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On HB 12-212 Masood says bill has enough safety measure
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Posted on Oct 13 2000
With its tight security measures that will ensure the safety of the community, Chief Public Defender Masood Karimipour yesterday threw his support to the proposed measure seeking to ease the tough gun control law in the CNMI.
The controversial HB 12-212 will amend the Weapons Control Act to allow the currently-prohibited guns and ammunition into the CNMI for use in the proposed shooting resorts.
Saying he has no serious objection to the bill, Mr. Karimipour noted that shooting establishments already exist in the CNMI and that there has been no evidence to show that their existence has been an unacceptable threat to the safety of the community.
“On the contrary, the surrounding community has been enjoying the monetary benefits of the tourism which such establishments obviously promote,” he said.
Mr. Karimipour emphasized that he will strongly oppose any move to legalize the possession of handguns and automatic weapons by the public. But the bill only allows possession and use of such weapons within secure premises in the shooting resort establishments. “Therefore, given its tight security measures, and restrictive rules regarding possession of such weapons, the amendment does properly provide for safety of the community,” he added.
Since the government has an obligation to care for those who suffer from the legalization of any vice or harmful activity it chooses to endorse, Mr. Karimipour recommended the inclusion of a provision which will earmark some of the fees for victims of gun-related incidents and anti-violence public education.
Currently, he said gambling addiction and alcohol abuse are some problems which should be given focused by making treatment available to the people.
Said Mr. Karimipour: “Instead of treating the root cause which is a public health and social problem, the government too often treats it as strictly a criminal problem, with jail being the solution. Therefore, to be altogether responsible about it, the government should fund public health solutions to public health problems born out of vices which the government legalizes.”
