[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14409]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         MORE DEBATE ON GUN SAFETY AND INSTANT CHECKS REQUIRED

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, some might read the headline 
in The Washington Post as another attempt to blame the FBI. The 
headline reads, ``Delays in FBI Checks Put 1,700 Guns in the Wrong 
Hands.'' What the headline means is that guns, 1,700 of them, 1,700 
persons or maybe a little less, 1,700 criminals or people who may be 
with other problems that would suggest they should not have guns, have 
gotten guns.
  The reason why this is an extremely important announcement, and I am 
wondering what happened with this report in the debate last week, is 
that last week this House attempted to even lower the time frame for 
the instant check on gun shows to 24 hours, and it is clear that this 
loophole is an enormous loophole to give guns to criminals, guns to 
criminals.
  This article indicates that the process is that after 3 days, if 
there has been no determination on the individual trying to seek the 
gun, then it automatically goes to that person. So, 1,700 guns got in 
the hands of criminals. And the real element is what would we have done 
with a 24-hour check when that allows for the very problem that we are 
talking about.
  Just this morning a tragedy was reported about someone who got a gun 
and killed their three children, three daughters, because the 
restraining order that had been issued against this father did not get 
on the computer in time. And in the State of Colorado he was able to 
get the gun and shoot his three daughters.
  Mr. Speaker, I would hope that we would not let the gun lobby take 
this issue from us because of all the money that they have. It is 
reasonable, it is rational, and the American people see the basis in 
it.
  We cannot fight technological problems. We hope the FBI fixes its 
system, but glaringly we can tell that the fact that there is a 3-day 
instant check is not even enough. There are problems with the system to 
the extent that even if we had 3 days we are not getting all of the 
guns out of the hands of criminals. What would happen if we had a 24-
hour instant check; and after the 24 hours expired, the individual 
could get a gun?
  Mr. Speaker, I would simply hope that this House would take up again 
gun safety legislation to keep the guns out of the hands of criminals. 
Does this headline need to be even more glaring by showing us the 
tragedies and loss of life because criminals have guns? Criminals have 
guns.
  I hope that we will come to our senses and stand up for the American 
people.

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