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
..