[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ARMORED CAR INDUSTRY RECIPROCITY IMPROVEMENT ACT

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                          HON. CARDISS COLLINS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3431, amends the Armored 
Car industry Reciprocity Act of 1993, of which I was an original 
cosponsor. In the previous Congress, as chairwoman of the Subcommittee 
on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Competitiveness, I authored the 
Armored Car Reciprocity Act, after receiving testimony on the problems 
in obtaining appropriate weapons licenses for armored car personnel 
driving across State lines. We learned of two typical problems. In one 
case, drivers routinely cross State lines, such as between Maryland, 
Virginia, and the District of Columbia, or between Illinois and 
Indiana. In other cases, the Federal Government may contract with 
drivers to carry cash or food stamps across many States.
  It was an administrative nightmare to license a driver for a weapons 
permit in each State. As a result, drivers often drove into States 
without a proper permit, and were sometimes detained. Our solution was 
a simple one, requiring each State recognize weapons of other States 
provided minimum requirements were met. These minimum requirements 
included periodic weapons training and background checks. I would note 
that even in the last Congress, we were cognizant of not placing new 
mandates on States, and the law was entirely voluntary for States. It 
was not an unfunded mandate.
  I was pleased that the legislation did not get caught up in any 
battles over gun control, but was instead supported by organizations on 
both sides of that issue. It was particularly important to me that the 
law gave an incentive to States to improve their licensing process so 
that their weapons permits would be honored by other States. That is 
what happened in my State of Illinois, where weapons training had not 
been required in the past. The law was changed with the support of the 
industry to require such training.
  In implementation and compliance with the Reciprocity Act of 1993, 
Public Law 103-55, certain technical issues have arisen, in large part 
due to the fact that between the time the armored car industry first 
approached Congress and now, there have been changes in the laws 
covering this industry, which are addressed by this bill before us 
today. Issues of licensing, training, renewal cycles, and details of 
background investigations are clarified and addressed by this 
noncontroversial bill.
  H.R. 3431, makes changes in the statute regarding: First, the 
granting of reciprocity for the weapons license and all other necessary 
licenses so long as the armored car crew member has met all the 
requirements in his or her primary State; second, requiring a criminal 
record background check only when granting the initial license; and, 
third, eliminating the requirement that renewal applications be 
reissued annually. Nothing in the legislation affects any gun ownership 
laws, nor does it alter Federal law regarding requirements for the 
possession of a weapon.
  I am pleased this vital legislation has been developed in a 
bipartisan fashion and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3431. I 
yield back the balance of my time.

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