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James Van Fleet, 2955 Kilkare Road, Sunol, indicated he owns many guns, he likes them, uses them for competition, and guns have saved his family on a number of occasions in the rural area where he lives. He competes in a shooting league and one of its members is Dr. Ed Suter. Dr. Suter is president of Physicians for Truth in Research and has testified before Congress on several occasions because of his knowledge and research of certain published facts, which are not facts at all. He referred to the previous statement of the number of children killed every day with guns. He said the statistics include children from nine to 23 and 80% of those cases were individuals involved in a crime. He was opposed to the term "Saturday Night Specials" and indicated it was a euphemism to paint them black. These guns used to be called ladies' guns and used small caliber ammunition. These guns were designed for concealability for a woman or small man who didn't feel capable of protecting themselves in a dangerous situation. He felt that is why more states are passing concealed weapon laws that allow people to carry guns so long as they have no criminal record. Contrary to information published, the crime rates for those states are dropping. He believed that was because criminals don't know who might be carrying a gun. It is a legal right to protect yourself. He then referred to the question about industry standards for manufacture of guns. There is an organization called SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute). The staff report indicates these guns are perceived in the East Bay as a serious problem. Perception and truth are entirely different things. If crime statistics are examined more closely you would see that is true. There was a ban on assault weapons. The Department of Justice statistics proved that less than one percent of all crimes committed in the United States used an assault weapon. Since the ban there has been no change in that statistic. Since then there has been an increase in violent crime in every state except those that have not banned assault weapons. The import ban on Saturday Night Specials was part of the 1968 Gun Act which banned over 900 different weapons. The American gun manufacturers did not oppose it because it would increase their business and cut back on the availability of low cost guns to the public. Gun prices have radically increased and are now less available because they are expensive. The Saturday Night Specials are popular because of the price and their affordability to the lower income members of society. He stated Department of Justice statistics have found that 85 % of criminals prefer the same kind of guns used by police and people who can afford a good gun, such as Smith and Wessons, .357 Magnums, Colt 45's. They know that when they pull the trigger they will work and that is why they use them more than anything else. He indicated it was true that Saturday Night Specials are used in crimes more than other types of guns proportionately, but their number is less than 1% of the total population of guns in the country. He disagreed with the statement that the BATF does not control gun shows. Any dealer can identify undercover BATF agents who are monitoring the gun shows. He believed gun dealers are the most law abiding individuals because they have significant background checks made on them before they are issued a license to buy and sell guns. This is not like the card filled out at the time of purchase which is sent to the police for review. He felt that these are not checked because the police does not have the manpower or the time to do the investigation. He believed there was very little truth in the staff report. He felt the statistics were inaccurate and misinterpreted. For example, most crime guns traced are Saturday Night Specials. Not all guns are traced and a crime gun is any gun confiscated during an arrest. If he were stopped for speeding and the officer sees NRA bumper stickers, etc. there is evidence he will have a gun. If all regulations, such as keeping the gun 07/16/96 -17-