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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 1997)
Frazier takes position with Gov. Nelson • ... , . - jr s • . - —*--—- •’■Mii'jffuj'ir By Brian Carlson , Assignment Reporter •Tommie Frazier’s latest option has involved him in politics. The former Nebraska quarter back, who led the Huskers to nation al titles in 1994 and 1995, went to work Tuesday in the office of Gov. Ben Nelson. Frazier has been hired to work as a public information officer for Nelson. He will work as a liaison between Nelson and the Department of Health and Human Services and will handle public relations matters. Frazier, who received a bache lor’s degree in communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said he was approached by Nelson earlier , this summer about the entry-level position. “I told him I wasn’t big on politi t cians,” Frazier said. But Frazier expressed interest in learning about state politics and ’ putting his communications skills to t work. In his first couple of weeks on the job, Frazier will spend time familiar - izing himself with state health issues. The Department of Health and Human Services is the state’s largest agency, and Frazier will need to be informed about its operations and the politics that affect it ^ to rising early in the mornjhg and dressing in a suit and tiejygry'day. But so far, things are goiig welL Karl Bieber, director'oTfr$dia relations fbr Nelson, ^|dli^an^r other stafifagiembers wern with Frazil during the*; process. I^Bieber said Frazier the same process as an; cant. BidSdr reviewe resume, interviewed hiur i to several references. ^ One of those who put iuft.gdbd word for Frazier was Turner GiB, the quarterbacks coach at Nebraska. Bieber said he-spokewith Gill for Sbout a half hour. Gill told Bieber he thought the js|r would be a good opportunity Bn Frazier, and said Frazier’s desire and focus would make him well-suited, for file posi tion, Bieber said the governor’s staff was impressed that Frazier graduated in four years while establishing him self as one of college football’s top stars. Frazier’s experience in dealing with the media could also prove help ful, Bieber said. * - - . • ■ 3- ■ , 1 i p l *4 > T | Hl still debated WASHINGTON (AP) — Police background checks on 2.6 million would-be handgun buyers last year prevented the sales of 70.000 guns, more than two-thirds of them sought by people convict ed or charged with felonies, the Justice Department said Thursday. Since the Brady Act requiring such checks took effect in early 1994 through 1996, about 250,000 handgun and long-gun sales, were blocked under that law or state background check laws, the department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics found. They included 173.000 handgun sales, which the report focused on. “It’s extremely heartening to demonstrate again that the Brady law is ohe of the great legislative successes of the ‘90s,” said Naomi Paiss, spokeswoman for Handgun Control Inc., which led the battle to get the legislation enacted. But the National Rifle Association, which supports only instant checks, criticized the lack of prosecution of those who try to buy guns illegally. “Excusing 250,000 criminals from a prison term is hardly a rea son for celebration,” said NRA spokesman Tom Wyld. “We believe that the instant check remains the superior system in part because the instant check facili tates die instant apprehension of a prohibited person. ... The wait based system prompts flight.” The Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal government could not force Mte and local authorities to conduct Brady’s background checks, but left intact its five-day waiting period for a handgun purchase. Most law enforcement officials in the 23 states affected - states that lack their own background check laws - have continued the checks. Of the 70,000 block handgun sales last year, about 47,000 - or 67.8 percent - involved buyers convicted of a felony or charged with one, the bureau said. An additional 6 percent were fugitives from justice, 6.2 percent were prohibited by state or local law from buying guns, 3.9 percent were subjects of restraining orders, 1.5 percent were mentally ill or disabled and 1.2 percent were drug addicts. The final 13.4 percent include illegal aliens, juveniles, domestic abusers, people dishonorably dis charged from the armed services and those who renounced their U.S. citizenship. Under the Brady law, the wait ing period will be eliminated when a national computerized instant criminal background check system is established by November 1998. [A. •'. *../ H