Gun Control Opposition Erodes as Crime Tops Agenda : Violence: Many lawmakers rethink views on firearm restrictions. More cities, states put limits on sales.

As a top federal prosecutor, Bill Weld opposed banning semiautomatic weapons, thinking it a misguided approach in the war on crime. But the gruesome daily headlines brought a change of heart.

“It was an emotional thing,” said Weld, now the Republican governor of Massachusetts. “I’m reading every single day about innocent people getting shot, bystanders getting shot. . . . It doesn’t take too many of those to get you to rethink things.”

Weld is hardly alone in rethinking--and debating--views on crime. Gang violence in communities large and small, urban and rural, cop killings, the Florida tourist slayings and other tragic turns have pushed crime to the front of the national, state and local political agenda.

Along the way, the terms of the debate have shifted markedly from years past, with Weld and other onetime opponents of gun control now advocating tough restrictions, and politicians of all stripes rushing to take on the National Rifle Assn., a once-unbeatable lobbying force.

President Clinton challenges the gun lobby in virtually every speech, as he advocates passage of a federal five-day waiting period on handgun purchases. He also wants the federal government to help put 50,000 more police officers on the streets.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidates this year in Virginia and New Jersey, Mary Sue Terry and Jim Florio, both onetime friends of the NRA, now stress their support for gun control in races where crime is a major issue.

And in New York, Boston, Detroit and a half-dozen other big and medium-size cities with mayoral contests this year, crime is a paramount issue--and gun-control proposals easy to come by.

In Salt Lake City, gang violence prodded the City Council into adopting a five-day waiting period for residents 18 to 25 who want to buy guns. It also created criminal penalties for gun sales to minors.

In Colorado, Gov. Roy Romer won rousing applause when he criticized the NRA in a speech opening a special legislative session to deal with crime.

“People are fed up with this business of excessive guns,” Romer said in an interview. “The NRA can scream, but there is no reason a 14-year-old should be carrying a gun, and everybody knows that.”

In rushing to respond to the public anger, the gun control efforts of politicians often draw the headlines because they attract outspoken opposition from the NRA and others in the gun lobby.

But the explosion of anti-crime efforts also has brought new consensus in other areas, primarily the need for tougher treatment of juveniles.

Consider these recent developments:

* The Utah Legislature, called into special session to deal with gang violence, passed a $4-million package that includes outlawing possession of handguns by people under age 18 and possession of any firearm by those under age 14 unless accompanied by an adult. Other provisions include opening a work camp for violent young offenders and bringing more juveniles to trial as adults.

* The new Senate president in Florida talked tough as he prepared for a November special session to deal with crime in a state where tourist killings have brought international notoriety. “We must begin to treat juveniles who commit violent offenses like the criminals that they are,” Democrat Pat Thomas said. Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles wants handgun possession banned for those under 18.

* The Wisconsin Assembly gave preliminary approval to a $7-million antigang bill that includes a new boot camp for juvenile offenders.

Romer said 25 states have requested information on the 10-bill Colorado package he signed into law in September. Provisions include mandatory jail time for minors convicted of handgun possession, building an 80-bed boot camp and trying more juveniles as adults.

Weld delivered a similar package to his legislature last month. It would raise Massachusetts’ legal age for handgun possession from 18 to 21 and impose a mandatory prison term on anyone convicted of selling guns to a minor.

Weld also asked for mandatory two-year minimum sentences for a second conviction for having a firearm on school grounds and a one-a-month handgun purchase limit similar to a law enacted by Virginia last year.

Weld, an avid hunter himself, sat down with NRA officials to try to win their backing for the assault-gun ban and a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases.

“I didn’t make any headway,” he said.

The NRA is sticking to its traditional theme in opposing gun control.

“Criminals don’t obey gun laws,” NRA spokesman Brian Judy said when the Utah measures passed. “This is brushing over real, complex problems by trying to come up with Band-Aid solutions.”