Heads up boys. This probably wouldn't get anywhere on its own, but you might as well hammer a stake in this one. It is H. R. 2872.
Listen to the doubletalk:
"Hoeffel said the proposal does not broaden the level of gun control in the nation.
'It is simply a common sense extension of existing gun safety regulations.' "
http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9928289&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18041&rfi=6
Carl Hessler Jr. , [email protected] 07/31/2003
NORRISTOWN -- A Montgomery County congressman isn’t giving up his push for legislation to regulate the purchase of working antique or replica guns like the one used to kill a woman during a 1999 Norristown State Hospital hostage siege.
Democrat Joseph M. Hoeffel III, who represents the 13th District, said Monday he has reintroduced a bill that would place such weapons under the Gun Control Act of 1968. Hoeffel previously introduced the bill in 1999 but the House Judiciary Committee failed to take action on it.
"My view is that any antique and any replica of an antique, if it can shoot live bullets, ought to be part of the existing federal system that requires records to be kept of purchases, background checks to be conducted of the purchasers and waiting periods and so forth," Hoeffel said at a news conference at the Montgomery County Courthouse.
Hoeffel said the proposal does not broaden the level of gun control in the nation.
"It is simply a common sense extension of existing gun safety regulations. It would protect our citizens and keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of people who should not have them."
Current federal laws do not consider replica or antique guns to be firearms, and therefore, they aren’t regulated under gun laws. But under Hoeffel’s proposal, purchasers of antique and replica guns would be subject to background checks and the guns would be subject to tracing, reporting and record-keeping requirements.
Criminals, minors and the mentally ill also would be prohibited from purchasing such firearms under the legislation.
Hoeffel’s proposal would allow antique and replica guns to remain exempt from the National Firearms Act, which requires costly transfer taxes when certain firearms change ownership.
Hoeffel said the legislation is not a proposal to radically change the Second Amendment but is designed to close a loophole.
"I support those Second Amendment rights of private gun ownership and hunting and ownership for safety. Some people like to keep a gun in the house for personal safety and I believe they have a right to do it," Hoeffel explained.
"But we ought to do more with gun safety issues."
Hoeffel expressed frustration that the House Judiciary Committee failed to take action on the proposal when it was initially introduced several years ago.
"There’s never been an official hearing on the bill, which is frustrating. I’m not sure that I’ll fair any better this term. But I feel it’s an issue that needs to be reintroduced and advocated," Hoeffel said.
Denis Czajkowski’s use of an 1856 cap-and-ball revolver to kill his former supervisor at the state hospital June 18, 1999, prompted Hoeffel’s initial call for the legislation.
Czajkowski, a former psychiatric nurse at the hospital, was convicted last year of using the replica gun to shoot and kill Carol Sue Kepner, 54, of Lower Merion. Maria Jordan, another supervisor, was seriously wounded during the incident. Czajkowski, now 42, is serving a life prison sentence.
Under current gun laws, Czajkowski didn’t have to undergo a background check when he purchased the replica gun.
Shortly after the Norristown shooting, Hoeffel asked the U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to conduct a study on the usage of antique guns in crimes.
That study determined that 775 antique firearms were used in violent crimes, including 15 homicides, between 1996 and 1999.
Hoeffel has said he’s a proponent of "sensible" gun safety legislation that would require guns sold at gun shows and flea markets to be under the same requirements for waiting periods and background checks as those firearms sold in gun shops.
Listen to the doubletalk:
"Hoeffel said the proposal does not broaden the level of gun control in the nation.
'It is simply a common sense extension of existing gun safety regulations.' "
http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9928289&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18041&rfi=6
Carl Hessler Jr. , [email protected] 07/31/2003
NORRISTOWN -- A Montgomery County congressman isn’t giving up his push for legislation to regulate the purchase of working antique or replica guns like the one used to kill a woman during a 1999 Norristown State Hospital hostage siege.
Democrat Joseph M. Hoeffel III, who represents the 13th District, said Monday he has reintroduced a bill that would place such weapons under the Gun Control Act of 1968. Hoeffel previously introduced the bill in 1999 but the House Judiciary Committee failed to take action on it.
"My view is that any antique and any replica of an antique, if it can shoot live bullets, ought to be part of the existing federal system that requires records to be kept of purchases, background checks to be conducted of the purchasers and waiting periods and so forth," Hoeffel said at a news conference at the Montgomery County Courthouse.
Hoeffel said the proposal does not broaden the level of gun control in the nation.
"It is simply a common sense extension of existing gun safety regulations. It would protect our citizens and keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of people who should not have them."
Current federal laws do not consider replica or antique guns to be firearms, and therefore, they aren’t regulated under gun laws. But under Hoeffel’s proposal, purchasers of antique and replica guns would be subject to background checks and the guns would be subject to tracing, reporting and record-keeping requirements.
Criminals, minors and the mentally ill also would be prohibited from purchasing such firearms under the legislation.
Hoeffel’s proposal would allow antique and replica guns to remain exempt from the National Firearms Act, which requires costly transfer taxes when certain firearms change ownership.
Hoeffel said the legislation is not a proposal to radically change the Second Amendment but is designed to close a loophole.
"I support those Second Amendment rights of private gun ownership and hunting and ownership for safety. Some people like to keep a gun in the house for personal safety and I believe they have a right to do it," Hoeffel explained.
"But we ought to do more with gun safety issues."
Hoeffel expressed frustration that the House Judiciary Committee failed to take action on the proposal when it was initially introduced several years ago.
"There’s never been an official hearing on the bill, which is frustrating. I’m not sure that I’ll fair any better this term. But I feel it’s an issue that needs to be reintroduced and advocated," Hoeffel said.
Denis Czajkowski’s use of an 1856 cap-and-ball revolver to kill his former supervisor at the state hospital June 18, 1999, prompted Hoeffel’s initial call for the legislation.
Czajkowski, a former psychiatric nurse at the hospital, was convicted last year of using the replica gun to shoot and kill Carol Sue Kepner, 54, of Lower Merion. Maria Jordan, another supervisor, was seriously wounded during the incident. Czajkowski, now 42, is serving a life prison sentence.
Under current gun laws, Czajkowski didn’t have to undergo a background check when he purchased the replica gun.
Shortly after the Norristown shooting, Hoeffel asked the U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to conduct a study on the usage of antique guns in crimes.
That study determined that 775 antique firearms were used in violent crimes, including 15 homicides, between 1996 and 1999.
Hoeffel has said he’s a proponent of "sensible" gun safety legislation that would require guns sold at gun shows and flea markets to be under the same requirements for waiting periods and background checks as those firearms sold in gun shops.
