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New tack in effort to revive gun bill
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
New tack in effort to revive gun billBy MICHAEL COLLINSScripps Howard News ServiceNovember 29, 2001WASHINGTON - Gun-control advocates are trying a new argument to revive stalled legislation that would require additional background checks on gun buyers: The restrictions are needed to fight terrorism.Two Republican senators - Mike DeWine of Ohio and John McCain of Arizona - argued this week that a loophole in existing law has allowed suspected foreign terrorists to buy firearms illegally.DeWine and McCain advised Senate colleagues in a letter that they will try to force a vote early next year on legislation that would require background checks on anyone who buys firearms at gun shows.Those who buy guns from licensed dealers have been required to undergo criminal background checks since Congress passed the so-called Brady Bill in 1994. But the law doesn't apply to private dealers, who often sell their weapons at gun shows.Gun-control advocates say that on at least two occasions - in Michigan and Florida, and possibly in Texas - suspected terrorists have gotten around the background checks by purchasing weapons at gun shows instead of buying from licensed dealers."These are tangible examples of where a current loophole allows bad people to get guns,'' DeWine said.Eighteen states have restrictions in place to close the loophole.Some 4,000 gun shows are held across the nation every year, according to Americans for Gun Safety.DeWine and McCain, along with Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Charles Schumer of New York, filed legislation earlier this year that would mandate background checks on people who buy firearms at gun shows.The National Rifle Association and other opponents say the additional background checks are unnecessary and accuse supporters of shamelessly exploiting the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to advance anti-gun measures.Both the House and Senate passed similar bills in 1999, but the proposals died when the two chambers could not agree on how background checks would be conducted.DeWine and McCain said they plan to force a vote on the current version by attaching their bill to "the first appropriate, amendable vehicle'' - possibly homeland security legislation - when the Senate reconvenes in January."We cannot and should not keep rolling the dice with American security,'' they wrote.Gun-control advocates consider DeWine's support significant. DeWine has said he strongly backs the right of Americans to own a gun, but he has broken rank with the Republican Party in the past and has voted in favor of some gun-control measures."It's important that this issue be handled in a centrist, moderate commonsense way,'' said Matt Bennett, a spokesman for Americans for Gun Safety. "That is essentially what Sen. DeWine stands for on most things - he takes a moderate, centrist approach.'' http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=GUNSHOWS-11-29-01&cat=WW
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