Accord Is Reached on Legislation to Ban Undetectable Plastic Guns

The Reagan Administration and law enforcement groups agreed Tuesday on compromise legislation to ban undetectable plastic handguns, using an approach that has been opposed by the National Rifle Assn. and its legislative supporters.

Joseph A. Morris, director of the Justice Department’s office of liaison, said the proposed legislation would be sent to Congress this week.

The compromise represents a change in position for Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III, who had endorsed the NRA approach. Meese now believes the compromise language is more enforceable, Morris said.

Minimum Amount of Metal

Gun control groups have been lobbying for a bill that would require a minimum standard of metal in any gun, so that the weapon would trigger an alarm in today’s metal detectors.

The NRA has supported a bill by Sen. James A. McClure (R-Ida.) that would ban undetectable plastic weapons but would set no minimum standard of metal. McClure’s approach, however, says that weapons must be detectable by existing magnetometers.

After several rounds of lobbying by all sides, the Administration has adopted the minimum metallic standard as the best approach.

Morris said no existing guns would be barred under the compromise standard, and said he hoped “everyone can claim victory.” Plastic guns are not yet being manufactured.