[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                NATIONAL FIREARMS POLICY COMMISSION ACT

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                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, during the 103d Congress, I introduced 
H.R. 4423, the ``National Firearms Policy Commission Act,'' legislation 
that will bring the President, Members of Congress, Justices of the 
Supreme Court, gun ownership advocacy groups, law enforcement groups, 
and private citizens together to exchange their views on Federal 
firearms policy so that a consensus on Federal policy can be reached. I 
rise today to reintroduce this legislation, and I invite all of my 
colleagues to become cosponsors of this important bill.
  In the 103d session alone, Congress passed two of the most sweeping 
firearms policy bills in the history of this country: the Brady bill 
and the assault weapons ban. From the introduction of those bills to 
the final vote, America came to see just how large the gap between both 
sides of the gun control debate is. And yet despite all the debate on 
these two pivotal pieces of legislation, it has become even clearer 
that each side's views are only being further entrenched, not altered 
through pragmatic discussion that will ensure that each side is heard. 
My bill will promote that type of pragmatic discussion.
  Specifically, this legislation will establish a 39-member Commission, 
which will include the following parties: the U.S. Attorney General, 
five Members of the House, five Senators, three Supreme Court Justices, 
five private citizens appointed by the President, five private citizens 
appointed by the Senate, five private citizens appointed by the House, 
five members representing gun ownership advocacy groups, and five 
representatives from law enforcement. The chairman of the Commission 
will have 6 months to transmit its recommendations to the President and 
Congress. Aside from travel expenses, members of the Commission will 
serve without pay. The Commission will, however, be authorized to hire 
and pay its own staff and staff from other Federal agencies.
  For the past 10 years, Congress has been caught in the middle of a 
tug of war between law enforcement and the NRA. As a result, Congress 
has been unable to develop a real consensus on how to address violent 
crime and firearms policy. The goal of the Commission I have proposed 
is to forge a consensus on these issues and present to Congress and the 
President a list of legislative initiatives that can be adopted with 
bipartisan support.
  Let us bring rational dialogue to Federal firearms policy. Please 
cosponsor this important legislative initiative.


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