THE U.S. IS THE ONLY MODERN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WITHOUT EFFECTIVE GUN CONTROL; IT ALSO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST MURDER RATES IN THE WORLD. AS OF 1977, THE SALE OF HANDGUNS IS VIRTUALLY UNRESTRICTED, ALTHOUGH THE HANDGUN IS THE MOST WIDELY USED AND EFFICIENT WEAPON FOR COMMITTING A CRIME. HANDGUNS ARE USED IN MORE THAN HALF OF ALL MURDERS, AND 80 PERCENT OF THE 32,000 GUN DEATHS IN 1974 WERE CAUSED BY HANDGUNS. MANY CITIZENS WHO BUY HANDGUNS DO SO FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES AGAINST CRIMES; HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT FOR EVERY INTRUDER FENDED OFF BY A GUN, FOUR TO SIX HOMEOWNERS OR MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES DIE OF ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING. MOREOVER, GUNS ARE LARGELY INEFFECTIVE FOR SELF-DEFENSE. MOST INTRUDERS AVOID CONFRONTATION WITH THEIR VICTIMS; WHEN A CONFRONTATION DOES OCCUR, VERY OFTEN THE ROBBER WILL TAKE THE GUN FROM THE VICTIM AND POSSIBLY USE IT AGAINST HIM. THE VICTIM'S POSSESSION OF A GUN MAY ALSO PROVOKE THE ASSAILANT INTO A SHOOTING THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. IN ADDITION, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REPORTS HAVE SHOWN THAT MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF ALL MURDERS INVOLVE FAMILY DISPUTES OR ARGUMENTS BETWEEN ACQUAINTANCES; WHEN HANDGUNS ARE USED IN THE HOME, THEY USUALLY DO NOT KILL ROBBERS. DESPITE THIS DANGER, GUN COMPANIES ARE FIGHTING GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION. THE INDUSTRY ARGUES THAT HANDGUN REGULATION WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE IN DETERRING CRIME, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHER DANGEROUS PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVELY REGULATED. THE INDUSTRY IS UNITED IN ITS EFFORTS. AN ATTEMPT BY ONE MAJOR MANUFACTURER TO PROMOTE GUN LICENSING REGULATIONS RESULTED IN AN ORGANIZED BOYCOTT OF THAT COMPANY'S PRODUCTS BY GUN ADVOCATES. IT SOON BACKED DOWN IN ITS CAMPAIGN. ANOTHER ARGUMENT GIVEN BY PROGUN FORCES IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO CONTROLS IS THE THEORY OF A DIRECT AND INEVITABLE ROUTE FROM LICENSING PISTOL OWNERS TO CONFISCATING HUNTING RIFLES AND DISARMING THE LOCAL MILITIA. THEY ARGUE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT 'RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS,' EVEN THOUGH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS RULED FOUR TIMES THAT THIS RIGHT APPLIES ONLY TO THE MAINTENANCE OF A STATE MILITIA AND IS NOT RELEVANT TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO OWN FIREARMS. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT IN VIEW OF THE ALARMING INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIMES IN THE U.S., THE GUN INDUSTRY'S CAMPAIGN TO HALT EFFECTIVE GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO SUCCEED. (VDA)