Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), a senior member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security and Congressman Peter King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, today announced the reintroduction of legislation to help put an end to illegal gun trafficking.  The Detectives Nemorin and Andrews Anti-Gun Trafficking Act of 2006 will provide prosecutors with tougher penalties and the tools they need to crack down on illegal gun trafficking.

"Crimes committed with guns are on the rise in Boston, New York and across the country, and trafficking is to blame for this increase.  The Anti-Gun Trafficking Act is aimed at getting illegal guns off our streets by creating a new federal crime specifically aimed at gun traffickers and imposing strict criminal penalties for using illegally trafficked guns to commit violent crimes," Congressman Meehan said.  "This bill will go a long way in giving prosecutors the tools they need to crack down on illegal gun trafficking."

"This legislation has nothing to do with hunters, collectors, or the Second Amendment," Congressman King said.  "It has everything to do with stopping illegal guns from being sold, and keeping our families and the police officers who protect us safe."

The Detectives Nemorin and Andrews Anti-Gun Trafficking will create a new federal offense aimed specifically at gun traffickers.  In addition, it will create a new federal offense for those who use stolen firearms, or firearms with obliterated serial numbers (which makes it difficult for law enforcement to trace) during the commission of a felony.  This legislation will also increase the penalty for drug traffickers who possess firearms.

King and Meehan plan to introduce the legislation later this week.  The bill was named after two New York City Police Detectives, both members of the NYPD elite Firearms Investigation Unit, who were murdered during an undercover buy-and-bust operation.

 -----

Congressman Meehan's remarks, as prepared for delivery:

"I am proud to join my friend Peter King in introducing the Anti-Gun Trafficking Act.  When it comes to Homeland Security and law enforcement issues, there is no better leader in Congress than Peter King.

"Peter and I both agree that Homeland Security starts with the people on our city streets -- our first responders.  Our brave police men and women put their lives on the line every day.  And it is our duty to do everything we can to make the streets safer.  Ask any chief of police -- including the two Chiefs with us today -- what that means, and they will tell you: putting an end to gun trafficking.

"We first introduced this legislation nearly three years ago.  It was needed then, and it is still needed now.  It is needed because only one in six guns used in a crime is obtained legally.  It is needed because 1 percent of gun dealers supply 60 percent of guns used to commit crimes.  It is needed because 5 dealers -- I’ll repeat that, only 5 gun dealers -- were responsible for more than 2,000 guns used in crimes last year.

"And it is especially needed because 30,000 Americans die every year from gun violence.  Sadly, that number includes children.  One young person is killed by a gun every three hours in the U.S.

"That number also includes the 51 murders in Boston last year committed with illegal guns.  Mayor Menino and his police force are working hard -- they’ve confiscated 35 percent more guns in 2005 than 2004.  But crimes committed with guns are up 15 percent, and shooting victims are up 28 percent.  The Mayor agrees with us -- trafficking is to blame for the increase, and must be a main target of enforcement efforts. 

"Boston is already benefiting from another partnership bringing together federal and local resources.  Boston Police are working with the State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to form a joint Special Investigations Unit and already making progress on the gun trafficking problem. 

"We applaud Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Menino for holding their summit earlier this year, and rallying support among their fellow mayors.  We stand beside them, ready to add federal resources to their local efforts.

"Nearly 40 years ago, then-Attorney General Bobby Kennedy spoke about the dangers of guns in words that have proven unfortunately timeless.  He said:

“We have a responsibility to the victims of crime and violence. It is a responsibility to think not only of our own convenience but also of the tragedy of sudden death.  It is a responsibility to put away childish things - to make the possession and use of firearms a matter undertaken only by serious people who will use them with the restraint and maturity that their dangerous nature deserves - and demands.”

"Sadly, today is the anniversary of Bobby Kennedy’s death - himself a victim of senseless gun violence.  It is in his memory and in the memory of Detectives Nemorin and Andrews that Congressman King and I call on our colleagues to join their police chiefs, their mayors, and their citizens in saying that enough is enough; that gun trafficking and gun violence won’t be tolerated any more."