Date: Fri, 19 Aug 1994 01:20:07 -0400 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: INFO: National Ass'n of Chiefs of Police 95% say Brady Won't Work May/June 1994 Volume IX Number 3 THE CHIEF OF POLICE the official publication of the National Association of chiefs of police NACOP Annual Survey for 1994 SPECIAL REPORT More Than 95% of U.S. Police Agency Heads Believe Brady Law Won't Stop Criminals From Getting Guns NACOP's National Survey Also Shows Strong Support for Opening Bases for Convict Overflow Washington -- U.S. law enforcement agency heads overwhelmingly believe that the Brady Law will not prevent criminals from getting guns, according to survey results released today by the National Association of Chiefs of Police. When asked if they believe the federal five day waiting period for firearms purchases, which went into effect Feb 28, will prevent criminals from obtaining illegal weapons within hours any day of the week on the street, 95.4 percent of respondents said "no." Responses were received from 3,241 agency heads, or 15.4 percent of the 21,000 U.S. police chiefs, sheriffs and other law heads who were mailed NACOP's seventh annual confidential survey. In response to other firearms related questions: * 88.7 percent of respondents do not believe a ban on sales to law-abiding citizens of shotguns, rifles and certain handguns would help reduce crime -- and 97.4 percent said such a ban would not stop criminals from obtaining "illegal weapons". * 90.4 percent support law-abiding citizens' right to bear arms. * 88 percent oppose raising taxes on ammunition to pay hospital costs of gunshot victims. * 81.3 percent said they were not aware that the Brady law, while protecting police chiefs and sheriffs from personal lawsuits related to background checks for firearms purchase purposes, does not protect cities and counties from such suits. * 86.8 percent said they do not believe offering cash, gift certificates or other awards to those who turn in firearms is an effective way to reduce crime. Responses to several of the 30 questions on the survey indicate support for a tougher criminals justice system. For example: * 96.7 percent said they believe our nation should quit "coddling criminals" and should open empty military installations to house the overflow of convicted felons. * 92.6 percent said they believe that the U.S. criminal justice system has broken down in the courts, with the prosecutors and probation and parole system. * 91.4 percent favor sending to prison for life those career criminals who have broken the law since youth and been convicted as an adult of three violent offenses. * 92.8 percent believe the death penalty serves as a deterrent to certain crimes -- and 95 percent said a maximum of five years should be allowed prior to execution for appeals by those sentenced to death. On questions related to the Branch Davidian matter in Waco, Texas, 67.3 percent of respondents said U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno made the correct decision to stop hostage negotiations, leading to 85 deaths, but 77.7 percent said the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms made a tactical error which led to the deaths of four agents. The complete survey results are reprinted below for the readers of the CHIEFS OF POLICE. We invite your comments, questions and critique of the annual NACOP survey of Police Agency Heads. Please write, Editor, THE CHIEF OF POLICE, 3801 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, Fla. 33137. CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY 7th Annual National Survey of Law Enforcement Officers in the United States The following questions were posed in the last 60 days by a poll of 18,000 Chiefs of Police and 3,000 county officers. We have had a 15.4% response. Thus we have every reason to believe this survey is reliable. We suggest that it represents a cross section of the vast majority of police agencies. Death Penalty 1. Do you believe that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to certain types of crime? YES - 92.8% 2. Pending at this date before congress is a proposal to add to federal law an additional 58 crimes for which the federal government might apply the death penalty. Do you believe that, in addition to what laws are applied in the state, that federal death penalties also may serve as a deterrent to certain types of crimes? YES - 88.9% 3. There are some states (New York and Wisconsin, for example) where there is no death penalty, where death penalty legislation, even when proposed by the public at large and passed by legislature, has in some cases been rejected by the governor of the state. Do you believe that this is unfair to law enforcement officers who risk their lives day to day? YES - 93.7% 4. Do you believe that after conviction and sentencing of the death penalty, that a maximum of no more than five years, including the period for appeals, should be set for carrying out an execution? YES - 95% Drugs and Narcotics 5. It has been proposed by the Director of the U.S. Public Health that marijuana be legalized for "medical purposes." Do you agree with decriminalizing this drug? NO - 82.8% 6. Of all of the drugs used illegally, alcohol appears to be the most dangerous as the leading factor in death to police officers, by persons under the influence and / or mixed with narcotics. Should we add severe penalties for illegal sale or use by both minors and adults? YES - 85.8% 7. There is some discussion of the legalization of certain recreational drugs (such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana), to reduce prison population, police activity and costs of enforcement. Would you agree with such a change from the present law? NO - 95.3% 8. Do you believe that the abuse of both drugs, some chemicals (such as PCP) and alcohol abuse are the leading factors in violent street crime? YES - 93.6% Law Enforcement Ethics 9. A scandal in one state police force has exposed highly respected fingerprint technicians, who are also sworn police officers, who "planted" fingerprints at crime scenes. This later brought wrongful convictions. These officers claim "that their superiors knew about the practice and, in fact encouraged it." Would you believe that this could be a true statement that dozens of planted fingerprints at crime scenes could only be done with the knowledge of supervisors since it was so widespread? NO - 66.2% 10. Janet Reno, as Attorney General of the United States, is our chief law enforcement officer. In that capacity she ordered the end of "hostage negotiations" in Waco, Texas, which led to the deaths of 85 men, women and children. Do you believe that this was a correct decision? YES - 67.3% 11. Do you believe that the BATF made a tactical error in Waco, Texas, which led to the death of 4 agents? YES - 77.7% 12. The FBI issues an annual report called the "Uniform Crime Report". Last year, it indicated crime was down in general. The reports are based on information supplied by police and sheriff's departments. They are not ever audited for accuracy. Do you believe that random audits by federal agency should be made of police departments to determine if figures submitted are in fact accurate? YES - 56.2% 13. Attacks on police (assaults) show a sharp rise of 875% between 1960 and the last report in 1993. Do your own reports of police injured (not killed) support the increase in violent assaults to local police? YES - 52.3% FIREARMS 14. The Brady Bill, now law, requires a 5 day waiting period for gun purchases, as well as the option (not requirement) of a background check by local police or sheriffs. Do you believe that the new federal 5-day waiting period will prevent criminals from obtaining illegal weapons within hours any day of the week on the street? NO - 95.4% 15. While the Brady Bill provides protection from lawsuit of the sheriffs or police chiefs, the bill does not exempt your city or county from being sued. Were you aware of this? NO - 81.3% 16. It has been proposed that a number of shotguns, rifles (often mislabeled assault weapons) or certain types of handguns that might be used for sport or self defense be banned from sale to law-abiding citizens. Do you believe this ban will help reduce crime? NO - 88.7% 17. If a ban of rifles, shotguns and handguns were to be approved, do you believe that criminals no longer would be able to obtain "illegal weapons"? NO - 97.4% 18. It also has been proposed to tax ammunitions as a means to prevent citizens from obtaining these various firearm rounds -- to pay for hospital costs of victims of "gunshot wounds". Would you agree to raise taxes on ammunition of law-abiding citizens? NO - 88.0% 19. It has been proposed to issue a National Firearms Card and register all firearms owned by citizens in the community. Do you believe that the federal registration law would reduce crime? NO - 91.4% 20. Do you believe that a criminal (already prevented from gun ownership) would register for a national gun card and list of firearms? NO - 93.7% 21. In the last two years, floods, hurricanes, riots and earthquakes have required citizens to protect themselves. Would you agree with the statement that any law-abiding citizen should be able to purchase a rifle, shotgun or handgun of his or her choice (now legal) for sport or self defense? YES - 94.8% General National Questions 22. We requested a list of Interpol nations that had not paid their dues such as Iraq (5 years in arrears and a terrorist nation). This request for names of countries, amounts past due and how long they have been delinquent has not been answered in nearly one year. Do you believe that American police, as well as taxpayers, are entitled to know this information? YES - 94.8% 23. Do you believe that the mass media (TV and movies in particular) has contributed to the violence now felt by street gangs in schools where guns and other weapons are found and has encouraged crime and attacks against police officers and citizens that are brutal and immoral? YES - 89.0% 24. Do you believe that we should open empty military camps to handle the overflow of convicted felons and quit "coddling criminals" in our present system? YES - 96.7% 25. Would you agree that a career criminal -- a person who from his or her youth has broken the law and as an adult has been convicted at least three other times of violence -- and as such should be sent to prison for life? YES - 91.4% 26. Do you believe that the criminal justice system in the United States has broken down in the courts, with the prosecutors and probation and parole system? YES - 92.6% 27. Do you believe that offering gift certificates, cash or other awards to those who turn in firearms is an effective way to reduce crime? NO - 86.8% 28. Would you agree that state laws should be amended now that would permit the protection of youthful (juvenile offenders) who have been arrested over and over again (and because of their age alone) to be prosecuted as "adult offenders". That by allowing "career juvenile" offenders to abuse the system we have encouraged juveniles to avoid punishment for an ever serious escalation of crimes of violence? YES - 97.4% 29. The clinton administration has promised 100,000 more law enforcement officers to patrol our streets. Were you aware that it would be only by the year 2001 and upon completion of college that trained officers would be available and that any others would be civilians? NO - 81.3% 30. The average police chief serves 3 years and 2 months and is then dismissed. Do you believe that we need to have more protection for command officers who meet state standards? YES - 89.5% Copyright 1994 National Association of Chiefs of Police. All rights reserved. Verbal approval by Jim Gordon Editor of Publications.