Скачать или смотреть USA: ISLETON: 500 GUN PERMITS ISSUED IN TOWN WITH 800 INHABITANTS

(15 May 1996) English/Nat:

The gun crazy days of America's 'Wild West' are making their last stand in a small Californian town 60 miles outside San Francisco.

In the past year the police chief of Isleton has issued more than five hundred gun permits in a town with just over 800 inhabitants.

With the recent gun massacres in Britain and Australia, most countries are struggling to tighten gun laws, but in Isleton they claim the guns are keeping trouble out.

Cars have replaced horses on Main Street but little else has changed in Isleton, a small town in California.

A few cowboy films were once shot here but the town's fame comes from it being one of the most heavily armed communities in the country.

Isleton boasts no murders, no rapes and no violent crime.

The police chief, Eugene Byrd, has infuriated many state and national politicians by granting gun permits to just about every citizen without a criminal record that asks for one.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Everyone loves this little town. Everybody is friendly, you can't walk down the street without someone offering to give you a ride and help out."
SUPER CAPTION: Ray Norman, armed Isleton citizen

Eugene Byrd claims his armed citizens have sent a clear message
to criminals.

Far from averting a bloodbath, he claims gun control has handed America's cities to the criminals.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"They talk about a bloodbath but its happening now any rate. It's the criminals who have the guns, not the honest person. That is why we are having the crime we have now. Honest citizens do not have guns to protect themselves."
SUPER CAPTION: Eugene Byrd, Police Chief, Isleton

The Chief requests all new licence holders take gun training at the local target ranges.

This year Chief Byrd has issued 12 times as many gun permits as the entire Los Angeles Police Department.

Attempts by state officials to slow the distribution have failed and there is little they can do to stop Chief Byrd.

Most locals are convinced he is right.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"If I walk through the door and I know there are 14 people in there carrying guns, do you think I will try to rob somebody? I'm going to go and rob where I know there is no-one with a gun. This is the way the criminal thinks."
SUPER CAPTION: Harry Forrester, Armed Isleton resident

Local gun shops even sell T-shirts in honour of the police chief.

A 'right to carry arms' bill is now before the Californian legislature and it would extend the Isleton experience across the state.

Those opposed to the bill believe the casualty rate in large cities like San Francisco and L-A would explode.

More than 100 people a day are killed by firearms in the US.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The rate will go up because you have more guns being used where there is conflict. Every day in a city there is conflict: traffic disputes, parking lots, at work. You are going to see an escalation of the violence.
SUPER CAPTION: Barrie Becker, Handgun Control Inc

Meanwhile at three dollars a permit the Chief continues to grant the wishes of citizens eager to bare arms.

He has warned his opponents they will have to fire him and take on America's constitution if they want the permits stopped.

Bob Dole, the Republican presidential candidate has promised to repeal existing gun control legislation.

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