Free Republic

FAIRFAX, Va.— Chris W. Cox, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, released the following statement on Tuesday: “Many anti-gun politicians and members of the media have wrongly claimed that 3-D printing technology will allow for the production and widespread proliferation of undetectable plastic firearms. Regardless of what a person may be able to publish on the Internet, undetectable plastic guns have been illegal for 30 years. Federal law passed in 1988, crafted with the NRA’s support, makes it unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive an undetectable firearm.”

Congressional Democrats are pushing legislation that would ban the production of guns made entirely of plastic, The Hill reported. The Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act, proposed in response to recent airport security lapses, would require firearms to contain enough metal to be detected.

USA Today has a pair of opinion pieces in the December 3rd edition. One, "A truly plastic gun ban: Opposing view" argues that the ban was a bad idea to begin with, and should be allowed to lapse. There is a poll at the lower right side of the article with the following responses: Strongly agree and Agree: 80% Strongly disagree and Disagree: 19% Don't know, 1% Total votes were 237 this morning. The USA Today view:  Plastic guns' Wild West: Our view, which pushes for a stronger ban, has the following responses: Strongly agree and agree:  30% Disagree and...

During the Vice Presidential debate, Senator John Edwards asked how Vice President Dick Cheney could possibly oppose laws such as one preventing "plastic" guns that can avoid metal detectors. The bill in question was written and supported by the NRA and supported by gun control groups. Senator Edwards implied that only someone far outside the mainstream could vote "no," and Edwards obviously wanted to use this vote to question Cheney's seriousness in dealing with terrorism. Dick Cheney was one of only a handful of congressmen who voted against the bill when it came up in 1986. Yet, it was bad...

To reauthorize the ban on undetectable firearms. (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate) --H.R.3348-- H.R.3348 One Hundred Eighth Congress of the United States of America AT THE FIRST SESSION Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the seventh day of January, two thousand and three An Act To reauthorize the ban on undetectable firearms. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE BAN ON UNDETECTABLE FIREARMS. Section 2(f)(2) of the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 (18...

WASHINGTON -- The passage of a law banning plastic firearms this week provided a rare, and some would say hollow, victory for gun control advocates this year. The measure, which continues an existing ban on undetectable firearms, reflects how much the political landscape has shifted in the last decade from banning assault weapons and strengthening waiting periods for gun buys, to relaxing purchasing regulations and limiting manufacturers' liability. Gun control advocates say the changes are products of a more gun-friendly Bush administration working with the National Rifle Association. "We're really under attack," said Tony Orza, director of government relations for...

<p>Three Democratic senators are pushing for reauthorization of a law that bans plastic guns, calling it a test of Republican antiterrorist rhetoric.</p> <p>The bill, introduced yesterday by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, would make permanent the "Terrorist Firearms Detection Act" that is set to expire Dec. 10.</p>

<p>Senate Democrats plan to urge Congress to reauthorize a law banning plastic guns that could be used by terrorists to slip past airport metal detectors.</p> <p>Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Terrorist Firearm Detection Act of 1988, which bans the creation or possession plastic firearms. Exemptions for the military and intelligence agencies are provided in the law.</p>