[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE ``GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECK ACT of 2002''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Gun Show 
Background Check Act of 2002'', legislation designed to close the 
loophole in federal gun laws which allow criminals to buy firearms at 
gun shows. I am Joined by Representatives Frank, Berman, Nadler, 
Lofgren, Waters, Meehan, Delahunt, Weiner, Ackerman, Andrews, Brown, 
Clay, Crowley, Cummings, Davis (IL), DeGette, Hastings (FL), Jackson 
(IL), Kilpatrick, Lee, Markey, Schakowsky, and Wexler.
  As you know, under current law federal firearms licensees are 
required to maintain careful records of their sales, and under the 
Brady Act, to check the purchaser's background with the National 
Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before transferring any 
firearm. However, a person does not need a federal firearms license--
and the Brady Act does not apply--if the person is not ``engaged in the 
business'' of selling firearms pursuant to federal law. My bill 
corrects these deficiencies by (1) requiring background checks for all 
firearms sales at gun shows, (2) defining gun shows to include any 
event at which 50 or more firearms are offered or exhibited for sale 
and (3) by improving firearm tracing measures--in the event that a 
firearm becomes the subject of a law enforcement investigation.
  I do not believe we can close a loophole by opening a dozen more. We 
should not weaken the Brady law by shortening background checks to 24 
hours--thereby allowing more than 2,200 additional felons, fugitives 
and stalkers to purchase guns in an 18 month period; we should not 
allow states to limit the search of individual records to ``disposition 
information''--which, as you may know, excludes mental health records 
and restraining orders; and we should not create an unprecedented 
exemption that would allow a gun trafficker to sell thousands of guns 
from his home without conducting any background checks.
  Considering the many recent tragedies and threats of violence we have 
had in our nations schools and the recent reports indicating that the 
U.S. gun industry sold numerous guns to members of Osama bin Laden's 
``al Qaida'' terrorist network, the importance of enacting legislation 
that will promote a more secure nation can not be overstated.
  It's time for smarter, better gun safety prevention and enforcement. 
The bill we are introducing today will move us in that direction, I am 
hopeful that Congress will move quickly to enact this worthwhile and 
timely legislation.

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