Delaney Applauds House Bill to Extend Ban on Undetectable Firearms

WASHINGTON – Today the House passed H.R. 3626, extending the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 10 years. The law prohibits the manufacture or possession of firearms undetectable to X-ray machines and metal detectors. The bill, which passed the House by a voice vote, comes on the heels of reports that lethal plastic weapons, invisible to metal detectors, may be manufactured at home using 3-dimensional printing technologies.

“We did the right thing today, acting in a responsible manner to maintain public safety standards. Ensuring that all families have safe access to airports and other public spaces is an obligation we all share,” said Congressman Delaney. “Advancements in technology have created new challenges for law enforcement and serious public safety concerns. This commonsense legislation helps to support the men and women working to keep our communities safe by banning lethal firearms that can slip past metal detectors.”

In November of 2013, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) published a study detailing the increasing threat of undetectable firearms. In the study, the ATF created a lethal plastic handgun using a 3-D printer and firearm designs available online. H.R. 3626 would outlaw the manufacture or possession of plastic firearms and other guns made from undetectable materials. This legislation now heads to the Senate.

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