[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OUR LADY OF PEACE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 15, 2002

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4757, the 
Our Lady of Peace Act. I'd like to thank my colleagues for their hard 
work on this legislation.
  This legislation will be a huge step forward for the National Instant 
Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It will provide grants to 
states for building databases related to NICS, enhancing state 
capabilities to utilize the system, improving final disposition of 
criminal records, and supplying mental health records, court-ordered 
domestic restraining orders and records of domestic violence 
misdemeanors.
  This information will then be able to be transmitted by the states to 
NICS, ensuring that criminals and others who should not have access to 
weapons will not be able to purchase them. This strengthening of the 
background check system will save lives, and protect the ability of 
law-abiding citizens to purchase firearms.
  H.R. 4757 would also require federal agencies to annually provide the 
FBI with information on regarding individuals who are not permitted to 
purchase firearms, increasing the accuracy of these background checks 
and further protecting, our communities.
  The bill addresses legitimate concerns about the privacy of mental 
health records transmitted to NICS. It instructs the Department of 
Justice to work with states and local law enforcement on regulations 
for the protection of any mental health information sent to the system. 
I urge the department to implement the strongest possible privacy 
protection, so as to prevent the accidental release of this 
information.
  Finally, the most important provision of this bill is the prohibition 
of the imposition of a ``gun tax'' by charging fees for gun purchases 
through NICS. The Second Amendment provides us with the right to keep 
and bear arms, so the burden is on us to protect that right--without 
taxes, delays, or waiting periods for gun purchases by law-abiding 
buyers.
  Again, I support this legislation, and urge our colleagues in the 
Senate to act quickly on this bill.

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