House Considers Gun Control Act
Dateline: 03/09/00
After being urged by President Clinton to, "finish the gun bill and send it to me for the anniversary of the Columbine tragedy April 20," the House of Representatives is scheduled to consider a "motion to instruct conferees" on H.R. 1501 - The Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act of 1999 this week. The act includes the controversial "gun show" and "trigger lock" provisions.
Some sections of H.R. 1501 specifically directed at gun control include:
Require Brady Act background checks and further regulate sale and transfer of firearms at gun shows. (The "gun show" provision.)
Prohibit a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer from selling, delivering, or transferring a handgun to anyone other than a licensed person unless the transferee is provided with a secure gun storage or safety device, with exceptions. (The "trigger lock" provision.)
Increase penalties for sale or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon or a large capacity ammunition feeding device to a juvenile.
Increase penalties for possession by a juvenile of a handgun, ammunition, or semiautomatic assault weapon.
The bill has been under consideration of a House-Senate conference committee since last year in an attempt to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions.
A "motion to instruct conferees," if passed, asks the committee to take a certain negotiating position or to conclude their deliberations. The bill cannot be considered by the full House until the conference committee has issued its final report.
The last House motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1501 failed by a 174 - 249 roll call vote on Oct. 14, 1999.
President Clinton's demand to Congress came in response to the Feb. 29 shooting of the Kayla Rolland by her six-year-old classmate at Buell Elementary near Flint, Michigan
The president suggested that a trigger lock might have prevented the shooting and urged Congress not to be intimidated by pressure from the NRA.
"I know the gun lobby is cranking up pressure on Congress again, but when first graders shoot first graders, it's time for Congress to do what's right for America's families," stated Mr. Clinton.
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