registration system for handguns
AL GORE would require licenses for buyers but not registration of the weapons themselves. Both want to ban "junk guns," but Gore doesn't attack the N.R.A.
GEORGE W. BUSH signed a law ending Texas' concealed-weapons ban. He supports background checks at gun shows but hasn't pushed for them in Texas
JOHN MCCAIN voted against the Senate bill that would have required background checks at gun shows. He also voted against the Brady bill in 1993
TIME/CNN Poll
Do you have any guns of any type in your home?
1993 1999 Yes 48% 39%
Do you favor or oppose the Federal Government's requiring handgun owners to register each handgun?
Favor 76% Oppose 23%
Do you favor or oppose the Federal Government's requiring people to get a license in order to legally own a handgun?
Favor 77% Oppose 21%
Do you have more confidence in the Democrats or the Republicans to handle the issue of gun control?
Dems 41% G.O.P. 32%
Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who favors stricter gun-control laws?
More 59% Less 32%
From a telephone poll of 1,017 adult Americans taken for TIME/CNN on July 14-15 by Yankelovich Partners Inc. Margin of error is +/- 3.2%. "Not sures" omitted.