[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     BAN THE USE OF THE INTERNET TO OBTAIN OR DISPOSE OF A FIREARM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2001

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, today I re-introduce a bill to ban 
the use of the internet to obtain or dispose of a firearm.
  Internet technology has brought our world closer together. It has 
made our lives more convenient by having almost anything we want 
available at our fingertips, literally, by the click of a button. We 
can purchase items from groceries, a brand new car, or even a semi-
automatic weapon from a private seller via the internet.
  The Gun Control Act of 1968 was enacted for the purpose of keeping 
firearms out of the hands of those not legally entitled to possess them 
because of age, criminal background, or incompetence.
  To curb the illegal use of firearms and enforce the Federal firearms 
laws, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) issues 
firearms licenses and conducts firearms licensee qualification and 
compliance inspections.
  Use of the internet to dispose or obtain a firearm would bypass these 
Federal licensing requirements, as well as background checks and 
waiting periods. Compliance inspections to help identify and apprehend 
criminals who illegally purchase firearms would also be avoided.
  Criminals having access are not all that we should be concerned 
about. Our children now have universal access to the internet--almost 
every classroom and many homes have been installed with and public 
libraries have at least one computer terminal with a modem. Our 
children must be protected from the ease the internet provides in 
obtaining firearms.
  It may be difficult to track internet firearm purchases due to 
numerous security precautions available. Terrible damage may already 
have been done by the time the unlicensed purchaser and/or seller is 
detected.
  We have an obligation to do all we can to keep our communities safe. 
This bill will help prevent such weapons from getting into the wrong 
hands.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________