[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE DAVID CHETCUTI FIREARMS MODIFICATION ACT--H.R. 1428

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 1999

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues about 
legislation that I am introducing in the House to honor the memory of a 
brave police officer who was killed in my congressional district less 
than a year ago, Officer David Chetcuti. Officer Chetcuti was a devoted 
husband and a loving father to his three sons. He was also a decorated 
11-year veteran of the Millbrae police department. On April 25 of last 
year, after responding to a routine call from an officer in a 
neighboring jurisdiction, Officer Chetcuti was shot and killed by 
Marvin Sullivan, a convicted felon.
  Mr. Speaker, the weapon which Sullivan used to kill David Chetcuti 
was an assault rifle, a class of firearm that many of us thought we had 
succeeded in removing from our Nation's streets. Marvin Sullivan, who 
was not legally able to purchase the kind of firearm he used to kill 
Officer Chetcuti, assembled his weapon from a series of gun components 
which he was able to purchase without any of the restrictions which are 
imposed by law on the purchase of assault weapons.
  Through mail order catalogues, over the Internet, and at gun shops--
without any of the restrictions on the purchase of fully assembled 
firearms--Sullivan was able to purchase the components that he used to 
make his illegal weapon. That gun was created for the sole purpose of 
killing another human being. The weapon he built defied and 
circumvented all the firearm safeguards for which we have fought long 
and hard. The components were easy to procure, the assembly was simple, 
and the final product was devastatingly deadly.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation I introduced today--H.R. 1428, The David 
Chetcuti Firearm Modification Act--would close the existing loophole 
which permits felons like Marvin Sullivan to have access to components 
which they can use to assemble these weapons. This is a simple proposal 
and does not require more enforcement effort than what currently 
exists. Quite simply, this legislation would extend the provisions of 
existing gun control legislation to those components which criminals, 
like Mr. Sullivan, can and do use to make assault weapons.
  The adoption of this legislation would prohibit the sale to convicted 
felons of large capacity ammunition clips or other firearm components 
which make it possible for them to maim and kill. This legislation 
would also require that the purchase of these components be carried out 
in person. Today there are literally hundreds of mail order operations 
and Internet sites which offer items such as military issue ammo clips, 
silencer-fitting threaded barrels, and pistol grips capable of turning 
a hunting rifle into an automatic killing machine.
  Mr. Speaker, the availability of these components is a public safety 
threat, already tragically felt by the Chetcuti family and by the law 
enforcement community in my congressional district. For the safety of 
our outgunned law enforcement officers and for the well-being of our 
communities, I urge my colleagues in the Congress to join me in working 
for the passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, much has been said to honor the dedicated men and women 
who daily put their safety and their lives on the line to provide the 
citizens of our country with the security, safety, and peace essential 
for the maintenance of our civil society. These men and women of our 
law enforcement community are the ``thin blue line'' which stands 
between the decent and law-abiding citizens of this nation and the 
abyss of lawlessness, chaos, and anarchy. Our law enforcement 
professionals deserve the support and protection which this legislation 
will provide.

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