NRA, states at odds
on gun control bills
WASHINGTON (AP) — A recent defeat in Virginia and a rebuke
from President Clinton suggests the gun lobby, while still a powerful
fort e, may be facing some of its toughest fights in years
Clinton on Monday criticized the National Rifle Association, the
nation's premier gun ndvocaoy group, for opposing certain gun con
trols His support of gun control proponents gives them a major ally
in their fight for a national waiting period for handgun purchases.
Gun control backers predict passage in Congress of the so-called
Brady Bill that would establish the handgun waiting period. The mea
sure had majority backing in both the House and Senate last year but
was opposed by President Bush. It died after liemg attached to a broad
er crime bill.
In the states, however, the picture is loss clear. During the past week.
Virginia adopted new handgun restrictions. But one chamber of the
New Jersey legislature voted to repeal o ban on assault rifles.
Also, as the tense standoff in Waco, Texas, unfolded between author
ities and an armed religious cult. Texas l.t. Gov. Boh Bullock said his
state, long opposed to gun control, should consider banning "tnili
tary-type assault weapons."
But in Colorado, the NRA won a court < use Friday challenging Den
ver s hail on semiautomatics.
"There's a lot of activity out there in the states," NRA spokesman
Jim Baker said.
The vote in the Virginia General Assembly to limit handgun pur
chases to one a month was a setback for the NRA
But the NRA fared better in New Jersey, where the Assembly vot
ed to override Gov. Jim Florio's veto of legislation to reverse a ban on
the sale, possession and manufacture of semiautomatic weapons.
"It's a landmark message that gun control schemes are useless and
out of step with real anti-crime measures." suid George McNeill of
the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.
An override vote is pending in the New Jersey Senate, and Clin
ton's remarks Monday appeared aimed at rallying support for Florio.
"I don't believe that everybody in America needs to be able to
buy a semiautomatic or on automatic weapon built only for the pur
pose of killing people," the president said Clinton called it on "error"
for the NRA to oppose restrictions on assault weapons
There are heated debates in several other states as well.
In Missouri, for example, the NRA supports a measure that would
make it logal to carry a concealed firearm with a permit. The stale
House passed a version last year but it died in the Senate. An amend
ed version is pending in the Senate.
The NRA and its biggest rival. Handgun Control Inc., also are fight
ing over concealed weapons measures in Texas, Arkansas and
Wyoming.
Another hot issue is whether adult owners should be punished if
children gain access to their weapons.
Florida adopted such a law after a special legislation session in
19H0 and 10 states have followed with their own versions.
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Oregon Daily
Socialite gets
life sentence
for slaying
TUSCALOOSA. Ala (AP) — A
socialite was convicted and sen*
fenced to life in prison Wednes
day in the slaying ol her mil
lionaire husband, a crime
prosecutors say she concocted
with her twin sister.
Hetty Wilson, 47, was sen
tenced to life without parole
about an hour after the jury
returned its verdict.
Prosecutors contended she and
her sister hired a handyman to
kill 55-year-old Dr. Jack Wilson
so she could inherit his $fi.3 mil
lion estate.
Defense attorneys said the mun
killed Wilson on his own while
burglarizing the couple’s home.
Mrs Wilson's twin sister, Peg
gy Lowe of Talladega, was free on
bond and awaits trial on a capi
tal murder trial.
fames D. White was arrested
May 3f>, four days after Wilson
was heaten and stabbed to death.
He told police the twins agreed
to pay him $5,(KM) for the slaying.
They were arrested the next day.
f ollowing the murder. Mrs.
Wilson admitted a string of affairs
that became an issue in her nine
day trial. Several of her friends
testified that Mrs Wilson talked
about having him killed as ear
ly as 19Hfi.
Mrs. Lowe did take the stand.
She said that she and her sister
were trying to help White at a
time when he was broke and
despondent. She denied the mon
ey she gave him was part of a
murder contract.
IMS PiMk hterest Enviroinatal Law Cufercntc
(Saturday, March 6th, 10-12)
Upstairs at the UO Bookstore, 346-4331
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