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Arsenal which includes full automatic machineguns. (Romero case.)

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Developed by the

9-millimeter German MP-40 machine pistol (submachinegun). Schmeisser factory in Germany. Full automatic only. (Romero case.)

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223 Caliber Colt AR-15 Rifle Model SP-1. Semiautomatic, 214-inch barrel including a prong-type flash suppressor which can be used as grenade launcher. (Romero case.)

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M-1 caliber U.S. Carbine Model M1-A1, manufactured by Inland Manufacturing Division, General Motors 1-44. Semiautomatic. Designed for use by paratroopers. (Romero case.)

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7.29-caliber (German service cartridge) German MG-34 light machinegun manufactured by "CRA" 1941 (barrel plugged). Full or semiautomatic. (Romero case.)

49-588 O-65 -11

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Full automatic Bren MK 3-1945 machinegun serial LB-19791. (Romero case.)

Senator DODD. Did your investigation reveal the origin of these live landmines? Where were they made?

Mr. Howe. No; it did not, as such. Some of the mines were handmade, and the hand grenades were World War surplus, as I under stand it.

Senator DODD. U.S. surplus?

Mr. Howe. World War II surplus; yes, sir, I believe that is a correct statement. Our unverified information states these items are now in possession of a paramilitary group.

The section of the bill makes it unlawful for any person, except an importer, manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transport, ship, or receive firearms in interstate or foreign commerce. The effect of this provision locally would be to eliminate the receipt of guns from outside the State of California via mail order which is currently done to circumvent our local laws. It would also reduce the problem of our local mail-order-type gun dealers who are presently engaged in the business of sending guns all over the United States. This would assist us in two ways. First, by eliminating guns coming into the State to our residents after having been sent out of State to a mail drop by the dealer, and then returned to our citizens thus circumventing the law. And I would also like to point out to the committee another part of the mail-order business that gives us a great deal of trouble. We receive complaints about the operations of irresponsible mail-order dealers. Over the years, we have been deluged with consumer fraud complaints from out-of-State residents requesting our department to take some action against these firms. We are either asked to secure a return of money, or to expedite the delivery of orders placed months previously.

Our department, the better business bureau, and other local enforcement and public legal offices have been the recipient of complaints which must total several thousand over the last 7 to 8 years. It can be said that this type of business either attracts disgruntled customers or these mail-order houses are conducting their sales operations with some element of consumer fraud or deception.

The

Two of the most tragic cases that come to mind from mail-order guns involve juveniles. In one, a 16-year-old boy-and these are recent cases in the city of Los Angeles-and two companions were playing with a mail-order type .22 caliber Derringer when the boy pointed it at his best friend and pulled the trigger, killing him. youth claims that he thought the gun was unloaded. The second involves a 16-year-old boy who was being reprimanded by his father and asked permission to go to the kitchen and get a coke. Shortly thereafter, the father heard a shot, went to the boy's bedroom and found he had killed himself with a mail-order type gun. Neither the father nor mother knew that the boy had the gun. And although we are unable to trace the origin of it, it was definitely a mail-order type.

The portion of the act which prohibits licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers from selling a pistol or revolver to a person who is a nonresident of the State in which the licensee's place of business is located would be especially beneficial to us in that some of our neighboring States have less restricting gun laws and as a result some of our residents who are ineligible to buy a gun in California cross a border, purchase a gun, and return to commit their crimes.

We had two recent and tragic examples of guns purchased in this manner being used to murder Los Angeles police officers. In the first, a James Smith and Gregory Powell kidnaped Officers Ian Campbell and Carl Hettinger at gunpoint when the officers stopped to interrogate them. They forced the officers into their (the suspect's) car, drove them to Bakersfield, Calif., over 100 miles from Los Angeles, and executed Officer Campbell in a field. Officer Hettinger escaped by running through the field amid a hail of bullets. When Smith and Powell were apprehended, they each blamed the other for the actual killing but readily admitted buying their guns in an adjoining State. The second case involves the murder of Sgt. Charles Monahan and Officer Robert Endler by Leman Russell Smith when the officers were summoned to a local department store to investigate Smith and his girl friend who were attempting to cash a forged check. Smith opened fire without provocation or warning, killing Monahan and Endler, wounding another officer and a store employee. After Smith's capture several weeks later, it was discovered that he had purchased the gun in a neighboring State and returned to California. All three suspects in these two cases were ex convicts and ineligible to buy or possess a gun in California.

The provisions requiring records of disposition of weapons be kept by the licensee and giving the Secretary power of inspection and authority to reveal to the State, or possession or any political subdivision thereof, any information which he may possess or which he may obtain is especially significant in the city of Los Angeles because of the number of gun dealers in our area. The records kept by gun dealers specializing in mail-order sales are usually poorly kept and many times unavailable or lost when our investigators need them.

The higher, more realistic fees will materially reduce the fly-bynight dealers in our area. The old provisions calling for a $1 fee for dealers and $25 for manufacturers and importers was completely unrealistic. In the city of Los Angeles one company advertised to teach people to be importers and gun dealers for a small fee and even throw

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