IN GENERAL KORB
agreed, . and said he does not op­
pose legislation Jike the Brady
bill, but he didn't think it
wouldn't solve any of the state's
or nation's real crime problems.
U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R­
Holland, who represents Mason
and Oceana Counties, voted for
the legislation
"As fat as crime in the area -
if people are going to commit a
crime, they are going to get guns
-i tsimple," Ko b id, "It
would have no impact on how we
do business here ... veryseldom
do you have the bad guy come
here and try to register their
weapon."
In one instance, however, a
man tried to register three hand­
guns at the Oceana County office
and after a background check,
Korb said he discovered the guns
were stolen and the man, who
was from another state, was
wanted for murder. Korb said
the man was ubsequently ar­
rested.
One of the shortfalls many of­
ficers believe deals with the fact
that there is no way to tell
whether or not applicants have
been in a mental institution. Alli
said the applicant only needs to
state under oath that they have
not been declared mentally inca­
pacitated.
While the legislation is not a
cure-all, Alli said it will have
good impact on areas of the coun- .
try that do not have any check
system for purchasers.
"This is not going to hurt a
law-abiding person who wants
to buy a gun - here in Michigan,
it's a process they may not like
but go through it anyway,". Alli
said. "It's a way of getting control
in this society in some way. It
doesn't matter if guns kill people
or people kill people... in too
many places too many people are
dying."
, BUT MA 0 COUNTY
Sheriff Larry' Stewart said he
does not think that the Brady
ill will have any real impact on
crime, even in areas without cur­
rent background check pro­
grams.
"This will not prevent crimi­
nals from getting guns," Stewart
said. "Most of those arrested for
carrying a concealed weapon ha­
ven't registered <their guns) any­
way. What it would do is make it
more difficult for the average
person to get a handgun. This
won't prevent crime of any kind."
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St.
Joseph, was one of the support- .
rs of the bill with his vote.
St. Joseph County Sheriff
Matt Lori said th Brady bill is
no a perf solu ion to th prob-
I m of guns in iety, nd that
current law n to enfo
rictly, fore n w .on
added. Mo public p ure
hould b put on th judicial ys-
t m to enfo harsh r penal-
ti ,Lori id.
"I'h r
I
I )('1 roil
I
ch chool
for tud nt
only choo!
rt r p cia!
John
..
