[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         CHILD SAFETY LOCK ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. Millender-McDonald. Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand with members of 
the Women's Caucus to urge this House to vote on sensible and 
purposeful gun control legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, these last few months have been a sobering experience 
for us in this country with the rash of gun-related deaths of our 
children. However, I had long known that the acts of youth violence 
that permeate our schools and communities were real in my district. 
This is why I introduced the Child Safety Lock Act in the 105th 
Congress because of the ravishing gun violence in my district. We must 
provide safe havens and an environment for our children that will be 
conducive to their well-being and safe from fear.
  I have reintroduced this bill in the 106th Congress because it was 
not the climate at that time for gun legislation, as it is now. It is 
time, Mr. Speaker, for us to act now, or we will continue to see a 
repeat of Littleton. No one wants that.
  My Child Safety Lock Act defines what a locking device is and 
provides for locking devices and warnings on handguns and penalties 
related to locking devices. It also establishes general authority for 
the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations on governing 
trigger locks.

                              {time}  2100

  It allows the Secretary of the Treasury to issue an order and/or 
inspections regarding a trigger lock device which is in violation of 
the law. However, the debate cannot just be solely on handgun control.
  It must be on education, as well. This is why I take 2 percent of the 
firearms tax revenue and use it for public education on the safe 
storage and use of firearms.
  In addition to the child safety lock, Mr. Speaker, last year I 
introduced the PAAT Act, which prohibits the shipment and delivery of 
alcohol to minors through the mail and over the Internet. This bill 
requires senders and/or shippers placing packages for shipment in 
interstate commerce that contain any alcoholic beverages to place a 
label on the package in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
Secretary.
  It requires that packages containing alcoholic beverages of any kind 
be accompanied by documentation showing the full legal name and address 
of the sender and shipper. It also requires age verification prior to 
shipment, and an adult's signature upon delivery. It levies fines to 
senders and shippers violating the provisions of this act.
  These amendments, Mr. Speaker, will protect our children, our most 
precious resource, and will help to create a safe haven and a conducive 
environment for them. They deserve just that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass very sensible gun legislation. 
We must have the courage to stand firm and avoid the continued 
senseless bloodshed and loss of lives of our children around the 
country. A sensible gun bill and amendments can protect our children, 
and in doing so, we are protecting our future.

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