[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4279-S4280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SCHUMER:
  S. 891 A bill to amend section 922(x) of title 18, United States 
Code, to prohibit the transfer to and possession of handguns, 
semiautomatic assault weapons, and large capacity ammunition feeding 
devices by individuals who are less than 21 years of age, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                 The Juvenile Gun Loophole Closure Act

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today to 
close what I believe is a major loophole in our federal gun laws--a 
loophole which permits 18-20 year-olds to possess handguns, 
semiautomatic assault weapons, and large capacity ammunition feeding 
devices.
  Firearms trace data collected as part of the Youth Crime Gun 
Interdiction Initiative (YCGII) paint a disturbing picture of crime gun 
activity by persons under 21. In the most recent YCGII Trace Analysis 
Report, the age of the possessor was known for 32,653, or 42.8 percent, 
of the 72,260 crime guns traced. Of these 32,563 guns, approximately 
4,840, or 14.8 percent, were recovered from 18-20 year-olds. Indeed, 
the most frequent age of crime gun possession was 19 years of age, and 
the second most frequent was 18 years of age.
  At the same time, according to the 1997 Uniform Crime Reports, the 
most frequent age arrested for murder was 18 years of age, and the 
second most frequent was 19 years of age. Those aged 18-20 accounted 
for 22 percent of all arrest for murder in 1997.
  There are indications that the 18-year old girlfriend of one of the 
two gunmen involved in the tragic Littleton, Colorado school shooting 
purchased at least two of the firearms used in the attack. Handgun 
possession by persons 18 or over is not forbidden by Colorado law.
  The 1968 Gun Control Act prevents federally licensed gun dealers from 
selling handguns to anyone under the age of 21. This ban does not apply 
to sales of handguns by unlicensed persons, however. Federal law only 
stops such persons from selling handguns to anyone under the age of 
18--thus neglecting to ban sales to the 18-20 year-olds who account for 
such a significant portion of crime gun traces and murders. In another 
inexplicable oversight, federal law also fails to ban private sales of 
semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition feeding 
devices to persons even under the age of 18.
  My bill would correct these flaws in our federal gun laws. It would 
ban sales by unlicensed individuals of handguns, semiautomatic assault 
weapons, and large capacity ammunition feeding divides to persons under 
the age of 21. Indeed, it would ban possession of these deadly weapons 
by persons under 21, with exceptions made for young persons who are 
members of the Armed Forces or National Guard or use these firearms in 
self-defense against an intruder to their residences.
  This is a common-sense measure that will keep guns out of the hands 
of those most likely to use guns irresponsibly and dangerously. I urge 
the Senate to pass this bill into law soon. I ask unanimous consent 
that the text of my bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 891

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Juvenile Gun Loophole 
     Closure Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER TO AND POSSESSION OF 
                   HANDGUNS, SEMIAUTOMATIC ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND 
                   LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES BY 
                   INDIVIDUALS LESS THAN 21 YEARS OF AGE.

       Section 922(x) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) a semiautomatic assault weapon; or
       ``(D) a large capacity ammunition feeding device.'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and

[[Page S4280]]

       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) a semiautomatic assault weapon; or
       ``(D) a large capacity ammunition feeding device.'';
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, semiautomatic 
     assault weapon, or large capacity ammunition feeding device'' 
     after ``handgun''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or ammunition'' and 
     inserting ``, ammunition, semiautomatic assault weapon, or 
     large capacity ammunition feeding device''; and
       (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``18'' and inserting 
     ``21''.
                                 ______