THIS DOCUMENT WAS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A PRELUDE TO FUTURE IMPACT EVALUATION OF ANY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ON GUN CONTROL THAT ARE EFFECTED AND AS AN ANALYTIC AND EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO CLARIFY THE ISSUES IN DISPUTE, REPLACE PUBLIC MISCONCEPTIONS, AND GENERATE ALTERNATIVES TO CURRENT WEAPONS LEGISLATION. IDEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES RELEVANT TO GUN CONTROL ARE FIRST REVIEWED. EMPIRICAL DATA ON THE EXTENT OF GUN OWNERSHIP AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS CAUSED BY FIREARMS IS ALSO PRESENTED. THE POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN HANDGUN CONTROL AND EXISTING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEGISLATION ON HANDGUN CONTROL ARE EXAMINED AS WELL. FINALLY, RESULTS OF A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 142 LOS ANGELES RESIDENT ARE PRESENTED. THE SURVEY INCLUDED QUESTIONS ON WEAPONS, INVOLVEMENT, KNOWLEDGE OF GUN CONTROL ISSUES, KNOWLEDGE OF GUN CONTROL STATUTES, AND OPINIONS ON GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT EMPIRICAL STUDIES REDUCING RATES OF GUN POSSESSION ARE LIKELY TO REDUCE FIREARMS FATALITIES. THEY ALSO CONCLUDE, BASED ON THEIR SURVEY AND A REVIEW OF OTHER ATTITUDE SURVEYS, THAT PUBLIC OPINION HAS REFLECTED POSITIVE SUPPORT FOR STIFFER FIREARMS (ESPECIALLY HANDGUNS) SANCTIONS.