On the recordMay 4, 1999
In the wake of the Littleton, Colorado, tragedy yesterday, the gentleman from California (Mr. Henry Waxman) and I sat at a hearing on the GAO report on the 50-caliber, state-of-the-art military rifle that is of Persian Gulf vintage. The problem is that this armor-piercing sniper rifle, meant to bring down tanks and jeeps, has now infiltrated the States. GAO investigators went undercover in the National Capital area region and found dealers willing to sell the rifle even when the agent said he was interested in taking down a helicopter and in piercing a limousine. All that is needed is an 18-year-old ID and no felony conviction. In contrast, you have to be 21 to get a handgun. Amazingly, there is no regulation of secondhand assault weapons. Some of the weapons used at Columbine High School were bought at a gun show. Let us fill this loophole and keep the weapons of war off our streets and out of our schools.
Source
govinfo.gov
