Gun Control Legislation
Dateline: 06/07/99
Correction: 6/15/99 -- In the original version of this article, I stated that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold used TEC DC-9 Semi Automatic pistols in the Columbine High School Shooting. In fact, police reports state that the pair carried one TEC DC-9, a 9-mm Hi Point carbine, and two shotguns. The thrust of the original article was that the boys used weapons not typically found in American homes. While this is certainly true in the case of the DEC DC-9 machine pistol, the Hi Point carbine and shotguns are typical sporting arms. The story below has been corrected and I sincerely apologize to all readers for the error.
Reading the headlines, you would think the tragic April 20th shooting at Columbine High School is the sole motivation behind all the gun control debate and legislation now before Congress. In fact, only two gun control-related bills have been introduced since Columbine.
H.R. 1723 -- 05/06/99 -- A bill to encourage States to require a holding period for any student expelled for bringing a gun to school. (Full Text)
H.R. 1726 -- 05/06/99 -- A bill to allow States to develop or expand instant gun checking capabilities, to allow a tax credit for the purchase of safe storage devices for firearms, to promote the fitting of handguns with child safety locks, and to prevent children from injuring themselves and others with firearms. (Full Text)
Both bills were introduced on the same day by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D), of Oregon
The vast majority of gun control-related bills were introduced prior to the events of April 20. Here are just a few:
H.R. 35 -- 01/06/99 -- A bill to prohibit the possession or transfer of junk guns, also known as Saturday Night Specials. (Full Text)
H.R. 85 -- 01/06/99 -- A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit, with certain exceptions, the transfer of a handgun to, or the possession of a handgun by, an individual who has not attained 21 years of age. (Full Text)
S. 156 -- 01/19/99 -- A bill to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the manufacture, transfer, or importation of .25 caliber and .32 caliber and 9 millimeter ammunition. (Full Text)
S. 254 -- 01/20/99 -- A bill to reduce violent juvenile crime, promote accountability by rehabilitation of juvenile criminals, punish and deter violent gang crime, and for other purposes. (This was the hotly debated and highly publicized bill that passed the Senate on 5/20/99 by a vote of 75-23. It is now before the House.)
S. 319 -- 01/28/99 -- A bill to provide for childproof handguns, and for other purposes. (Full Text)
S. 407 -- 02/10/99 -- A bill to reduce gun trafficking by prohibiting bulk purchases of handguns. (Full Text)
H.R. 902 -- 03/02/99
-- A bill to regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows. (Full Text)
The same bill in the Senate is S. 433 .
H.R. 1245 -- 03/24/99 -- A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to regulate the transfer of firearms over the Internet.
S. 735 -- 03/25/99 -- A bill to protect children from firearms violence. (Full Text)
S. 891 -- 04/27/99 -- A bill to amend section 922(x) of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the transfer to and possession of handguns, semiautomatic assault weapons, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices by individuals who are less than 21 years of age, and for other purposes. (Full Text)
Pro-gun ownership has been represented by these three bills:
H.R. 347 -- 01/19/99 -- A bill to protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right. (Full Text)
H.R. 1178 -- 03/18/99 -- A bill to amend section 922 of chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to protect the rights of citizens under the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. (Full Text)
H.R. 1179 -- 03/18/99 -- A bill to restore the second amendment rights of all Americans. (Full Text)
The Second Amendment to the Constitution says: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Those twenty-seven words have been read and interpret thousands of different ways by both sides of the gun control debate for years.
Will More Gun Control Laws Work?
We will probably never know exactly what drove Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to kill. We
are, however very sure of the tools the two teenagers used -- guns. The teenagers wielded
a TEC DC-9 semiautomatic
pistol, a 9-mm Hi-Point, and two shotguns Existing laws were
broken in the possession of some of these guns. Existing laws were broken in selling
some of these guns. Will more laws help?
Would Harris and Klebold have dropped their killing plans had they been unable to get guns of any kind? Police also found 60 deadly bombs the pair had planted around Columbine High. Bombs can be made from lots of things not at all illegal to sell or have. Could it be that killers determined to kill will find ways and weapons despite all of the laws governments can pass? Could it be that there are some sicknesses laws just can't cure? Lots of questions.
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