The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PLASTIC GUN OR TOY GUN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S13706 on Oct. 31, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PLASTIC GUN OR TOY GUN
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, yesterday the Cannon House Office Building was temporarily evacuated when a staff member apparently carried a toy plastic gun past a Capitol Police security check point. This incident reminds us of how important it is that we maintain adequate security in our public buildings. Even though I raised this issue last week, I want to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of the Terrorist Firearms Detection Act, a bill introduced last week by Senator Kennedy. Originally passed in 1988, and sometimes called the ``plastic gun'' law, this Federal law makes it illegal for any person to manufacture, import, ship, deliver, possess, transfer or receive any firearm that is not detectable by walk-through metal detectors or the type of x-ray machines commonly used at airports.
Since September 11, 2001, Congress has worked hard to improve the security of our borders, airports, Government buildings, and communities. In just over a month, on December 10, the plastic gun law is set to expire. The Terrorist Firearms Detection Act would permanently reauthorize this law. I support this bill because plastic guns, whose production has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, should only be used by our military and intelligence agencies.
This legislation has the support of major gun safety organizations, including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Violence United with the Million Mom March, Americans for Gun Safety, and the Violence Policy Center. The Department of Justice, while failing to endorse Senator Kennedy's permanent ban, has indicated its support for extending the current ban.
I urge my colleagues in Congress to act quickly to pass the Terrorist Firearms Detection Act, so that hopefully President Bush can sign it into law.
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