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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| FEBRUARY
6, 1999 10:17 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Violence Policy Center Kristen Rand of the Violence Policy Center, 202-234-3853, 202-487-7088 (cell phone), or 202-237-4695 (pager); |
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| Violence Policy Center Hails Gun Show Reforms; Action Counters Effect of 1986 NRA-Backed Law | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- February 6 - Today, the Clinton Administration announced a new initiative to crack down
on criminal activity at gun shows. In response, the Violence Policy Center (VPC)
released the following statement from Director of Federal Policy Kristen Rand:
Since the release of our 1996 study "Gun Shows in America: Tupperware Parties for Criminals," there has been a growing public awareness of the role gun shows have played in illegal gun trafficking. There are more than 4,000 gun shows held in America each year. A new report released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in conjunction with the Administration's gun show initiative states, "ATF investigations paint a disturbing picture of gun shows as a venue for criminal activity and a source of firearms used in crime." For example, just two of the agency's criminal investigations involved up to 17,000 guns. The reality is that gun shows have become Tupperware parties for criminals, virtual town meeting halls for the criminal element. The growth of gun shows as a favored outlet for illegal firearm sales can be traced to the National Rifle Association's 1986 flagship bill, the Firearms Owners' Protection Act, which allowed licensed gun dealers to do business at shows and created a safe harbor for unlicensed "hobbyists" to sell weapons. Last Congress, Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) and Sen. Frank
Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced legislation that would require all gun show promoters to
be licensed by ATF and would ensure that all transactions at gun shows
comply with the Brady Law background check requirements. Today, the
Administration took a big step forward by recommending implementation of the
steps contained in this legislation. VPC Director of Federal Policy Kristen Rand can be reached at
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