[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S13681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S13681]]
                     CLOSING THE GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today the Brady Center to Prevent Gun 
Violence issued a very important report on ``Guns and Terror,'' and 
they pointed out the link between terrorist activity and our lax gun 
law in the United States. It is a compelling report that should urge us 
to action. We have seen throughout the last few weeks newspaper reports 
indicating terrorists are exploiting our lax gun laws, particularly 
when it comes to gun shows.
  When Attorney General Ashcroft testified before the Senate Judiciary 
Committee on December 6, he held up an al-Qaida manual and talked about 
how terrorists are instructed to use America's freedom as a weapon 
against us, and he talked about the way they are urged to lie to 
deceive our law enforcement authorities.
  He neglected to point something else out. These terrorists have been 
trained to exploit our gun laws. A few weeks ago, I mentioned a 
terrorist manual was seized in Kabul in which these jihad trainees were 
urged to obtain an assault rifle legally, enroll in American gun clubs 
to take courses in sniping, general shooting, and other rifle courses. 
We have to understand if this is their playbook, using gun shows is one 
of their plays and we have to stop this loophole.
  I introduced legislation last year based upon the Lautenberg 
legislation this Senate passed. I hoped we could bring this legislation 
to the Senate very quickly, and we could move to close this gun show 
loophole, that we could apply the Brady law to every purchase at a gun 
show, that we could ensure there is a full-time period for law 
enforcement to evaluate, up to 3 days, the purchase.
  These things are necessary. I think it would be a mistake to delay 
further, and I think also it would be a mistake to take and embrace a 
weaker version of the law when we have already passed a corrected bill 
that can make huge progress in closing off this loophole.
  We already know individuals on behalf of Hezbollah have used gun 
shows, that individuals on behalf of the Irish Republican Army have 
used gun shows, that American militia movements have used gun shows. 
They do that because they know they can go to the shows, find 
unlicensed dealers and avoid any type of Brady background check. So I 
hope we could move very promptly in the next session to close this 
loophole.
  There are 22 cosponsors of my legislation. It is a bill we have 
already passed in the Senate. It is something I believe is long overdue 
and I hope indeed we can do it to ensure terrorists do not exploit our 
laws to do damage to our country and to our people.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The major majority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I compliment the distinguished Senator 
from Rhode Island for his comments now and for the leadership he has 
shown on this issue now for several years. Our caucus and the Senate 
owe him a debt of gratitude for the job he has done in sensitizing us 
to the importance of this legislation and our efforts to address this 
issue.
  As the Senator noted, this legislation has a very favorable history. 
Senator Lautenberg, our former colleague from New Jersey, has also 
worked with the Senator from Rhode Island to pass this legislation at 
some point in the past, and because it has such overwhelming support I 
am confident this Senate can pass it as well.
  The Senator has talked to me on several occasions about the 
importance of taking this legislation up this session. It is 
regrettable at least to date we have not had the opportunity to do 
that. I share the Senator's expressions of urgency with regard to the 
consideration of this legislation, and as I committed to him privately 
I will commit as well publicly that we will take this legislation to 
the Senate, hopefully early in the session next year.
  There is no reason why we cannot complete our work. There is no 
reason why the Senate cannot go on record again, as it has before in 
passing this bill, and send a clear message, at least when it comes to 
the gun show loophole, that we can take steps to protect ourselves and 
protect this population, and find ways in which to do it in a 
reasonable way. That is what the Senator is asking.
  Again, as I say, I thank him for his leadership, his commitment, and 
I will work with him to assure this legislation can be taken up 
successfully sometime next year.
  Mr. REED. I thank the majority leader for his kind comments.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut is recognized.
  Mr. DODD. I thank the Chair.

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