The law should be allowed to lapse. It does not serve any useful purpose, and stifles technological advancement. David Codrea writes about the eager way in which the NSSF is willing to throw the second amendment under the bus on this issue.
The federal law banning undetectable plastic guns expires in two weeks and Congress is on a Thanksgiving vacation, making it likely the law will lapse — and opening up at least a temporary problem.
Gun
control proponents say the search for a solution is even more urgent
with the expanding capabilities of 3-D printers, which can manufacture
plastic guns that can be untraceable through traditional means.
Racing the Dec. 9 deadline, Senate
Democrats tried to speed through a bill last week keeping the ban in
place, but a Republican objected, arguing the legislation had just been
introduced hours before the chamber was scheduled to leave town. That
objection halted the bill.
“[T]his is not a good day to move
forward with this legislation,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama
Republican. “We will be glad to give it serious attention. I know it is
the kind of thing we probably can clear at some point.”
Sen. Charles E. Schumer,
New York Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, said he understood Mr.
Sessions’ objection, given the upheaval in the chamber, but said that
“this is serious stuff.”
“What makes us need to do this rather
quickly is that a few months ago someone in Texas published on a website
a way to make a plastic gun, buying a 3-D printer for less than
$1,000,” Mr. Schumer
said. “There are over 200,000 copies, hits on that website. People hit
the website then, so we have to move quickly here. I hope we can move as
soon as we get back.”
The State Department in May ordered
Texas-based Defense Distributed to take down a 3-D gun model, called the
“Liberator,” from its website.
Mr. Schumer’s office said Monday there’s still a chance to pass the renewal since the Senate
convenes on the day the act expires, but if it does lapse, they will
continue working to get an agreement to advance legislation as quickly
as possible.
Federal law also says that gun parts and components
must appear clearly when examined by X-ray machines commonly found in
airports. The act was first passed by Congress
and signed by President Reagan in 1988 and has been renewed twice since
then — once under President Clinton and once under President George W.
Bush.
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I don't understand why some laws come with expiration dates and other laws go on into infinity. Congress is so strange.
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