[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CHILDPROOF HANDGUN ACT

  (Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, children are killing children by 
gunfire. These deaths are occurring in homes and streets and in 
schools. The failure of Congress in recent years to shoulder the 
ultimate responsibilities of safeguarding our communities from gun 
violence is inexcusable. It is time to get past the rhetoric by the 
extremes on both sides of the gun control issue and pass sensible anti-
gun violence legislation.
  Today I will introduce in the House of Representatives the Childproof 
Handgun Act. This legislation requires that gun manufacturers develop 
personalized guns within the next 5 years. This technology would 
guarantee that only authorized users could operate the weapon. This is 
not something out of science fiction. A prototype exists that can read 
and recognize the gun owner's fingerprint allowing only the owner to 
fire the gun. This will keep weapons out of the hands of children and 
criminals.
  The Federal Government sets standards for child safety cigarette 
lighters and insists that children riding in cars be buckled in 
approved car seats, and it demands that manufacturers put childproof 
caps on aspirin containers. For guns, we have nothing.

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