always a loophole! It's never ending!
:banghead: 
Group Applauds Reintroduction of NICS Improvement Bill
Press Release
Americans for Gun Safety
Washington, DC
ww2.americansforgunsafety.com
Contact:
Matt Bennett
Phone: 202-775-0300 x212
Unlikely Allies Reunite on Gun Safety Measure
Bill Passed House in Last Congress; AGS Continues Strong Support
Americans for Gun Safety (AGS) hailed the reintroduction of the "NICS
Improvement Act," introduced in the Senate today (Thursday) by Senators
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Larry Craig (R-ID) and in the House by
Representatives Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and John Dingell (D-MI). A
similar bill (then called the "Our Lady of Peace Act") passed the House
unanimously last year, and both AGS and the bill's sponsors predict strong
bipartisan support once again. Also sponsoring the legislation are
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ),
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Mike Pence (R-IN).
The bill is aimed at fixing a serious hole in the National Instant
Criminal Background Check System (NICS) -- a hole that was first
highlighted by the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation (AGSF) in a report
last year that revealed how more than 10,000 criminals got guns and how
countless legitimate firearms purchases were delayed due to a faulty
background check system.
AGS President Jonathan Cowan said that last year's House passage of the
NICS Improvement Act and this year's reintroduction "proves that Members
of Congress who traditionally have held divergent points of view in the
gun debate can come together in support of an effective gun safety measure
that protects gun rights and promotes gun responsibility. The bill's
sponsors deserve enormous credit for putting aside their differences and
crafting effective and important legislation."
"As the linchpin behind the nation's gun laws, the background check system
needs to be fast, accurate and reliable, and the NICS Improvement Act is
finally going to make that a reality. The Brady Law is only as effective
as the records that are in the system, and those records are in deplorable
shape. This legislation will make the instant check system truly instant
and truly accurate, stopping prohibited buyers quickly and approving
legitimate firearms transfers in a timely manner."
The AGSF report, Broken Records: How America's Faulty Background Check
System Allows Criminals to Get Guns (available at
http://w3.agsfoundation.com/press_011102.htm), broke new ground in the gun
debate by uncovering the deplorable condition of America's background
check system. The typical state has automated only 58% of its criminal
conviction records. Twenty states do not automate domestic violence or
temporary restraining order records. And stopping those who would be
denied under the mental health category is nearly impossible, because not
a single state supplies those records to NICS. Poor records are
why:10,000 prohibited buyers were able to obtain a gun because the
background check could not be completed within the three business days
allowed by law.
33 states cannot stop anyone with a mental health disqualification from
purchasing a gun because they keep no mental health records. And less
than one in 10,000 gun purchases are denied based on the mental health
disqualification.
Less than one in 8,000 purchases are denied based on immigrant status.
Less than one in 1,000 gun purchases are denied based on the restraining
order disqualification.
Less than one in 1,000 gun purchases are denied based on the drug abuse
disqualification.Date of Release: September 25, 2003
:banghead: Group Applauds Reintroduction of NICS Improvement Bill
Press Release
Americans for Gun Safety
Washington, DC
ww2.americansforgunsafety.com
Contact:
Matt Bennett
Phone: 202-775-0300 x212
Unlikely Allies Reunite on Gun Safety Measure
Bill Passed House in Last Congress; AGS Continues Strong Support
Americans for Gun Safety (AGS) hailed the reintroduction of the "NICS
Improvement Act," introduced in the Senate today (Thursday) by Senators
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Larry Craig (R-ID) and in the House by
Representatives Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and John Dingell (D-MI). A
similar bill (then called the "Our Lady of Peace Act") passed the House
unanimously last year, and both AGS and the bill's sponsors predict strong
bipartisan support once again. Also sponsoring the legislation are
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ),
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Mike Pence (R-IN).
The bill is aimed at fixing a serious hole in the National Instant
Criminal Background Check System (NICS) -- a hole that was first
highlighted by the Americans for Gun Safety Foundation (AGSF) in a report
last year that revealed how more than 10,000 criminals got guns and how
countless legitimate firearms purchases were delayed due to a faulty
background check system.
AGS President Jonathan Cowan said that last year's House passage of the
NICS Improvement Act and this year's reintroduction "proves that Members
of Congress who traditionally have held divergent points of view in the
gun debate can come together in support of an effective gun safety measure
that protects gun rights and promotes gun responsibility. The bill's
sponsors deserve enormous credit for putting aside their differences and
crafting effective and important legislation."
"As the linchpin behind the nation's gun laws, the background check system
needs to be fast, accurate and reliable, and the NICS Improvement Act is
finally going to make that a reality. The Brady Law is only as effective
as the records that are in the system, and those records are in deplorable
shape. This legislation will make the instant check system truly instant
and truly accurate, stopping prohibited buyers quickly and approving
legitimate firearms transfers in a timely manner."
The AGSF report, Broken Records: How America's Faulty Background Check
System Allows Criminals to Get Guns (available at
http://w3.agsfoundation.com/press_011102.htm), broke new ground in the gun
debate by uncovering the deplorable condition of America's background
check system. The typical state has automated only 58% of its criminal
conviction records. Twenty states do not automate domestic violence or
temporary restraining order records. And stopping those who would be
denied under the mental health category is nearly impossible, because not
a single state supplies those records to NICS. Poor records are
why:10,000 prohibited buyers were able to obtain a gun because the
background check could not be completed within the three business days
allowed by law.
33 states cannot stop anyone with a mental health disqualification from
purchasing a gun because they keep no mental health records. And less
than one in 10,000 gun purchases are denied based on the mental health
disqualification.
Less than one in 8,000 purchases are denied based on immigrant status.
Less than one in 1,000 gun purchases are denied based on the restraining
order disqualification.
Less than one in 1,000 gun purchases are denied based on the drug abuse
disqualification.Date of Release: September 25, 2003