|
 On a voice vote, the Democratic-led Senate passed the bill, which
would extend for 10 years the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988.
The Republican-led House of Representatives approved the bill last
week and, like the Senate, refused to pass tougher provisions
opposed by the powerful gun industry.
President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law before the
ban was to expire at midnight.
Along with many fellow Democrats, Obama would prefer an updated
version of the ban to close what are seen as loopholes created by
new technologies, such as 3-D printing, an aide said.
Senate Democrats led by Charles Schumer of New York failed on Monday
to win quick approval of a measure to require all firearms to
include at least 3.7 ounces of non-removable metal essential for its
operation.
Without the provision, backers argue, the metal could be taken off
the gun, permitting a functional weapon to pass undetected through
metal detectors and X-ray machines and carried into supposedly
secure areas.
Senate Republicans refused to provide the unanimous consent needed
to approve the change on a legislative fast-track.
Democrats then joined Republicans in voting to extend ban, but
promised to keep pushing for tougher provisions. A key Republican
said he was ready to listen.
Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, top Republican on the Judiciary
Committee, said changes may be needed in the ban, but complained
that Schumer sought a vote before many lawmakers understood his
provision and what it sought to fix.
"Congress needs to gain an understanding of printed gun
manufacturing technology and its relation to permanent metal parts,"
Grassley said, adding that hearings are needed.
Schumer said he was encouraged by Grassley's comments, telling
reporters, "I'm hopeful that we can come to a compromise."
Schumer, who has often tangled with the gun industry on his efforts
to toughen gun laws, said the industry has been relatively low key
on this issue, and added that he hopes it stays that way.
[to top of second column] |
The ban was first signed into law in 1988 by Republican President
Ronald Reagan shortly after the introduction of the Austrian-made
Glock firearm. Made largely of synthetic material, the Glock created
a fear of undetectable weapons.
That increased with the proliferation of the underground production
of plastic guns with 3-D printers.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called for an update
of the law, saying, "This isn't science fiction anymore .... Someone
can make a gun in their basement."
The gun industry favored extension of the ban, but opposed expanding
it, saying the proposed modernization of the law would violate the
right to bear arms and unnecessarily interfere with the legal
production of firearms.
Earlier this year, the gun industry used its political clout to help
defeat Obama's bid to toughen gun laws in wake of a massacre at an
elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
The Center for American Progress, a liberal advocacy group, called
it "crucial" to extend the ban, but denounced the measure passed by
Congress as "deeply flawed."
"It does nothing to address new technologies like 3-D printing that
could allow terrorists and other dangerous people to easily make
fully functional, undetectable guns," said Winnie Stachelberg, an
executive vice president at the center.
(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; additional reporting by Richard Cowan,
David Ingram and Jeff Mason; editing by Bill Trott and Jackie Frank)
[© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2013 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
