SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: WITH FED PROVISION THAT BANS UNDETECTABLE GHOST GUNS EXPIRING FRIDAY, HE HAS SECURED EXTENSION IN JUST RELEASED GOV SPENDING BILL; NOW SENATOR IS LAUNCHING ALL OUT PUSH CALLING TO PASS LEGISLATION BY END OF THIS WEEK – TO KEEP FULLY PLASTIC UNDETECTABLE FIREARMS OFF OUR STREETS AND HUDSON VALLEY AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA SAFE
Bipartisan Undetectable Firearms Act – For The First Time In A Decade Could Expire In Less Than One Week – Threatening Safety Of Courthouses, Sporting Events, Concerts, Airports, And More By Making Fully-Plastic Guns — That Could Slip Through First Line Defenses Like Metal Detectors—Federally Legal
Schumer: Keeping Fully-Plastic Undetectable Ghost Guns Illegal Is Commonsense, And Congress Must Act Now To Keep These Deadly Weapons Off Our Streets
Standing with Hudson Valley law enforcement, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that, for the first time in a decade, the key federal provision that makes fully-plastic undetectable ghost guns illegal could expire at the end of this week. Last night, after weeks of negotiations, Schumer helped secure an extension to reauthorize the bipartisan Undetectable Firearms Act in the government funding bill, and plans for a vote by the end of this week.
Schumer is now doubling down to ensure undetectable, fully-plastic guns remain illegal and stop a potential influx of these weapons on the streets of the Hudson Valley. Schumer said that allowing this law to lapse would create a terrifying new reality of legally-made plastic firearms that could slip through metal detectors and other security, putting law enforcement and communities across America at risk.
“It’s a no brainer that fully-plastic, undetectable guns, which can be snuck through security and metal detectors without anyone knowing, should be illegal, which is why I fought to secure an extension of the bipartisan Undetectable Firearms Act in the government spending bills. But, if Congress doesn’t act, for the first time in a decade, at the end of this week, the bipartisan Undetectable Firearms Act that helps keep these undetectable ghost guns out of the market could expire,” said Senator Schumer. “Last night, we finally secured the legislation needed to extend this important federal provision in the government spending bill and now I am doubling down on my push to keep these undetectable, dangerous ghost guns illegal and get it passed into law this week.”
“The increasing prevalence of ghost guns in Dutchess County is deeply concerning. These unregistered firearms not only evade the safeguards in place to prevent gun-related crimes but also pose a major challenge for law enforcement agencies striving to ensure public safety. We must take decisive action to address the dangers posed by ghost guns and act now. By working together with law enforcement, policymakers, and community stakeholders, we can combat the increasing flow of these dangerous untraceable firearms and shield against the violence they bring to our community,” said Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati.
“The presence of untraceable ghost guns in our communities presents a dangerous threat for all of our neighbors. Here in Dutchess County, we're seeing more and more of these firearms being trafficked by criminal networks. It's urgent that Congress does not allow this federal law to lapse so law enforcement agencies and prosecutors can continue to hold those who allow these deadly weapons to enter our streets to be held accountable. We thank Senator Schumer for his tenacious commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe,” said Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi.
Schumer explained since 1988, the Undetectable Firearms Act has prohibited guns that don’t set off metal detectors or x-ray scanners, including those printed by a 3-D printer, by mandating that every gun include approximately 4 ounces of metal, a small but critical provision ensuring these guns set off walk-through metal detectors and wands like those found at airports, federal courthouses, government buildings, sporting events, and concerts. Schumer explained this key legislation, along with the Hudson Valley’s dedicated police department and local leaders, have kept these deadly weapons illegal for over 35 years, but if Congress does not act soon, in less than one week, on March 8th, the legislation will expire and having an undetectable firearm will no longer be federally criminalized.
Schumer said the possibility of this key legislation expiring for the first time in over 35 years has created cause for serious concern. Law enforcement and police, TSA, public venues, and sports leagues have all voiced their concerns about what might happen if Congress doesn’t reauthorize the Undetectable Firearms Act. Watching a football game in a stadium, flying home to visit family, attending a concert—things that Americans do every day—will become much more dangerous as law enforcement would be forced to take months or even years to develop new ways to detect these nearly impossible to identify guns.
Schumer added, “This is sounding a blaring alarm for everyone, including law enforcement, the on-the-ground defense in protecting our communities from these weapons. If the legislation lapses, we could see a surge of these undetectable guns, which would increase security risks at places with large crowds, like concerts and football games. This is a terrifying prospect and we cannot let it become our new reality. We already saw that TSA—with metal detectors—found nearly 7,000 firearms at airports last year – an all-time high.”
In the just released government spending package for FY2024, Schumer said he was able to secure a 7- year extension of the Undetectable Firearms Act, and he said he plans to bring this bill up for a vote by the end of this week.
Schumer explained without an extension of the Undetectable Firearms Act, production and manufacturing of these dangerous ‘ghost guns’ would also likely ramp up, meaning more of these weapons would be available for purchase and people would have easier access to obtain them, leading to higher numbers of undetectable firearms in communities, which would pose a serious public safety threat to the Hudson Valley.
Schumer said extending this legislation should be a no-brainer, but a small group of hard-right House Republicans are currently going all out to try to help make these undetectable ‘ghost guns’ legal for the first time. The Senate passed a permanent reauthorization of the Undetectable Firearms Act - championed by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) - on a strong bipartisan basis (86 – 11) back in July 2023 as part of the annual defense authorization bill. However, the House did not include that provision in the defense bill’s final passage. The senator said he is going all out to help pass the extension of this vital provision which has widespread support, on both sides of the aisle, and said renewing the Act is the best way to prevent undetectable firearms from getting into the everyday areas of communities.
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