FIREARMS LEGISLATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00446R000500280019-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2004
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: July 1, 1965
• Content Type: OPEN

jJrdve4 Release 2004 54 RE$A RiV7 0959 AMt
the maximum hours of labor, minimum rates In my opinion, many will point, to the
of pay, and other Conditions of employment, manner in which "right to work" has re-
approved or prescribed by the Preetdeut, tarded the economic progress and average
FROkdrWGANTI$,ocIAL ACTIVITY wage earnings. It is not necessary for me to
Even section 14(b) reaffirms the right to go over the same grounds because this story
Intended
so well known. to john an organization to promote to bring to . your attention points the outset,
which I
collective bargaining-or not to join. That believe would not be emphasized otherwise.
much of the Original Wagner Act incor- I purposely made this statement be easily s sufficiently
porated in the Taft-Hartley Act, therefore, brief that my remarks Could bu under.
Is reasserted. brief h stood with the least Involvement.
What section 14(b), in off ne, does Is to set The position the Iron Workers Is in and
up what Its coautilo uthors designed to be done. piste accord ord With that of the AFL-CIO and
That was to, forbid employees of a given the building and construction trades
unit-by majority vote-to decide whether department.
they wished to work and to live alongside It is our wish that H.R. 77 be reported
others who, for their own reasons or excuses, without amendments.
desired to be antisocial. Section 14(b) could qot be enacted today.
I
t
o Cogress was o
of you
n
same system for determining almost every-
thing we do and wherever we turn.
When groups decide they wish to do some-
thing, they take a vote and the majority
rules. But section 14(b) leaves to the States
the issue whether the majority shall decide,
by election, the road to collective progress.
It has begun to develop among the States
lately that whether by legislative enactment
or by referendum, the antisocial and the
antilabor forces can and do continue to lose.
Cited as instances are Oklahoma and Indi-
ana, as well as Louisiana. Such results are
decided by majority vote by labor and non-
labor citizens aliiie,
Senator Taft within a few months of en-
$otment of his.antilabor act learned that his
law was no perfect instrument. He already
had conceded, based upon a visit to the Cali-
fornlawaterironts, that the hiring hall was
a useful, and necessary adjunct to labor-man-
agement operations,
He has even been represented as saying he
had. never Intended that Public Law 101 be
applied to the building and construction in-
dustry. This idea, we would have to doubt.
TAFT'e MISTAKES COME TO SURFACE
To suns it up, as you can read in Prof.
Philip Taft's book "Organized Labor in Amer-
ican History," Sentaor Taft planned to amend
his own law in a number of important
_
regards.
In fact, the Senator had drafted 28 amend-
ments. He wished to get labor's assent to
these amendments. In other words, he
Bought clearance. To quote from Professor
Taft's book, he "was anxious to obtain some
concession from the spokesmen of organized
labor," ...
Labor's position at that time was that the
act was a complete mistake and that outright
repeat was called for. The composition of
the Congress in 1950 was such that repeal
ebuld not succeed,
Senator Taft referred to the conservative
Members of the House and said be could not
reach agreement with them without con-
cessions from both employers and employees
even to modify the Taft-Hartley Act. Em-
ployers, fresh from victory, offered no evi-
dence of moderation.
It then must be clear to most of us that
the Senator had recognized after 3 years that
he had made at least 28 mistakes. I think
we can say that section 14(b) was high on
his list,
The Congress today, 16 years later, can
never be said to resemble the Congress of
1047.
It is not the intent of the Iron Workers to
deprive any group of labor of its long fought
for legislative gains. What we seek here is
equanimity and even-handed treatment from
our lawmakers. All labor has the need and
right to a leveling up and to have the en-
couragement of the Congress to organize and
maintain organization and to have the actual
benefits as set forth In the wording of the
facade of the U,S, Supreme Court Building
A3495
The regulations are not spelled out and pre-
sumably, the Secretary could make any regu-
lations he wanted to.
A consumer (us) could not buy a hand-
gun over the counter if he was under 21:
he Could not buy a rifle or shotgun If under
18. Certainly, there should be reasonable
controls over youngsters, but S. 1592 applies
the same rules to a New York City boy and
a farm boy living in Wyoming. It apparently
is an invasion of States rights.
The dealer, In an over-the-counter sale,
would be made responsible that the con-
sumer had not violated any provision of the
act, or would not be likely to do so.
