Speech #1020029806

I support the right of sane. law abiding citizens to own guns. and I oppose Federal gun registration. But I have come to the conclusion that this is a sensible and reasonable measure. not inconsistent with my philosophy or the constitutionally protected right to bear arms. We have already made a Federal law to prohibit criminals. persons judged mentally incompetent. illegal aliens. and minors from purchasing handguns. No one disagrees with these common sense restrictions. but in roughly half our States there is no system in place to enforce them effectively. And in States which already impose a waiting period or require law enforcement to verify a purchasers eligibility to possess a handgun. thousands of gun sales have been rejected because the purchaser has been considered ineligible to buy a handgun.