April 24, 2001 Senator Clinton Urges Gun Safety Measure To Prevent Criminals from Accessing Weapons Says Closing The Gun Show Loophole Would Protect More New Yorkers And Americans From Gun Violence Washington, DC – Today, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined her colleagues in calling for legislation to close the loophole that allows criminals to have easy access to guns without the background checks that are required of gun purchasers at regular licensed dealers. "Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals is a goal we all share," Senator Clinton said. "Closing the gun show loophole will help protect our children and families from the crimes that result when criminals acquire firearms from gun shows in the thirty-two states that do not require this common sense safety measure." "Because state borders don't stop criminals, a loophole anywhere is a loophole everywhere. If we don't close the gun show loophole everywhere in America, we leave everyone in America vulnerable to criminals who know where to go to get their guns," Senator Clinton said. Senator Clinton is an original co-sponsor of legislation introduced by Senator Jack Reed, to require criminal background checks on individuals who purchase firearms at gun shows from unlicensed dealers. Currently, unlicensed dealers at gun shows are able to skirt the background checks that are required of licensed gun dealers under the Brady Law. This law -- which requires licensed gun dealers to conduct background checks of potential purchasers in order to prevent felons, fugitives and stalkers from buying firearms -- has resulted in approximately 536,000 criminals or other prohibited purchasers being denied access to firearms. Gun shows were the second leading source of guns recovered in illegal trafficking investigations from 1996 to 1998 – nearly 26,000 firearms. Nine of ten states that supply the most guns used in crimes to out-of-state criminals do not require background checks at gun shows. "Although New York State requires background checks on gun buyers at all shows, New Yorkers are still at risk from guns trafficked in from other states with more lenient laws," Senator Clinton said. "Closing the gun-show loophole will help protect more New Yorkers -- and more children and families around the country -- by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals."