[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E535]]



        INTRODUCTION OF THE INTERNET GUN TRAFFICKING ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 24, 1999

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Internet Gun 
Trafficking Act of 1999. Currently, unlicensed individuals are able to 
sell and unlicensed buyers are able to buy firearms over the Internet. 
Moreover, web site operators, who are not licensed gun dealers, 
facilitate firearms transactions between buyers and sellers. Web site 
operators run web sites which provide space for unlicensed individuals 
to post guns for sale. The web sites give names, phone numbers and/or 
e-mail addresses of sellers, to allow potential buyers the opportunity 
to contact the sellers directly for the purchase of firearms. These 
transactions, while facilitated by the web site operator are not 
monitored by the web site operator, thus occurring out of anyone's 
eyesight, including law enforcement. As a result, many individuals, 
including children and felons are able to purchase firearms illegally 
and evade the law.
  My bill will end the unlicensed selling of guns over the Internet. 
Web site operators who offer firearms for sale or otherwise facilitate 
the sale of firearms listed or posted over the Internet, must become 
federally licensed firearm manufacturers, importers or dealers. 
Additionally, as an aid to law enforcement, licensed firearm dealers-
web site operators are required to notify the Secretary of the Treasury 
of their web site address, as would any individual who operates a web 
site which offers for sale or otherwise facilitates the sale of 
firearms.
  Furthermore, to ensure legal firearm transactions over the Internet, 
individuals who on behalf of other persons, lists or posts firearms for 
sale over the Internet will have to establish themselves as 
``middlemen.'' All guns sold from the ``middleman's'' web site, must be 
shipped directly to the ``middleman.'' The ``middleman'' is then 
required to transfer the firearms to the buyer in accordance with 
federal firearm laws, including laws which require that firearms are 
shipped directly to a licensed dealer in the unlicensed buyer's state. 
The ``middleman'' is prohibited from providing any information which 
would facilitate direct contact between the seller and the buyer. 
Finally, unlicensed individuals who offer firearms for sale over the 
Internet may only transfer those firearms directly to the web site 
operator.
  I hope that my introduction of the Internet Gun Trafficking Act of 
1999 will call attention to the need to regulate gun sales in this new 
era of Internet firearm transactions.

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