[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE AMERICAN HANDGUN STANDARDS ACT

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                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 1999

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the American 
Handgun Standards Act so we can finally eliminate junk guns from our 
streets by demanding that domestically produced handguns meet common 
sense consumer product protections standards. This bill is companion 
legislation to S. 193 introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer.
  I find it unbelievable that we subject toy guns to strict safety 
regulations, but we do not apply quality and safety standards to real 
handguns.
  There are currently no quality and safety standards in place for 
domestically produced firearms. In fact, domestically produced handguns 
are specifically exempted from oversight by the Consumer Product Safety 
Commission; however, imported handguns are subject to quality and 
safety standards. This disparity in standards had led to the creation 
of a high-volume market for domestically manufactured junk guns.
  Saturday night specials or junk guns are defined as non-sporting, low 
quality handguns with a barrel length of under three inches. These guns 
are not favored by sportsmen because their short barrels make them 
inaccurate and their low quality of construction make them dangerous 
and unreliable. These guns are favored by criminals because they are 
cheap and easy to conceal. The American Handgun Standards Act, will 
amend current law to define a ``junk gun'' as any handgun which does 
not meet the standard imposed on imported handguns.
  According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, in 1996 
approximately 242 million firearms were either available for sale or 
were possessed by civilians in the United States. This total includes 
72 million handguns, 76 million rifles and 64 million shotguns. Most 
guns available for sale in the US are produced domestically. We need to 
make sure these guns are subject to very strict safety standards. My 
legislation will make it unlawful for a person to manufacture, 
transfer, or possess a junk gun that has been shipped or transported in 
interstate or foreign commerce.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bicarmeral, commonsense 
legislation.

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