Arthur Hayhoe wants to stop the sale of guns without background checks. He's looking toward the County Commission.
By CHASE SQUIRES
Published June 26, 2003
DADE CITY - Pasco County gun control activist Arthur Hayhoe launched a city-to-city campaign this week urging local leaders to push the Pasco County Commission to tighten regulations on gun show sales.
Hayhoe said he was frustrated at the County Commission's unwillingness to close what he sees as a loophole in federal gun sales laws requiring background checks on buyers.
"We struggle continually with this business of the gun show loophole," Hayhoe told Dade City commissioners. "Gun shows are not the problem; what goes on at the gun shows is."
Presenting his case to Dade City commissioners on Tuesday night, Hayhoe said a loophole in the law allows private sellers - regular people selling their own weapons - to avoid requiring a background check on potential buyers. Hayhoe said sellers are using the loophole in the law to peddle weapons at gun shows.
A state law allows individual counties to close the loophole, Hayhoe said. But so far, the Pasco County Commission has been reluctant to move on the issue.
Hayhoe said he plans to visit each city in the county, urging the city leaders to press the county for action.
Dade City was his first stop.
Closing the loophole, he said, would be a fitting tribute to Pasco County Sheriff's Office Lt. Charles "Bo" Harrison, killed June 1 with a high-powered rifle.
County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader said Wednesday that the commission doesn't see it as its place to intervene in federal law and micromanage gun laws. He said enforcement of existing laws remains a priority, but enacting new county regulations is a step too far.
Dade City commissioners listened to Hayhoe's pitch and thanked him for presenting the issue but took no action.
