[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 49 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SENATOR BOXER'S TRIGGER LOCK AMENDMENT

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, last month the Senate considered and passed 
the Boxer trigger lock amendment by a 70-27 vote. Senator Boxer's 
amendment would require that all handguns sold by a dealer come with a 
child safety device, such as a lock, a lock box, or technology built 
into the gun itself. Further, it would direct the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission to develop standards for child safety devices. The 
need for this legislation is clear, and I supported its passage.
  According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, each year 
teenagers and children are involved in more than 10,000 accidental 
shootings in which close to 800 people die. Further, about 1,500 
children age 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for 
unintentional firearm injuries. About 38 percent of them have injuries 
severe enough to require hospitalization.
  In addition to accidental shootings, according to the Brady Campaign, 
every year 1,300 children use firearms to commit suicide. Unlike 
suicide attempts using other methods, suicide attempts with guns are 
nearly always fatal. These children are given no second chance.
  It does not have to be this way. If gun manufacturers put locking or 
other safety mechanisms on guns, or dealers sold handguns with safety 
devices, many shootings could be avoided, and fewer children would die 
each year.
  The gun industry immunity legislation, to which Senator Boxer's 
amendment was attached, would have provided unprecedented protection 
from liability to gun manufacturers and dealers, even in cases where 
their own gross negligence or recklessness led to someone being injured 
or killed. I opposed the immunity bill and was pleased that it failed 
to pass the Senate. However, Senator Boxer's trigger lock amendment 
passed with bipartisan support. Given that, I hope the Senate takes up 
and passes that legislation this year.

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