Test for the Gun Lobby

To cut gun violence, you don’t need new laws, you just need to enforce existing laws: So goes the gun lobby’s mantra, repeated each time new limits on guns are proposed, no matter how modest or appropriate.

In fact, stopping the bloodshed in high school libraries and suburban office buildings will take both vigorous enforcement of existing laws and new measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands. President Clinton used his State of the Union address last month to argue forcefully for extending to gun shows the Brady bill, a background check; shutting down importation of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and requiring gun owners to pass a safety test and have a license. Last week, Clinton announced an enforcement measure that requires the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to launch a tough crackdown on corrupt gun dealers who help arm criminals and juveniles.

The new strategy responds to the ATF’s finding that just 1.2% of federally licensed firearm dealers and pawnbrokers are responsible for selling 57% of guns used in crimes. The agency will step up inspections of suspect dealers, some of whom have not been checked in years. The ATF will also require a much fuller and prompter accounting of gun sales from these dealers.

Clinton’s proposal is part of a broader response to a bitter debate over the vigor of federal enforcement. A Syracuse University study last summer found that the number of federal weapon cases has dropped sharply in recent years and that those convicted now serve shorter prison sentences than in the past. Federal officials insist that they have not eased up. Rather, in states like California with tough gun laws, they often refer gun cases to state prosecutors--and they say state prosecutions are up.

But Clinton’s announcement nonetheless is an admission that ATF agents could--and should--get tougher on corrupt gun dealers. This will cost money, and the onus is now on Congress. After years of staff shortages and shrinking budgets in the fight against gun violence, Clinton is asking for $280 million, in part to hire 500 new ATF agents and 1,100 new federal, state and local prosecutors.

The gun lobby’s stalwarts in Congress, who have long called for exactly this sort of stepped-up enforcement effort rather than new restrictions, now have to demonstrate that they mean what they say.