Small reloaders, clubs that were reloading
for resale to members, individuals who reload
their own-all would have to pay $1,000 a
year for the privilege that costs them nothing
today.
There are about 750,000 antique gun collec-
tors in America. Many of them sell and trade
modern as well as antique weapons. They
would be subjected to dealer's licenses and
harassed by redtape by provisions of S. 1692.
A sportsman bringing -a gun back into the
United States after hunting in a foreign
country such as Africa or even Canada would
have to satisfy authorities that he was bring-
ing back the same gun.
A hunter going to another State and
shipping his guns there would be subjected
to much delay and redtape.
I could go on and on, but I won't. Why
Is this bill and others like It being proposed?
The assassination of President John F.
Kennedy Is the main reason. Senator DODD's
bill has the backing of the late President's
brother, BOBBY, AS well it might.
EMOTIONAL BLINDNESS
But these lawmakers are letting emotions
blind them to the real problem. Actually,
there is no firearms problem to be found
here in the United States. No, there really
Isn't.
What exists today has existed for years; it's
a crime problem. But our legislators, some
of them, are putting the cart before the
horse. They are trying to close the barn
doors after the livestock escaped.
The laws which they are trying to push
through as fast as possible affect Innocent
people. Apparently, even President Johnson
has been blinded by his emotions.
On April 1 of this year, the President spoke
on the proposed Alabama boycott: "I think
we must be very careful to see that we do not
punish Innocents in this country while we
are trying to protect all of our people and
that we do not hurt those who through no
fault of their own could be damaged without
any real reason."
I believe that the President should use
this same sort of thinking for the many
firearms bills that come before his eyes each
day.
If the bulk of attention at solving the
crime problem is directed only at guns-as it
Is being done today-then the problem will
not be solved.
At least one Congressman took a good,
hard look at the crime problem and came
up with this solution: Open war on the
illegal use of firearms by the criminal prey-
ing an society.
In other words, make the existing laws so
tough that it would not be healthy for orga-
nizations like the Mafia (Cosa Nostra),
Murder, Inc., or Individuals like the Al
Capories, the John Dillingers, the hoods of
yesteryear, and today, to exist.
CASEY SPELLS IT OUT
Representative ROBERT CASEY, Of Houston,
Tex., pointed out that the illegal use of fire-
arms Is found nationwide and "the States
have been unable to deal with it effectively.
"The time has come," he said, "to meet
this problem head on, and to take from the
courts the power to turn loose on society the
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
OF
HON. G. ELLIOTT HAGAN
OF GEORGIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, July 1, 1965
Mr. HAGAN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker,
under leave to extend my remarks in the
RECORD, I am including an article on
firearms legislation by Mr. Bill Baab,
outdoor editor of the Augusta Chronicle-
Herald, of Augusta, Ga.
The article follows:
PROBLEM STILL ExrsTS
Well, here I an again, about to attack the
proponents of bills which would strongly
control the sales of firearms,
I am against bills like that proposed by
Senator THOMAS J. DODD, of Connecticut (S.
1591 and S. 1592), even though they have
the backing of the President.
It Is S. 1592 in particular which bothers
me as a gun owner, particularly some of Its
provisions, which haven't been made known
to the general public.
In section 1 of the bill, a provision would
not allow big game hunters to own rifles of
larger than one-half caliber unless permis-
sion was obtained from the Secretary of the
Treasury.
This means that collectors of large-caliber
rifles, particularly English rifles, would have
to get permission from the Secretary to own
them.
A provision of section 2 would ban all
mail-order sales of firearms (including hand-
guns, rifles and shotguns) to consumers In
interstate commerce.
This would inconvenience thousands of
farmers and ranchers who do not live close
to sporting goods stores. There are more
than 400 old-line, respectable houses that
have mailed sporting arms to consumers for
years.
They include such names as Sears &
Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, Spiegel, and
Abercrombie & Fitch, Hundreds of small
businesses that make receivers, frames, and
conversions would be put out of business.
. Other provisions call for these measures:
A sportsman could buy a handgun only
in his home State. A competitive pistol
shooter traveling from California to New
York for a match would have to get a permit
from each State he traveled through, or have
the pistol transported for him under such
conditions as the Secretary would presertbe.
TOO MUCH POWER
A dealer could not dispose of any firearm
to any person without following procedures
regulated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
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 A3496 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - APPENDIX July 1, 1965
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second and third o$epdere tq cogtlnu0 their Seanon June 28, 1965, under the headiaces, including such exotic locations as
preying on our citizens." "Portugal First Foreign Nation To Open Macro' near Hong Kong; Timor in the Indo-
So at long last some attention is being Waterbu Consulate." nealan Islands, the Madeira Islands south-
of Portugal, Mozambique on the east
given to' a phase of the problem that has at
been sadly overlookedin moat legislative [From the Waterbury American, June 28, Coast of south Africa and other areas around
halls. 1966] the world.
I believe that severe penalties should be Pearu.A. Harr FOREIGN NATION To O-EN During the first week the office was open-
imposed on all persons who are convicted WAxERBURY CONSULATE even though not fully equipped for bust
of acriminal a Jan. of, firearms. believe For the first time in the history of Water- Hess-it handled 100 requests for passports.
that it is reasonabl to require any purchaser bury, a foreign government has opened a During the year 1t is expected more than
of a firearm, especially those ordering guns consulate in the city. 1,000 applications for passports and visas will
through the mails, to submit a notarized That government, Portugal, and the city be processed.
affidavit or some other positive means of are both expected to reap benefits. One Important task involves the handling
Identification attesting to the fact that he Some months ago, eyebrows were somewhat of birth and death certificates and documents
or she is legally entitled to own the gun. in Waterbury with announcement that Dr. Involving the transfer of properties in Por-
Ibelieve thatpenalties for falsifying in- Andreano Seabra Veiga had been appointed tugal and the provinces, including transla-
formation (Ill siich applications should be Portuguese consul for Connecticut. Many tions of documents,
severe and certain. T believe laws should believed this was merely an honorary title Preliminary arrangements are being made
prohibit sale of firearms to felons, drug ad- given a native son who presently lives here. with the Portuguese Tourist Bureau in New
dicta, habitual drunkards, .juvenile and men- But people are finding out that there is York City, Casa de Portugal, to publicize the
tat incompetents, and -I believe that laws more to the opening of a consulate than Country in many ways In Waterbury. Some
should invoke strict and severe penalties speechmaking, ceremonies and titles. materials, including travel folders, will be
against the possession of firearms by known The Portuguese Consulate in Waterbury available at the Consulate.
criminals or other irresponsible persons, occupies a three-room suite on the second Dr. Veiga said the plans, now being devel-
But, at the same time, I believe laws floor of the Ltiley Building, West Main Street. oped for the fall after the vacation season
aholsld permlt responsible, law-abiding All the furniture has not even arrived and Dr. ends, Includes exhibitions of painting, sculp-
adults to own and use firearms for legitimate Veiga apologizes for its modest appearance. two, Portuguese products, and the showing
purposes, without having to comply with The office, however, is meant for business- of movies. In some cases, the exhibitions
registration, new legislation or other govern- business that will help Waterbury and the may be in a hotel or motel.
mehtal redtape. State, business that will help Portugal and Waterbury will benefit because the staff of
its "provinces" around the world. the Consulate, instead of going to New York,
r " - In all references to. Portuguese lands in Boston, or Providence to do business, will eat
Africa and Asia, Dr. Veiga is careful to de- here, sleep here, and shop here.
Portugal Consulate in Waterbury, Conn. scribe them as "provinces" rather than as Portugal will benefit because people of
Colonies. This Is part of a national policy the area will become more familiar with the
wherein territories are considered integral and might think in terms of spend-
EXTENSIOi~ OF REMARKS ing part of a European vacation there.
OF poste of continental Portugal, rather than as possessions or colonies. Even more important than the matter of
HON. JQHN S. MONAGAN Angola and Mozambique in Africa were tourism will be the business-industrial as-
compared by Dr Veiga to Hawaii and Alaska, pects being concentrated upon. The consul-
Of coirrErrrcy'r There are about 25,000 of Portuguese ex- ate is greatly interested in international
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES traction living in Connecticut, Including trade. Pinho said he is ready to assist any-
. Thursday, July 1, 1965 numerous migrants from the Cape Verdean one in this area with import or export ques-
been my great fortune in my service as Waterbury is about In the geographical One firm has already expressed an interest
Portuguese table wines for sale
ma or of the City of Waterbury Conn., center of the Portuguese settlements In the in importing area.
anp aS, t1,$ Representative from the State, There we. about 3,000 living in the in this this area.
