NEWS CONFERENCE 73

A. Yes, I did know that Mr. Hanson died this morning; I was very
sorry to hear it. Obviously, I'll have to take some step to propose a
replacement.

Q. Governor, Senator Brewster in Washington has issued a statement
calling for strong gun control legislation on the State level as well as
at the Federal level. Do you have any thoughts on that?

A. We have a gun control law that to my recollection was enacted
during the last session of the Legislature — that came about after a
great amount of discussion and bloodshed. I use the word figuratively,
not literally. I don't see any sense to revive this question; the law
seems to satisfy all concerned.

Q. Governor, for some weeks we have been waiting for Attorney
General Burch's ruling on police unions. Have you received that
ruling yet?

A. No, I have not.

Q. Is this holding you up in making any sort of determination on
this, Governor?

A. There is little that holds me up these days; I can usually find
something to do. But I'm going to remind Mr. Burch that I'd like to
have this at his earliest convenience.

Q. Governor, Senator Hall, a member of your party, has proposed
that the Legislature receive the report of the Constitutional Convention
Commission and act on it in lieu of holding a constitutional con-
vention. How do you feel about that?

A. I think it's not an appropriate proposal, but certainly it would
save some money. But we would deprive ourselves of the talents of
some very astute people — constitutional lawyers such as Mr. Eney,
one of the most wonderful brains in this area I've ever had a chance
to encounter. People of this sort who have dedicated the total con-
cept of the convention to the idea that it's going to bring in people
who occupy high positions in the private sectors of the community,
who cannot by reason of their positions afford to interject themselves
on the political scene as office holders. We would lose all this talent
if we did this. And I think when we're running a new convention we
need this talent; so I don't approve of that.

Q. Senator Hall pointed out that the Constitutional Convention
Commission, with all its talent, has already drawn a draft for the