[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE ``GUN SHOW BACKGROUND CHECK ACT OF 2003''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Gun Show 
Background Check Act of 2003'', 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, Meehan, Delahunt, Wexler, Ackerman, Brown of Florida, 
Kilpatrick, Lee, Markey, Schakowsky, Blumenauer, Cummings, Fattah, 
Hastings of Florida, Kennedy, Towns, Deutsch, DeGette, Payne, Stark, 
Davis of Florida, Clay, Norton, Holt, Gutierrez, and McDermott.
  As you know, under current law federal firearms licenses 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. 
Thus, unlike other legislation introduced in the past which actually 
weakens the Brady law by shortening background checks to 24 hours and 
considerably limits the type of information in individual records that 
may be searched, my bill guarantees that over 2,200 additional felons, 
fugitives and stalkers will be denied the opportunity to purchase a 
gun.
  Considering the many recent tragedies and threats of violence we have 
had in our nation's schools and the recent reports indicating that the 
U.S. gun industry sold numerous guns to members of Osama bin Laden's 
``Al Qaeda'' terrorist network, the importance of enacting legislation 
that will promote a safe and sound environment can not be overstated.
  It's time for smarter, better gun safety 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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