FI$ l1 Cotlgressional District, to work city at present and 3,000 more who live in Dr. Veiga noted the consulate can assist
WLtk} and $o~ Constit_uents of Portuguese Naugatuck . Other centers in the State ln- with Import problems on such widespread
Origin in m&ttere concerning Immigra- elude Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, products as linen table cloths from the Ma-
Wallingford and Danbury and Stonington deira Islands, porcelain, canned sardines and
tion, trade, and individual services. I In southeastern Connecticut. Others are tuna fish, marble, assorted textiles, cork, and
am very happy, therefore, to give notice scattered throughout Connecticut. others.
that the Portuguese Government has re- Portuguese and Cape Verdeans first ml- Any stores in the area wishing to Inves-
ceptly opened a consulate In the city of grated to Massachusetts and the eastern tigate the possibility of Portuguese Imports
Waterbury for the Convenience of Pprtu- coastline as fishermen. During World War can check through the Consulate.
geese 118tives anaY others who h&Ve bUSt- I, many moved to the Waterbury and Bridge- While everyone thinks in terms of Brazilian
ness With Portugal. The Waterbury port areas to work in the factories. coffee, Dr. Veiga pointed out the coffee used
consulate is under the capable direction , More recently, Portuguese descendants who In "instant" coffee in this country is im-
of Dr. Adriano aeabra Veiga, Portuguese have lived In the Fall River area of Massa- ported mainly from Angola on the west coast
chusetts have been moving to Connecticut of southern Africa.
consul for Connecticut, who i5 assisted because of the lack of industrial employment Again the question of imports and exports
by Vasco Matos Pinho of Naugatuck, there, is a two-way street in benefits to Waterbury
Conn., as chancellor, and Beatrice Her- These Portuguese descendants still have and to Portugal. Dr. Veiga said he has held
nandez of Waterbury as secretary, tire in Portugal and the Cape Verdean Is- disqussions with the head of a local factory
I welcome this devglopment as a guar- lands with relatives. The consulate is here on the possibility of exporting to Portugal
antee of closer relations between all the to help them. and its overseas provinces goods manufac-
people of Connecticut and the Portu- While Dr. Veiga is the consul, he cannot tured in this city.
guese Government. There is great op- spend full time at the job. He is a surgeon, "People are always interested in selling,"
president of the Waterbury Health Board, and Dr. Vet a said. He also called attention to
portunity
travel, for the stimulation of trade, he has his family obligatlots-"mast of all" investment possibilities In Portugal and the
travel, , and cordial relations between our his family, he notes. provinces. Numerous types of tax incentives
peoples and the opening of the consu- The full-time daily operation of the con- are being offered persons and firms investing
late in Waterbury will be of great assist- sulate is being handled by Vasco Matos Pinho, or building plants.
ance, not only to the approximately Naugatuck, who has been appointed chan- Because Connecticut and this area has
25.,000 people of Portuguese extraction cellor. Also assisting as full-time secretary numerous small industries, the possibilities
In Connecticut but also to the. State at >a Beatrice Hernandez, Waterbury. of tying in with the new industrialization
large. The office is open weekdays from 10 a.m. movement in Portugal are vast, he said.
to 4 p m
.. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Dr. Veiga has been an outstanding. It ues be closed on all American and Per- Evidences of the relations between Por-
leader in the representation of the Con- tuguem holidays. tugal, the United States and the State are
04e-lkt scale of Porteguese extraction until now, those who have had to do buss- numerous in Dr. Veiga's office. There are,
during the past several years, and his near with the Portuguese consulate have of course, American and Portuguese flags,
devotion to, this service was properly been forced to go to New York, Boston, rr There are also photographs of the President
recognized In his appointment as Portu- Providence. Now the business will be han- of Brazil, America Thomax, and President
guese cohsul for Connecticut. dled in Waterbury. Johnson, including one autographed by John-
son. There are the framed credentials nam-
tiVith permission to extend my re- OBVIOUS TAMS ing Dr. Veiga consul and the declaration of
rnaYks, I enclose herewith 'an article The most obvious task is the handling of the acceptance of those credentials by Pres-
Which appeared In the Waterbury Amer- visas and passports to Portugal and its prOv- ident Johnson.
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