[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 71 (Monday, May 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S5420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO. 344

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I would like to briefly explain my reasons 
for voting in favor of amendment No. 344, offered by Senators Hatch and 
Craig, to S. 254, the juvenile justice bill. I am extremely 
disappointed that the amendment does not close the loophole permitting 
sales of firearms at gun shows without background checks. I supported, 
and continue to support, the amendment offered by Senator Lautenberg, 
that would close the gun show loophole once and for all. I regret that 
the Hatch amendment does not go as far as that of my colleague from New 
Jersey.
  Nonetheless, I recognize that there are not yet the votes in the 
Senate to pass the Lautenberg amendment and I do not wish to overlook 
the positive crime-fighting proposals that the Hatch amendment makes. 
These include establishment of the CUFF (``Criminal Use of Firearms by 
Felons'') program, which will provide $50 million for tougher 
enforcement of existing gun laws, and expansion of the Youth Crime Gun 
Interdiction Initiative, to facilitate the identification and 
prosecution of gun traffickers. The Hatch amendment also sets tough 
penalties for gun offenses involving juveniles and seeks to facilitate 
background checks for gun purchases. These are important, worthy 
provisions, and they are the reason for my voting in favor of the Hatch 
amendment.

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