03/16/1994 09:10 AM Senate STA

 CHAIRMAN LEMAN brings up HCR 27 (SUPPORT NRA GUN SAFETY PROGRAM) as           
 the next order of business before the committee.  The chairman                
 calls the prime sponsor to testify.                                           
                                                                               
 Number 550                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE, prime sponsor of HCR 27 states HCR 27               
 would ask the schools to address the growing problem of the high              
 incidence of young people involved in gun accidents.  The materials           
 provided in the gun safety program would be provided at no cost to            
 public schools by the NRA (National Rifle Association).  The                  
 program does not advocate gun ownership or teach the use of guns,             
 but is aimed at protecting very young children.  Representative               
 Bunde equates the program in HCR 27 with the "stop, drop, and roll"           
 fire safety mantra.  The catch-phrase for the gun safety program              
 being "If you see a gun, leave the area, tell an adult."  The fact            
 that the program is sponsored by the NRA is a red flag for some               
 people, but it really does not advocate any of the NRA's                      
 philosophical positions about firearms.                                       
                                                                               
 Number 520                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN thanks Representative Bundy for making a tape of the           
 program available, but the committee is running short on time, so             
 he asks members to watch it on their own time if they wish to do              
 so.  The chairman asks if there is any discussion among committee             
 members and if there is anyone in the audience who wishes to                  
 testify on HCR 27.  Hearing none, he asks Representative Bunde if             
 there has been any opposition voiced to the resolution.                       
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE states he has not.  He says it is an                     
 encouragement to schools to have this education, and is certainly             
 not a mandate.                                                                
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN asks Mr. George if he would like to testify.                   
                                                                               
 Number 512                                                                    
                                                                               
 JOHN GEORGE, Alaska Outdoor Council states the council supports the           
 concept of training kids to be gunsafe.  He would like to have a              
 copy of the tape Representative Bunde has, because his wife is a              
 first grade teacher.                                                          
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS asks if the resolution is necessary, if there is                
 anything stopping this training from occurring now.                           
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE responds it is just an encouragement.                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR comments as the world becomes a more dangerous                 
 place, the incidence of gun accidents will probably increase.  He             
 suggests gun safety should be mandated, as opposed to merely                  
 recommending it.                                                              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE says using the least draconian method is the             
 first step.  If we find we need a more assertive expression of our            
 will, then perhaps we can do that in the future.  The only                    
 resistance Representative Bunde says could possible exist, is the             
 fear that perhaps something is  being advocated from the NRA, which           
 is not an uncontroversial organization.                                       
                                                                               
 Number 488                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER makes a motion to discharge HCR 27 from the Senate             
 State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations.                      
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN LEMAN, hearing no objection, orders HCR 27 released from             
 committee with individual recommendations.