[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GUNS AND JUVENILE CRIME

  (Mr. BLAGOJEVICH asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLAGOJEVICH. Mr. Speaker, today the Senate will debate a series 
of measures aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of juveniles and 
convicted criminals.
  As the original House sponsor of three of these measures requiring 
background checks at gun shows, raising the minimum age for possession 
of handguns from 18 to 21, and preventing violent juveniles from being 
able to buy guns when they turn 21, I call on the House leadership to 
allow a full debate on these important public safety measures.

                              {time}  1030

  It is not often that gun control advocates and the gun industry see 
eye to eye; but in the wake of last month's tragedy in Littleton, 
Colorado, a consensus is emerging that our gun laws need to be 
stronger.
  The American Shooting Sports Council, the National Alliance of 
Stocking Gun Dealers and leading gun manufacturers now agree we need to 
close the deadly loophole that allows kids and criminals to purchase 
firearms at gun shows.
  The lack of background checks at gun shows have made them prime 
targets for criminals and gun traffickers, where kids and dangerous 
criminals can purchase guns with no questions asked.
  Mr. Speaker, making it harder for kids and criminals to get guns are 
not cure-alls. But Elizabeth Dole had it right when she said, it is 
time for the Republican party to stop allowing the National Rifle 
Association to dictate the Congressional agenda.

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