[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 168 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S12532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BRADY ACT SUCCESSES

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, November 30 was the eighth anniversary of 
the signing of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. The passage 
of that legislation was a watershed event in the fight against gun 
violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control statistics cited 
by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, since the Brady Law went 
into effect, the number of gun deaths in the United States has dropped 
27 percent, from 39,595 in 1993 to 28,874 in 1999. Even more 
dramatically, the number of gun homicides dropped by more than 40 
percent from 18,253 in 1993 to 10,828 in 1999.
  While the Brady Law is not the only reason for the decrease, its 
impact on gun violence cannot be overlooked. Keeping guns out of 
criminal hands saves lives. The law's requirement that gun purchasers 
undergo a criminal background check before they can buy a firearm has 
stopped literally hundreds of thousands of criminals and others 
prohibited by law from purchasing a gun.
  The obvious success of the Brady Law should spur us to do more to 
stop gun violence. A logical step would be to extend the Brady Law's 
mandatory criminal background check provisions. As it stands, the law 
only applies to guns sold by Federal firearms licensees. It does not 
cover gun sales by unlicensed private sellers at gun shows. Despite the 
evidence that background checks save lives, lobbyists from the National 
Rifle Association and their allies have fought against legislation to 
close the ``gun show loophole.'' The Senate should not allow itself to 
be held hostage by the gun lobby. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting efforts to bring legislation to the floor to close the gun 
show loophole.

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