[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S13706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PLASTIC GUN OR TOY GUN

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, yesterday the Cannon House Office Building 
was temporarily evacuated when a staff member apparently carried a toy 
plastic gun past a Capitol Police security check point. This incident 
reminds us of how important it is that we maintain adequate security in 
our public buildings. Even though I raised this issue last week, I want 
to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of the Terrorist 
Firearms Detection Act, a bill introduced last week by Senator Kennedy. 
Originally passed in 1988, and sometimes called the ``plastic gun'' 
law, this Federal law makes it illegal for any person to manufacture, 
import, ship, deliver, possess, transfer or receive any firearm that is 
not detectable by walk-through metal detectors or the type of x-ray 
machines commonly used at airports.
  Since September 11, 2001, Congress has worked hard to improve the 
security of our borders, airports, Government buildings, and 
communities. In just over a month, on December 10, the plastic gun law 
is set to expire. The Terrorist Firearms Detection Act would 
permanently reauthorize this law. I support this bill because plastic 
guns, whose production has been endorsed by the National Rifle 
Association, should only be used by our military and intelligence 
agencies.
  This legislation has the support of major gun safety organizations, 
including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Violence United with the 
Million Mom March, Americans for Gun Safety, and the Violence Policy 
Center. The Department of Justice, while failing to endorse Senator 
Kennedy's permanent ban, has indicated its support for extending the 
current ban.
  I urge my colleagues in Congress to act quickly to pass the Terrorist 
Firearms Detection Act, so that hopefully President Bush can sign it 
into law.

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