Ramsey Hopes Politics Won't Undermine Stronger Gun Control Laws
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey says he was pleased to see virtually all of his recommendations in President Obama's proposals on gun violence (see related story).
Now, he's hoping that Congress will pass the proposed legislation without building in loopholes.
Commissioner Ramsey says measures such as universal background checks and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns will not only prevent the kind of mass shootings the president is reacting to, it will make Ramsey's job -- keeping Philadelphia streets safe -- easier, too.
Ramsey, who served on the White House gun safety advisory panel created after the Newtown, Conn. school shootings, recalls that Vice President Biden said not to worry about the politics of gun control in making recommendations. But Ramsey is worried about the role politics will play in seeing the proposals become reality.
"It's going to be a tough fight legislatively, because a lot of people still don't get it," Ramsey said in his office today. "They think it infringes on their constitutional right to own a gun."
Will it cause some inconvenience for legitimate gun owners?
"Yeah, but if your inconvenience saves twenty more kids from getting slaughtered in a schoolhouse, then I think it's worth it," he told KYW Newsradio.
Hear the expanded interview in this CBS Philly podcast (runs 10:53)...
Commissioner Charles Ramsey
