U.S. ATTORNEY: WILDER'S POSITION IS MY POSITION

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 30, 1993                   TAG: 9301300176
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DALE EISMAN and GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
U.S. ATTORNEY: WILDER'S POSITION IS MY POSITION
There is "absolutely no difference" between Gov. Douglas Wilder and U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen over Wilder's proposal to limit handgun purchases to one a month, Cullen asserted Friday - despite claims by lawmakers in both parties to the contrary.
In a statement issued by his office, Cullen said he and Wilder "both favor the one-handgun-a-month proposal and believe it is the most effective way to solve the gunrunning and guns-for-drugs problem."
Cullen, Wilder's most important Republican ally in the gun control debate, disputed a report in Friday's Virginian-Pilot and Roanoke Times & World-News that there is a "crack" between him and the governor.
But he refused to comment on the newspapers' report that he has told GOP legislators he would accept changes in the Wilder bill to allow individuals - with a special police permit - to buy up to three guns monthly.
Despite his statement, Democratic and Republican sources reiterated the apparent shift in Cullen's position. "If you're asking me: `Is there daylight between the governor and Richard Cullen?' The answer is yes," one senior lawmaker said.
Another source suggested that Cullen's discussions with Republicans over a possible three-a-month cap were part of a strategy to determine if there is room for compromise between the governor and GOP legislators. Because some rural Democrats will not support any limit on handgun purchases, Wilder needs Republican support to get his proposal passed.
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, considered a key player in the assembly's deliberations, said Friday he "would bet the bill's going to come out of committee . . . ."
"I suspect the one-gun-a-month [proposal] will be in pretty pure form," he added.
Cranwell has not taken a public position on the gun-a-month plan but is widely considered an opponent. He heads a House subcommittee that is expected to vote on the bill Monday night.
Friday, the full House Courts of Justice committee gave speakers for and against the gun-a-month proposal 30 minutes each to make their cases.
Several speakers agreed that limiting gun purchases to one a month would be a first step towards reducing gun violence.
Opponents of the measure also pleaded for an end to violence, but said gun restrictions are not the answer.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB