[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 88 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 29, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4660) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2015, and for other purposes:

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chair, Congresswoman Esty has 
introduced a common sense amendment to inhibit gun trafficking along 
the Southwest Border.
  Her amendment seeks to strike Section 539, which prohibits the 
necessary funding required for federally licensed firearms dealers to 
report to DOJ when they sell multiple rifles or shotguns to the same 
person. This requirement applies to dealers in Arizona, California, New 
Mexico, and Texas due to their proximity to Mexico. Nearly 80% of 
Mexico's illegal firearms are imported illegally from the U.S.
  Gun traffickers frequently buy multiple guns at one time and then 
resell them to prohibited persons. Section 539 blocks ATF's ability to 
track the bulk buying of assault rifles in those border states.
  Eliminating this key reporting requirement opens the door wide for 
criminals, and those who would normally not pass a background check, to 
obtain a gun. Each year nearly 12,000 gun murders are committed by 
people who have no legal right to a gun. I applaud Congresswoman Esty 
for introducing the amendment to strike the language, thus curbing gun 
trafficking and allowing ATF to properly do its job.
  We need to strike negative gun riders from CJS legislation, like 
section 539. I lend my support to this amendment and to Congresswoman 
Esty and I hope you do, as well.

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