U.S. ban on guns that escape metal detectors set to expire

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. ban on guns that escape metal detectors set to expire

BY DAVID INGRAM
WASHINGTON Fri Nov 15, 2013 1:29pm EST

(Reuters) - A 25-year-old U.S. ban on any firearms that can escape discovery by a metal detector is scheduled to expire next month, just as law enforcement officials say they are closely watching the proliferation of plastic guns made with 3D printers.

Attorney General Eric Holder said on Friday that if the 1988 Undetectable Firearms Act is allowed to end, plastic guns made with the fast-evolving 3D printing technology could be smuggled more easily.

"This is a very worrisome threat to law enforcement and to people who fly every day. We can't have guns legally in circulation that are not detectable by metal detectors," Holder said in a statement.

The law is due to expire on December 9, according to the Justice Department. Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives introduced legislation months ago to renew the ban, but their proposals have not gotten votes.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/15/us-usa-crime-plastic-guns-idUSBRE9AE10T20131115

[ileus]

1. Wonder what kind of stupid you'd have to be to

pass a law based on urban legend and movie lies?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. The same kind as would believe that...

...you can get plastic bullets to load into those guns.

[Eleanors38]

4. Didn't "Diehard VIII" feature a gun firing used hypos used in syphilis treatment?

[krispos42]

3. Bringing a plastic gun through an airport security checkpoint is already a serious crime

Or at least, I assume it is.

Using that smuggled plastic gun to take over an airliner or something I'm pretty sure is an even more serious crime.

So adding on a layer of law that makes all-plastic guns inherently illegal is going to be the tipping point that makes a potential terrorist hijacker decide to stay home?



I don't have any problem with the law being renewed, but with modern technology like 3D plastic printers, this means that people with criminal intent won't be limited to a mass-produced, off-the-shelf plastic gun.

[sarisataka]

5. It is one of those laws

that seems to be covered by several other laws.

OTH it has no down side so let's just renew it...

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. I somewhat disagree but...

...it's illegal to bring a firearm through security and on to a commercial flight. That would also make bring a plastic gun on to a commercial flight illegal. Likewise anything that could be defined as a firearm regardless of construction be it plastic, metal, Kevlar, compacted fingernail filings or strangely shaped Asian pasta.

IMHO, the best laws, requirements and guidelines are those formulated in simplest terms with the fewest addenda, amendments and attachments.

[CreekDog]

22. wow, can't even support this law?

huge surprise there. not really.

[gejohnston]

23. you kind of missed the point

The law was based on a fictional Glock model and a fictional technology from a movie. That made it worthy of ridicule. Years later, the nearest thing to it is a single shot zip gun that looks like a Star Trek prop and requires a barrel change after each shot. The firing pin and the ammo are still metal. Even then, the plastic parts are obvious on an x-ray.
Did the law prevent the technology from being created? By US manufactures maybe. European companies like
Glock and Walther? No.

[CreekDog]

24. Considering you fear fictional gun restrictions

One would think you wouldnt oppose this law on that basis.

[gejohnston]

25. I don't fear any such thing

but I can't help but wonder if the politicians that pass law based on B grade movies are just grandstanding or, shall we say, will never be mistaken for a MENSA member.

[CreekDog]

30. You're saying one caanot be smart unless they're experts on guns

Not real surprising and likely why you rarely leave this group.

[gejohnston]

32. no, and I do read other groups

Don't have to be an expert on anything. But if you are making decisions that affects the country, I do expect one to have the curiosity to ask someone who is "is this for real and how big of a deal is it?" on all issues. My mouth is quite full as it is, I really don't need anyone trying to put words in it.

[CreekDog]

35. you're the one that referred to them not being in MENSA if they pass this

don't put your crap on me. you created the metaphor.

you didn't have to call them dumb for passing this law, but you did.

and it's totally apt that the things you fear with respect to loss of gun rights are even less of a possibility than the manufacture of a gun that you say is fictional.

[gejohnston]

36. not quite,

I also offered the possibility of grandstanding aka pandering. I actually think it was a little of both.

You're the one that referred to them not being in MENSA if they pass this

more like bothering to introduce it in the previous century. Passing it today is mostly understandable theater.

don't put your crap on me. you created the metaphor.

Yeah I admit that

you didn't have to call them dumb for passing this law, but you did.

See above.

and it's totally apt that the things you fear with respect to loss of gun rights are even less of a possibility than the manufacture of a gun that you say is fictional.

Could be. If a company produces one, that actually works as well as a mostly steel one, and sells it in Europe and Canada, I'll be sure to adjust my assumption that it is fictional. I do know I didn't see one on canadaammo.com. There are guns available to Canadian civilians that are not in the US, but that isn't one of them. Does some intelligence agency have it for clandestine use? Might but doubt it, even then there is the ammo issue. I'm not losing any sleep over it either way, but I can't help but be amused by it. Since it passed both houses and I am quite sure Obama will sign it, why are you bothered by it?

