January 18, 2000
Web posted at: 10:47 p.m. EST (0347 GMT)

From National Correspondent Tony Clark

LAS VEGAS (CNN) -- Gunmakers, dealers and enthusiasts at a giant gun show in Las Vegas greeted President Clinton's latest gun control proposals with a mix of relief and skepticism.

Clinton wants 500 new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and inspectors, plus 1,000 more prosecutors focusing on gun crime at all levels and a program to track guns through ballistics testing.

The annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show attracts manufacturers and dealers from around the world to buy and sell guns, ammunition and outdoor equipment.

Generally speaking, the exhibition is not Clinton country.

Some people at the show said Clinton's new emphasis on tougher enforcement of existing laws rather than the creation of new gun control laws was motivated by politics.

"That's another 'me too' -- I want to look good and I usually don't care how it turns out, I just want to look good on the six o'clock news. That's how he works and that's what he's doing," said Dave Wayland of Carson City, Nevada, about the president's proposals.

	ALSO
Clinton proposes funding more federal agents, prosecutors

Others claimed the president was playing with words.

"The administration used the word enforcement. It depends on whether they want to enforce gun registration -- or whether they want to enforce it against the criminal who uses the gun," said one man attending the exhibit.

For people at the trade show, guns are not only a livelihood, they are a way of life. So it is not surprising that the Clinton administration's new approach to gun laws is being greeted with skepticism.

"More ATF means they're just going to be harassing people who buy guns through legal means," said one skeptic.

But spokesmen for major gun manufacturers were more generous in their reaction.

"We're glad that they are finally taking industry's position to prosecute the bad guys and leave the good guys alone," said Steve Sanetti, vice president of Sturm, Ruger & Co.

"I think its a victory for everybody. I mean I think its a positive step," said Ken Jorgensen of Smith & Wesson.

"I think it's very positive and Glock can support all of the president's proposals," agreed Jim Pledger of Glock, Inc.

The President's proposal to create a National Ballistics Information Clearinghouse was especially welcome news at the Forensic Technology, Inc. booth.

The company makes equipment which compares and categorizes marks on bullets and shell casings -- information that can help determine if one gun has been used in multiple crimes.

"It's that simple, you can follow crimes from one part of the country to another," said John O'Neil of Forensic Technology, Inc.

Many people at the SHOT Show say that kind of improved technology, along with stronger enforcement of current gun laws, is the proper way to address gun violence -- not through tougher gun control laws.