Law Requiring Gun Ownership Gains Support

Three City Council candidates have indicated their support for a local ordinance essentially requiring a gun in every household, and they are being encouraged by Republican Congressman Helen Chenoweth.

Despite municipal police department claims that violent crime has risen more slowly in Orofino than statewide, candidate Quentin Cook says he would make a proposal similar to one adopted 13 years ago but never enforced in Kennesaw, Ga.

That ordinance requires a gun in every home except those where the head of household is a felon, a pauper, objects to guns for religious reason or is physically or mentally unable to properly use a gun.

“I think we need to start protecting ourselves from the criminal elements and political elements,” Cook declared. “There is a need to let the criminal world know if he steps into somebody’s house he could have his head blown off.”

And Chenoweth, the outspoken conservative freshman Republican, believes guns in the homes of responsible citizens deter crime.

“I encourage local communities to pass laws that are best suited for their local locality, for the population and for the culture,” Chenoweth said. “I believe if there are any laws passed about guns, it should be at the local level. We should keep the guns out of the hands of the criminals, not the law-abiding citizens.”

But Police Chief Mike Couts pointed out that while violent crime in Orofino is up 12 percent since 1990 because of growth, violence statewide has jumped 14.5 percent during the same period.

And Councilman Joseph Pippenger questions the need to require citizens to carry guns.

“As Americans, we have a right to have a gun right now,” Pippenger said. “I think the police department is keeping the crime rate at a reasonable low level. I don’t think most of the people have the fear” claimed by the council challengers.

Earlier this year, the Benewah County Commission rejected the Tenth Amendment Coalition’s proposal to require a gun and ammunition in each household.

The other three incumbents who join Pippenger on the fall ballot for re-election also seriously questioned a gun-owning mandate, as did Mayor Henry Clay. And even Clay’s challenger, financial planner and logger Patrick Richardson, said he had no preference either way.