LAWMAKERS
LAWMAKERS
00.15.48-DUKE-SENATE did approve Prompt Payment law, likely HOUSE will do same in 1982. WERTHEIMER-intro report on GUN LOBBY agenda for RELAXING GUN CONTROL LAWS. 00.16.23-Clip of NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION AD, showing stills of "members" of NRA, touting the group's commitment to right to own guns. Shot of GUN CONTROL ad, showing a young girl finding a HANDGUN in her mom's jewelry box, picks it up as ominous music plays. Shot of HANDGUNS on rack in GUN STORE. Shot of NRA headquarters, text of SECOND AMENDMENT engraved on marble wall. Shot of SENATE COMMITTEE session. Shot of Rep. HAROLD VOLKMER (D-MO) testifies to Committee that the 1968 GUN CONTROL law is an infringement of Constitutional rights of "law abiding citizens". Shot of Sen. JAMES McCLURE, arguing that a new law should be focused on Criminals and the use of Guns in Crime. Shot of Sen. CHARLES GRASSLEY (R-IA) chairing committee, WERTHEIMER v.o.-disc. of contributions given to BIDEN, McCLURE, VOLKMER by NRA. Sen. GRASSLEY says that there are many in Congress who support the new bill. WERTHEIMER v.o.-REAGAN may have pre-empted CONGRESS, has proposed to dissolve ATF and give its enforcement authority to SECRET SERVICE. 00.19.02-Shot of ATF director, testifying to committee, says that for all the money spent, the 1968 law has not impacted CRIME RATE at all. Shot of PAUL HAYES (GUN DEALER) and wife, testifies that government regulation is killing his business [he should have told his wife not to wear that fur collar if he is looking for sympathy] Shot of a GUN COLLECTOR complaining that his guns were seized. WERTHEIMER v.o.-the witnesses are basically professional witnesses for NRA agenda. 00.20.14--Shot of a GUN CONTROL advocate, says the bill is frivolous and entirely objectionable-WERTHEIMER v.o. descr. of provisions of bill. Shot of a GUN CONTROL advocate, says CONGRESS must pass new laws, not gut existing ones. 00.21.00-DUKE/WERTHEIMER studio-discussion of legislative mood on GUN CONTROL, extraordinary that in a year when the PRESIDENT was shot, there was no move to INCREASE GUN CONTROL, but a move to decrease it. Speculation that moving GUN LAW ENFORCEMENT to SECRET SERVICE from ATF might make the GUN LOBBY'S task more difficult in the long run. DUKE notes an estimated 55 MILLION HANDGUNS in circulation in U.S.A.. 00.22.31-DUKE intro report on the CONGRESSIONAL CHAPLAIN, called on to help members relax after hard battles over the budget. 00.23.01-Shot of House CHAPLAIN JAMES FORD, seated, wearing black with priest's collar, says he steers clear of political matters and advising. Shot of FORD giving PRAYER to open session of HOUSE. Shot of STAINED GLASS WINDOW in CAPITOL PRAYER ROOM, closeup of slogan "THIS NATION UNDER GOD" in window. Shot of rostrum of HOUSE chamber. FORD discussing helping members of Congress with their personal spiritual problems, says that Congressmen have the same kinds of problems as anyone else, in matters where a Congressman has a moral dilemma about how to vote, FORD says he must act only as a counselor to help the member make his/her own decision. FORD says that HOUSE members are very "religious" in terms of observation and practice (church attendance etc.). Says he can't answer the question "is there a 'moral majority' in CONGRESS?", hopes that there is a majority that has moral concerns for justice, mercy, peace. Says that most Congressmen do sincerely want to use their votes to do right, regardless of their opinions on what "right" is. 00.27.17-DUKE-intro commentary. 00.27.26-commentary by OTIS PIKE, discusses what he'd like to give CONGRESS for Christmas-"LOOPHOLES"-discusses CONGRESS' constant desire to find "loopholes" to close, constant practice of making new loopholes. 00.29.23-DUKE signs off, Closing credits roll over shot of MARINE BAND (?) playing "Jingle Bells" on Capitol grounds. Transcript order information/WETA credit/sponsor credits/PBS ID 00.31.24-OUT