Another Misfire

Once again, the National Rifle Association proved to be stronger than the national interest. By a vote of 68-25, the Senate passed a bill banning the manufacture and sale of the Saturday Night Special, the snub-nosed handgun that is so often used to kill people. But the bill was shot so full of holes that the N.R.A. has nothing to worry about. Nor have the criminals.

Introduced by Birch Bayh, the bill defines the Saturday Night Special as a pistol no longer than six inches with a barrel no longer than three. To get around the law, a gunmaker need only produce a slightly longer revolver. In addition, the bill does not ban the sale of handguns by individuals, which is the way most criminals get their weapons in the first place. Finally, the bill includes an amendment repealing a provision of the 1968 gun-control law requiring that records be kept of anyone who buys rim-fire .22-cal. ammunition --a device enabling police to check up on criminal activity.

Tougher proposals were easily beaten. Michigan Senator Philip Hart courageously offered a substitute bill that would outlaw possession of Saturday Night Specials. It was voted down, 84-7.

While supporters of gun legislation reminded the Senate that George Wallace had been felled by an easily purchased Saturday Night Special, they got no cooperation from the stricken Governor, who still opposes any kind of controls. Such is the lingering influence of the frontier that not even a harrowing brush with death will cause one of its sons to lay down his arms or urge others to do so. Never mind that the maniac shoots faster and straighter. The gun is still potent as symbol--and all too often as fact.

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