A Nationwide Backlash

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2 CALIFORNIA Gun purchases are limited to one a month; lawmakers tighten assault-weapons ban. Laws are among the toughest

3 COLORADO Legislators kill a bill making it easier to win concealed-guns permits; officials mulling new restrictions on the permits

4 CONNECTICUT A new law allows police to obtain a warrant to confiscate the guns of someone who might injure himself or others

5 FLORIDA Lawmakers withdraw a conceal-carry bill; Governor Jeb Bush hails law stiffening sentences of those who use guns in crimes

6 ILLINOIS New laws force gun owners to keep weapons secured from kids and increase penalties for those who buy guns for criminals

7 MICHIGAN Gun opponents plan a referendum on concealed weapons; lawmakers nix an N.R.A.-friendly conceal-carry bill

8 NEVADA After a longer than expected debate, legislators allow concealed guns in public buildings--but not in schools or airports

9 NEW JERSEY Governor Christine Todd Whitman seeks a law saying dealers can sell only "smart" handguns; the bill passes the senate

10 OHIO Republicans back away from a bill to ban suits against gunmakers, and the Governor says he opposes a conceal-carry law

11 TENNESSEE Legislators ax a bill that would have let faculty members arm themselves on campus but passes a bill to ban gun suits

12 UTAH Anti-gun forces are pushing a referendum on concealed weapons; poll says 80% think only police should have guns in schools

--Guns are becoming a major issue for 2000

BILL BRADLEY has taken the toughest position on guns of any major candidate in recent history. He wants a license-registration system for handguns

AL GORE would require licenses for buyers but not registration of the weapons themselves. Both want to ban "junk guns," but Gore doesn't attack the N.R.A.

GEORGE W. BUSH signed a law ending Texas' concealed-weapons ban. He supports background checks at gun shows but hasn't pushed for them in Texas

JOHN MCCAIN voted against the Senate bill that would have required background checks at gun shows. He also voted against the Brady bill in 1993