[Straw Man]

37. No ...

You're saying one caanot be smart unless they're experts on guns

I believe he's saying that one cannot be smart if one gets one's information from Bruce Willis movies.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

39. good one

In keeping with a line from another Bruce Willis movie said by Arnold, I think we should ban cars that are smaller than Arnold's shoes.

[seattledo]

26. Glock is not fictional

Why do conservatives always claim that?

[hack89]

27. Glock 7s are fictional. Nt

[CreekDog]

31. As is your support for any gun law that could pass

[hack89]

33. I support UBCs

My state has had them for years. The only gun control I don't support is registration or an AWB. But they don't count, do they - your criteria is gun laws that can pass.

[NYC_SKP]

34. They support UBCs. So do I. Have you ever noticed that people who get GD threads locked....

...never seem to repost them in the GCRA or RKBA gun groups?

Why do you suppose that is?

I mean, I watch the GCRA group languish and I would contribute constructive replies and posts, too, if I could. I do that here in RKBA.

I just don't understand people. If they can't get it posted in GD then they don't want to talk about it at all.

Also, any host can start an alert discussion thread.

And, FTR, I'm all for UBCs.

[gejohnston]

28. I'm not aware any did, but I

did not say Glock is fictional, I said

a fictional Glock model

the all ceramic Glock 7 was and is fictional.
If you happen to run in to a conservative who claims that, be sure to ask them and let me know.

[oneshooter]

29. Glocks are mainly made of steel

The slide, barrel, magazine, and fire control group are all metal. Only the frame is plastic, and it contains slide rails that are metal.

[gopiscrap]

40. welcome to DU

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

38. Oh, I'm sorry...

...we should obviously support laws that regulate fictional items from movies.

I, for one, think cloning velociraptors from ancient DNA should be illegal.

[dairydog91]

7. I can finally get one of those porcelain Glocks that Bruce Willis talked about.

He said they were made in Germany, so they must be real.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

8. No sorry.

Last edited Tue Nov 19, 2013, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

That only works for Bruce. He's magic; he can talk to folks on radios that don't transmit and crash cars into flying helicopters.

Why can't we have a movie where Bruce plays the bad guy? That would be awesome.

[Ranchemp.]

9. Why can't we have a movie where Bruce plays the bad guy? That would be awesome.

Here ya go.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119395/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_62

[dairydog91]

10. He plays a bad guy in Looper.

A sometimes sympathetic bad guy, but his character is still a determined and confirmed child murderer.

[Ranchemp.]

11. Haven't seen that one yet.

My 2 favorites are Armageddon and The Last Boyscout.

[MicaelS]

12. Sort of a depressing film. n/t

[EX500rider]

13. He's also great in "Tears of the Sun" I thought n/t

[Ranchemp.]

15. Yes, great movie.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

14. On your recommendation...

...I watched it.

It was great.

Thanks

[Ranchemp.]

16. Glad you enjoyed it.

[AtheistCrusader]

17. Ban on guns that never existed before this year set to expire... ftfy

[petronius]

18. Looks like the Senate has now passed it as well, and it's off to Pres. Obama for signing

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/us-usa-congress-guns-idUSBRE9B900Q20131210?p=BRE9B900R

(Reuters) - The U.S. Senate gave final approval on Monday to a bill to renew a ban against firearms that can pass undetected through metal detectors, but rejected calls to update the law in response to the advent of plastic guns made with 3-D printers.

--- Snip ---

The Republican-led House of Representatives approved the bill last week and, like the Senate, refused to pass tougher provisions opposed by the powerful gun industry.

--- Snip ---

Senate Democrats led by Charles Schumer of New York failed on Monday to win quick approval of a measure to require all firearms to include at least 3.7 ounces of non-removable metal essential for its operation.

Without the provision, backers argue, the metal could be taken off the gun, permitting a functional weapon to pass through metal detectors, scanners and carried into supposedly secure areas.

--- Snip ---

(Posted earlier by onehandle in LBN... )

[gejohnston]

19. if they wanted to do that

Senate Democrats led by Charles Schumer of New York failed on Monday to win quick approval of a measure to require all firearms to include at least 3.7 ounces of non-removable metal essential for its operation.

Without the provision, backers argue, the metal could be taken off the gun, permitting a functional weapon to pass through metal detectors, scanners and carried into supposedly secure areas.

why didn't they want to ban caseless dry ice ammo and plastic firing pins?

[DonP]

20. Limit Unicorn hunting in the lower 48!

It's not like there's anything else for them to work on. Might as well stop the needless slaughter in Unicorns in the US as well.

[petronius]

21. I've never even had the opportunity to see a unicorn in the wild

I'd like my children's children to live in a better world than I've suffered in...