[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 41 (Friday, March 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GUN SHOWS
(Mr. QUIGLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, this week we learned that one of the
handguns used by the Pentagon police shooter originated in a Las Vegas
gun show. As this incident reveals, anyone wanting to attack us would
best be advised to shop at a gun show. That is because gun shows don't
require sellers to have licenses or maintain records. This loophole
fosters a Wild West environment where criminals and terrorists can
flaunt local, State, and Federal laws just to get their weapons just
like the Pentagon shooter.
A recent gun show audit revealed that 74 percent of sellers
approached by investigators completed sales to people who appeared to
be criminals or straw purchasers. Gun shows will sell to people who are
so dangerous we won't even let them board an airplane.
If we're serious about protecting our Nation, we have got to get
serious about closing the gun show loophole.
____________________